From Tragedy to Triumph: Darren Kennedy’s Inspiring Recovery at UMC Burn Center

Healing from a Burn Injury: Darren Kennedy’s Recovery Journey at UMC Burn Center

Darren Kennedy has always prioritized family, faith, and community. Together with his wife, Debbie, and their daughter, Dara, he has built a life grounded in their Metairie, Louisiana, neighborhood, where they own and operate a local pizzeria. Beyond their business, the Kennedys are involved in their church and regularly participate in community service projects that reflect their dedication to helping others.

After a severe burn injury, Darren’s life took an unexpected turn, but with the expert care he received at University Medical Center (UMC) Burn Center in New Orleans, his journey of recovery and healing began.

A life-altering experience

In March 2021, Darren was participating in a serve day organized by his church, using a pressure washer to clean a local school. What started as a routine act of service quickly turned into a life-altering event. While refueling the pressure washer, the gas can caught fire. To prevent it from exploding in his hands, Darren quickly threw it into the grass. However, gas spilled onto him in the process, engulfing his arm and legs in flames, forcing him to stop, drop, and roll multiple times before finally putting out the fire. Realizing the severity of his burns, Darren was rushed to UMC Burn Center.

When he arrived, Darren experienced a level of care that he describes as nothing short of miraculous.
"From the moment I arrived at the ER, the staff was phenomenal," recalled Darren. "As I entered my room at the burn center, the nurses there were absolutely amazing. I thought I’d just be cleaned up, wrapped, and sent home, but Dr. Jeffrey Carter, quickly made me realize the gravity of my injuries.”

Caring for burn patients like Darren: Inside the UMC Burn Center

"When a patient like Darren presents after a severe burn, we mobilize a multidisciplinary team to address not just the wounds but the whole person," explained Jeffrey Carter, MD, medical director of the UMC Burn Center. "We have a phenomenal team of nurses, therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and nutritionists, among other staff, who work together to ensure that every need of the patient is met."

The UMC Burn Center is the Gulf South's only verified center between Galveston and Tampa, equipped to handle a wide range of burn injuries. Every year, more than 650,000 people in the U.S. are treated for burn injuries in emergency rooms. Burn centers like UMC's are highly specialized clinical units that provide patient-centered care using a multidisciplinary team approach. From rescue to reintegration, patients receive comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs. Only 2% of hospitals have a burn center and less than 1% of healthcare professionals specialize in burn care. The diverse team at UMC brings a unique set of knowledge, skills, and experience in managing the complex nature of burn injuries, which can require critical care, surgical reconstruction, and rehabilitation.

Darren’s treatment: Choosing between traditional skin grafts and innovative spray skin technology

One of the key decisions in Darren's treatment was whether to use traditional skin grafts or an innovative technique known as spray skin. Dr. Carter presented Darren with the options, and the idea of using spray-on skin cells intrigued him. The technology of spraying skin onto a wound was FDA-approved in 2018, and UMC has been at the forefront of using this technique, Dr. Carter notes. "It’s less invasive, requires a smaller donor site, and typically leads to faster healing with better cosmetic outcomes."

Spray skin, also called spray-on skin cells, involves taking a small sample of the patient's healthy skin, processing it into a suspension of cells, and spraying it onto the wound. This method contrasts with traditional skin grafts, where a larger piece of skin is transplanted from one part of the body to another. While both methods are effective, spray skin is often preferred for its minimally invasive nature and reduced scarring.

Darren's recovery following the spray skin procedure was nothing short of remarkable.

“I basically went in, woke up in post-op, and couldn’t believe it was already done,” Darren said. “I looked down and thought, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable.’ The support from the UMC staff, their expertise, and their willingness to explain everything made me realize how fortunate I was—not only to have survived but to recover so quickly. If I had to describe the care I received in one word, it would be ‘heartfelt,’ because I truly felt that everyone who helped me cared. There are a lot of angels running around that hospital.”

Today, Darren continues to cherish his time with his family and community, grateful for the expert care that helped him reclaim his life. His journey is a powerful testament to the exceptional care provided by the UMC Burn Center, where dedicated teams work tirelessly to help patients like Darren heal and thrive.

“Even three years after my recovery, the team at UMC is still by my side,” said Darren. “Their support never wavers, and I’m thankful for how they continue to look out for me."

For more information about the University Medical Center (UMC) Burn Center, visit
Burn Center in New Orleans | University Medical Center New Orleans (lcmchealth.org)