Why I Give: Torey Carpenter

“I want to give back out of gratitude for the care I received.”

Torey Carpenter, Radiology Technologist, UW Health

Memories of being a patient at American Family Children’s Hospital moved Torey Carpenter to support the Child Life Program.

At the age of 17, Torey was diagnosed with a cancer most commonly found in infants. Going through three years of treatment alongside infants and children made a deep impression. “It was hard to see someone so much younger and more fragile than me going through the same thing I’m going through. It made me enjoy and appreciate my life so much more,” he said.

Torey’s hospital experience led him to a career in health care. He’s been a radiologist technologist with UW Health since 2016 and sees adult patients at University Hospital and kids at American Family Children’s Hospital.

He always wanted to give back to the children’s hospital out of gratitude for the care he received, and working there reminded him of the powerful impact Child Life has on kids and their families.

“The Child Life specialists reassure and comfort kids and their families. I want to see the continuation of that caregiving and make sure they have the supplies they need. It’s nice to know that there are funds out there that allow this continued comfort for these kids,” Torey shared.

As a former patient and now, the father of a young son, being part of the care team at the children’s hospital is especially meaningful.  “I always recommend that anyone with kids to go to American Family Children’s Hospital because of the great care I got and the expertise of physicians and staff.”

He loves seeing how the hospital is advancing care for kids and introducing new procedures such as a new treatment for eye cancer that will bring kids from all over the world to Madison. And by supporting Child Life, Torey is helping to make the hospital feel a bit more like home for sick kids and their families.