The best friends bring out the best in one another. When Team IMPACT Fellow Sam Kirkpatrick transferred to Belmont from Holy Cross, he brought his love of Team IMPACT with him. Little did he know, that love of Team IMPACT would bring him a lifelong friend and a new family through his Team IMPACT teammate, Levi.
“Sam is family and is a brother to Levi,” said Levi’s mom, Erin. “He is always cheering Levi on and serves as a role model.” After Sam transferred, he worked hard to bring Team IMPACT to more teams on his new campus. Levi was the first match, signed onto Sam’s very own baseball team, and in the time since, three more teams have signed Team IMPACT teammates of their own. “Levi met Sam during a very challenging time is his life,” Erin said. Both Levi and his sister have cystic fibrosis, so after nearly three years of being extra cautious during and after the pandemic, Levi was feeling isolated. “When he was matched and signed with Belmont baseball in November 2022, it couldn’t have been a more perfect opportunity for Levi to feel special and like a normal kid,” Erin said. “Sam immediately stepped in and organized his teammates and coaches in a series of events to make Levi feel included on the team.
One of Levi’s favorite memories was getting to throw out the first pitch at Belmont’s opening day, which also happened to be Levi’s birthday. “Off the field, Sam plays the role of a big brother, attending Levi’s baseball and basketball games and organizing fun outings, like a Nashville Predators game, Tennessee Titans game, Nashville Sounds game, movies, and restaurants,” Erin said. During Christmastime, Sam went to Levi’s house for a special family dinner. “He wrote us a sentimental card about having us in his life,” Erin recalled. “As a special surprise, we had asked Sam to design a new baseball glove for Levi. He had Levi’s name sewn on the glove along with a favorite Bible verse.”
“Sam and Levi share a love for baseball, food, and sporting events,” Erin said, “Levi’s confidence has improved, and he can feel the support and love of his teammates. He has said it is important to ‘show up for the team like they’ve showed up for him.’”
Both on the off the field, Sam shows up for Levi, just as Levi has shown up for Sam and his Bruins teammates. “Sam is always a text or call away. He comes to Levi’s baseball and basketball games and makes a point to spend time with Levi off the field,” Eric said. “It’s the moments outside of baseball that are making a difference.” This difference in Levi has permiated into every aspect of his life, making more confident and more himself.
Sam graduated in May, but before he did, he was sure to pass the Team IMPACT baton to his teammate Heath who recently became a Fellow.“We are excited to spend more time with Heath and continue to cherish the lifelong friendship with Sam,” Erin said. Even since Sam’s graduation, he has kept in touch with Levi, seeing his family as his own.
“Sam is a role model, a leader, and a lifelong friend of our family. I can’t think of a better person who embodies the qualities of a teammate than Sam,” Erin said. “Sam is family, and the bond he and Levi have will last for their lifetimes. If I could take away Levi’s CF, I would; but I would never want to give up the unexpected positive experiences this disease has given him. Sam was put in our lives for a reason, and we are forever grateful for him.”
