Baton Rouge General Celebrates Patients and their Families at Annual Luncheon

Baton Rouge, La. – Last week, Baton Rouge General’s Foundation celebrated patients and their families at the annual Experience the Difference luncheon. The event, sponsored by Hancock Whitney and held at the Renaissance Hotel, raised money to support patients at Baton Rouge General.

New Roads resident Wendy Carnes spoke at the event, sharing her story about being treated at BRG’s Regional Burn Center when 25% of her body was burned in a kitchen fire just months after she signed a modeling contract.

“The doctors at my local hospital immediately knew that Baton Rouge General was the only place that could treat my burns,” said Carnes. “After 6 weeks of treatment and 16 inpatient and outpatient surgeries, I can say the care of the entire BRG burn team is truly exceptional. And I’m grateful for the doctors, nurses and therapists who in my darkest moment, ensured that I would have the most amazing life. Baton Rouge General will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

Mayor Sharon Weston-Broom and former BRG patient Wendy Carnes at BRG’s Foundation luncheon

“I’m fortunate to work with a team that not only delivers exceptional patient care, but also goes out of their way to change lives for the better,” said Edgardo Tenreiro, President and CEO of BRG. “That’s the type of spirit that defines Baton Rouge General.”

Other former patients and their families offered their stories via video. When Kristy Furlow’s husband Clay was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2016, he was given three to four months to live.

“Because we went to BRG’s Pennington Cancer Center for Clay’s treatment, he came home every day and slept in his own bed, our kids were able to go back to their daily lives, and we got sixteen months together from the time he was diagnosed,” recalled Kristy. “If you have to go through something like this, you want to be surrounded by people who take care of the needs of your entire family, and also make you feel like family. That’s what we had found at Baton Rouge General.”

Kris Kirkpatrick, Annette Barton, BRG Foundation Board Chair Gwen Hamilton, Wendy Carnes, Kristy Furlow, BRG Foundation President Beth Veazey and BRG President and CEO Edgardo Tenreiro at BRG’s Foundation luncheon

Funds raised at the luncheon were matched by Baton Rouge Radiology Group, Hospital Housekeeping Systems, and Himmel’s Architectural Doors & Hardware. The money will be used to support patients through technology, equipment and other resources.

The only hospital in Baton Rouge certified as a chest pain center and primary stroke center by the Joint Commission, Baton Rouge General is the region’s first and only fully comprehensive hospital. BRG offers labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, burn care, cancer care, heart care, skilled nursing, behavioral health, and more, and is the only hospital in the area offering robotic knee replacement technology.

About Baton Rouge General's Foundation

The Baton Rouge General Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support programs, education, services and research for Baton Rouge General. The hospital's mission is to improve lives and strengthen our community by providing exceptional healthcare. Foundation donors directly impact and improve healthcare provided to the Greater Baton Rouge community by supporting the enhancement of key service areas, establishing new programs and purchasing of new equipment or technology. For more information, visit our Foundation page.