Tega Cay man who overcame severe burns finalist for national award

TEGA CAY, S.C. — It’s been seven years since Connor McKemey’s family was told he would likely die.

McKemey was lighting a fire outside his parent's Tega Cay home, when a nearby propane tank exploded.
It burned 90 percent of his body.

“Not many people get that opportunity and get a second chance and for me, it's been really a blessing, I look at it now,” McKemey said.

It took months for McKemey to recover. He had to relearn how to walk. He admits running was a struggle.

“Looked like Bambi trying to run or a baby deer trying to walk for the first time," he said.

Over the years, McKemey gave back to those who helped him. He volunteers at Levine Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network.

“At first it was just going back to the hospitals and meeting with kids who were in the position I was in,” he said.

Connor also started coaching lacrosse. It was a sport he loved before the accident. He was able to play on his high school’s team only nine months after the accident. He said he wouldn’t let his scars keep him from playing.

“I had a dream when I was a kid: I wanted to play college lacrosse,” he said.

This March, McKemey was able to live his dream on High Point University's Division 1 lacrosse team.

“Being able to put on the pads is an unbelievable blessing,” he said.

Now, McKemey is up for the national Unsung Hero Award.

It was started after a women's lacrosse player died from an abusive boyfriend.

“Everybody can see that something happened to me where there's so many people have gone through trauma. All their scars are internally where you can't see,” McKemey said.

The award is typically given to someone who defines teamwork. His High Point lacrosse coach nominated him.

“I think it's one of the biggest honors I have received in my life so far,” McKemey said.

When McKemey graduates, he hopes to work as a lacrosse coach and a motivational speaker.

McKemey finds out if he wins the award next week. If he wins, he gets to send money to a charity of his choice.

Channel 9 reporter Gina Esposito spoke with him about his long recovery, his volunteer work in the community and the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award.

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