April 2010
Dr. Tommy McElroy walks hurriedly down the hall as he comes to greet me in the waiting room of the Center for Advanced Healthcare on the campus of the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is obviously very busy, but he is also very gracious and.
In the 1980’s Dr. McElroy’s family was experiencing increasing difficulties. His parents divorced, and unable to be at home to take care of his family.
In 1988, at the age of nine, Dr. McElroy and his younger brother Kevin moved to the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes where they lived for the next two years.
“Looking back as a nine year old, I didn’t want to be there. Every kid wants to be with their family. On the other hand, I also understood that it was necessary because of our situation,” McElroy said.
His brother Kevin died unexpectedly last year from an undiagnosed heart problem, which prompted him to reconnect with the Children’s Homes. He is currently working to set up a Legacy Fund in his brother’s name in order to benefit the Children’s Homes. (See page 5 for more information on Legacy Funds.)
“After Kevin died I started thinking more about our lives together and how it shaped us.”
“I definitely remember our house parents, Chuck and cared for us like we were their own children. They took a genuine interest in us. They did more than just take care of our physical needs, but also understood what we needed as kids whose hearts longed to be back with our own families.”
McElroy’s father eventually remarried, and they were all reunited. Soon afterward, McElroy began to distinguish himself in his studies, making excellent grades throughout the rest of his school years.
“Life isn’t perfect. It never is. However, God’s grace is clearly evident in my life and we ended up being closer than ever before,” McElroy said.
“I firmly believe that the Christ-centered environment at the Children’s Homes made all the difference in our lives. I thank God for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes!”
Dr. McElroy is a busy, but much beloved physician at the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine.
Pictured is Dr. Tommy McElroy (left) and around 1989. The recent death of his brother Kevin prompted him to reconnect with the Children’s Homes to begin the process of setting up a Legacy Fund in his brother’s name.
Pictured is Dr. Tommy McElroy (left) and around 1989. The recent death of his brother Kevin prompted him to reconnect with the Children’s Homes to begin the process of setting up a Legacy Fund in his brother’s name.