William Neff is a teenager who is paying it forward.
He is grateful every day for the UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.
“I have a personal connection with UNC Children’s Hospital,” the 16-year-old says about the physicians and staff. “They are the ones who saved my life, and through their care have gotten me to where I am today.”
Where he is today is simple enough.
Neff is a sophomore at Village Christian Academy, where he is a member of the school golf team, the sport Neff learned from his father, Barry Neff.
“I’ve always loved golf,” he said. “My dad really got me into it. He always used to take me out to play when I was little in our backyard at our old house in King’s Grant. It just seemed natural to me.”
He’s analytical about the game.
“Golf is both challenging and rewarding, and I’ve always found golf very intriguing with how the mental part of the game is arguably the most important part,” said the young golfer, who hones his golfing skills at Highland Country Club and the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst. “You not only have to be physically able, but also mentally able to compete at a high level. I also enjoy just how peaceful of a sport golf is, and how you can meet so many new friends along the way.”
The teenager is like every other golfer. He’s striving to keep his drives down the middle of the fairways and aiming for the flagsticks in hopes of another birdie. He’s using his love of the game to help other youngsters, too.
“He has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association to raise money for the UNC Children’s Hospital,” Barry Neff said about his son, who was born with renal failure, contracted sepsis and struggled from other health complications. “He wanted to give back to the community that saved him.”
‘We were blessed …’
It was, as anyone can imagine, a traumatic time for parents Barry and Drake Neff, and for their newborn.
Seven days after their son’s birth, “we were blessed to be transferred to UNC Children’s Hospital,” Barry Neff quotes his wife, “which we considered ‘Day 1’ of our lives with him.” His kidneys never fully developed, Barry Neff said, “and he had renal reflux, which required surgery at a very young age.”
Healthy kidneys remove waste and extra fluid from the body, according to the National Kidney Foundation. But for kidney failure, there is no cure.
“We visit UNC twice a year for appointments,” Barry Neff said, “to monitor kidney status and dread the day where we have to put him on a kidney transplant list.”
But so far for the family, so good … and that’s the good news.
Barry and Drake Neff have not forgotten the care their son received at UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Not when William was born; and not today. They are proud of his effort to give back to other youngsters facing kidney issues.
“This partnership with AJGA Leadership Links and UNC Children’s Hospital allows him to give back in a special way,” Barry Neff said, “helping to ensure others receive the absolute best care in their time of need.”
William Neff is hoping to raise $10,000 through his initiative to help others. Donations are tax-deductible for UNC Children’s Hospital, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Whatever you may choose to give will be earmarked for care and education in pediatric nephrology and pediatric urology that can be reached at leadershiplinks.org/WilliamNeff.
He has a ways to go, with just more than $3,000 raised as of Friday. Barry Neff is doing his part toward the cause. He is pledging $10 for every par his son records on the golf course, $25 for every birdie and $50 for every eagle.
Epilogue
“My UNC care team was with me every step of the way,” William Neff said about physicians and staff at UNC Children’s – North Carolina Children’s Hospital. “Since I was little, I remember seeing the same team of doctors at all of my checkups, with many of them I still see today. With the incredible care I receive at UNC, this program through AJGA allows me to give back in a special way, helping others receive care in their time of need.”
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
We’re in our third year of CityView Today, and so many of you have been with us from day one in our efforts to bring the news of the city, county, community and Cape Fear region each day. We’re here with a purpose — to deliver the news that matters to you.
