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Tag: Patrick Thomas

  • A dream come true: N.C. State’s biggest fan meets basketball team

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Fandom is a passion for at least one person in our state.

    A teenager had the time of his life meeting the men in Wolfpack Red.

    What You Need To Know

    • Luke Girardin found himself at the epicenter of his favorite school Friday afternoon: N.C. State

    • Girardin loves the Wolfpack, and got to meet the basketball team

    • The 16-year-old high-fived the players and let them know how much he loves them in his own way

    • He has been diagnosed with alopecia, a skin condition, and Down syndrome


    Luke Girardin found himself at the epicenter of his favorite school Friday afternoon: N.C. State.

    Girardin loves the Wolfpack, and got to meet the basketball team.

    “It doesn’t take him being in a room more than two minutes. Everyone’s in love with Luke, and you just can’t not love that kid,” his mother, Kami Girardin, said.

    This teenager was visibly over the moon with joy before walking into the Lenovo Center to be introduced to the Wolfpack.

    Luke’s parents learned he was diagnosed with alopecia, a skin condition, and Down syndrome — a condition marked by developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

    His mom and dad said this wouldn’t have happened without the help of Dream On 3, a nonprofit based in Charlotte, connecting young girls and boys with their dreams through sports.

    The 16-year-old high-fived the players and let them know how much he loves them in his own way.

    Rob Girardin, his father, said his son is one of a kind.

    “He does his own thing. But he’s just, his happiness is infectious and contagious, and he just makes everyone around him smile,” Girardin said.

    His mother said without giving him many details, her son knew something special was happening Friday.

    “People are just drawn to Luke. He’s drawn to them, and you can’t not be drawn to him. I honestly never saw anyone in his 16 years treat him badly. He just makes everyone smile and ends up with high-fives and hugs everywhere he goes,” Kami Girardin said. “Luke loves people, love sports, loves N.C. State. So this is just an amazing opportunity for him to meet the team, meet the coach. He’s never got to do that.”

    But no medical diagnosis on earth can contain the excitement shining in his eyes and the look on his face.

    “It doesn’t take him being in a room more than two minutes. Everyone’s in love with Luke, and you just can’t not love that kid,” Girardin said.

    Because this young man had the time of his life.

    While he’s short on words, you don’t have to hear him talk to know how he feels because you can see it.

    His family said the team embraced him with open arms.

    “We’re just very grateful for the team at Dream On 3 to give Luke this opportunity. It’s just an awesome day. We are big Wolfpack fans and just love to be able to share with everyone and the family, and especially have Luke be able to have this opportunity to have just a great day and (a) great, great dream for him,” Rob Girardin said.

    Luke will also attend two games this weekend. Saturday’s men’s game against Virginia and Sunday’s women’s game against Cal.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Patrick Thomas

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  • Hard-hit Sugar Grove works to move forward after Helene

    Hard-hit Sugar Grove works to move forward after Helene

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    SUGAR GROVE, N.C. — Parts of Watauga County will need some of the greatest resources in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

    The unincorporated area of Sugar Grove is by far one of the most affected areas in the county.

    What You Need To Know

    • Unincorporated areas of Watauga County, including the community of Sugar Grove, are some of the most affected by Hurricane Helene 

    • Many homes are damaged beyond repair, while others will cost thousands of dollars to fix interior and exterior problems

    • Churches have temporarily canceled services as cleanup efforts continue

    Caked mud clings to a playground beside a field where grass was replaced by riverbed sediment, rocks and debris.

    Many homes are devastated, damaged beyond repair. Gov. Roy Cooper visited the area earlier in the week and called it one of the hardest hit communities in western North Carolina.

    Days after the governor’s visit, downed powerlines dangled over debris as cars sat in a nearby creek bed.

    The area outside Rick Rominger’s home is no different.

    “Pretty much it flooded everything. It flooded all through here. It got up in that trailer with mud. (If) you can imagine how high it was out there,” he said.

    Rominger has never lived anywhere else but Watauga County. He said this storm tops them all.

    He pointed to a pile of garbage cleared out from inside his house.

    “I think that’s a mess. That’s about it,” he said.

    Rominger, 68, is a man of few words but a person needn’t say much when pain and suffering is all around. He said he is happy to have boots covering his feet.

    “What can I do but just sit there and watch it go? Grabbed what I could and grabbed my shoes,” Rominger said.

    Directly across the street from Rominger is Cove Creek Baptist Church. A crib from the nursery was placed on the curb and several items from the basement had to be removed.

    Somehow the sanctuary was untouched.

    Down the road is the Henson Chapel UMC Church. Charles Henson is a trustee of the church whose namesake founded it. Henson said while mud coated every inch of the basement, the congregation will keep the faith.

    “This is just something we have to go through. This was biblical flooding. It really was.” Henson said.

    People here are optimistic about the advent of a temporary bridge being built by the end of the week. The goal is reconnecting these communities, and residents say hope is sure to be the fuel of the day.

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    Patrick Thomas

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