GIVING BACK: Jay and Judy Tinker
Tully couple helps burn survivors and their families
By Norah Machia
For Jay and Judy Tinker of Tully, volunteering to help burn survivors and their families has allowed them to give back to a very personal cause. Jay himself suffered severe burns several years ago in a freak accident and faced a long and challenging recovery.
Judy, a retired occupational therapist, and Jay, a retired information technology specialist for a health care company, are trained SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) volunteers who support survivors recovering in the Clark Burn Center at Upstate Medical University. The national program is sponsored by the Phoenix Foundation, whose motto is “Nothing heals people like people.”
“There were a lot of people who helped me through my trauma and this allows me to give back to them,” said Jay, who can offer his support to patients at the burn center wishing to speak with a recovered survivor, while Judy can speak with the family members. “It helps with the healing process,” she said. “They can see my husband and know their life can get better.”
Jay’s accident happened in 2013 and caused severe burns on approximately 45% of his body. While pouring gas to set up a bonfire, he accidentally dropped the container, which hit a pocket in his cargo pants and ignited his cell phone inside. Jay sustained burns primarily on his arms and legs and received some flash burns on his face. He spent a month at the Clark Burn Center before being released and undergoing extensive rehabilitation at home.
The couple is also volunteer directors for Camp Triumph, a free summer camp for pediatric burn survivors sponsored by the Burn Foundation of Central New York and the Clark Burn Center Foundation. The camp has been held at Beaver Camp in Lowville in recent years and free round-trip transportation from Syracuse has been provided.
The camp allows children to participate in boating, fishing, swimming and sailing activities. “Volunteering keeps us active and keeps us going,” said Judy. Even more important, it has allowed the couple to share Jay’s traumatic recovery journey to help others.
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