Petrino Family Foundation Unveils Trauma Center

Here's the U of L release from Tuesday's opening:

Accompanied by his wife, Becky, and three of his four children, University of Louisville head football coach Bobby Petrino unveiled the Petrino Family Trauma Room at Kosair Children's Hospital.

The trauma room is the result of a $1 million gift from the Petrino Family Foundation, which was established upon Petrino's return to Louisville in 2014, and is run by Kelsey Scott, Petrino's oldest daughter.

Hospital administrators and doctors gave the Petrino's a glimpse of the new high-tech room, the region's only level 1 pediatric trauma center, which treats more than 1,000 children.

Children in the trauma room are treated for complex injuries such as accidental and non-accidental blunt abdominal trauma; penetrating injuries, like gunshot wounds, crush injuries and musculoskeletal and spine injuries; closed head and traumatic brain injuries; and injuries due to child abuse.

"One of things we always work with our football players at is becoming experts at what they do and really paying attention to the details," Petrino said. "And then you come to the hospital and you see real experts where it's a little more important than fourth-and-1."

Last year, after Petrino's return to Louisville in January, the family thought it was important to start the foundation, and one of the beneficiaries was going to Kosair Children's Hospital, which the family contributed too from 2003-06 -- Petrino's first stint with the Cards.

"It's really nice that this is a family foundation," Petrino said on Tuesday. "I think that's what I'm most proud of is how much our entire family has shown passion for the foundation."

Today was the first time the family and members of the foundation's board saw the competed room and how their gift will help save the lives of the numerous children who need care at Kosair Children's Hospital every year.

"I was just happy that we had the opportunity to give back to the community," Petrino said. "I was able to see first hand when our grandson was born, and how the hospital took care of him for a total of six days."

The Petrino Family Foundation, which held it's first golf outing last week and raised more than $25,000, continues to assist the community, which was the goal of the foundation when it was originated last year.

The trauma unit was a great gift for the foundation, but it was better for the thousands who will benefit from the Petrino's sincerity and generosity.