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Just days before the Jacksonville Jaguars opened their 2026 NFL season, Jaguars star Travis Hunter and his wife, Leanna, turned their attention to another team in Jacksonville: the nurses caring for children and families at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
On Sept. 8, the couple surprised Wolfson nurses who arrived expecting a routine appreciation gathering. Instead, the Hunters walked in to thank them personally and helped secure 500 sets of Create Amor scrubs for the hospital’s nurses.
The recognition was part of the Healthcare Heroes Initiative, which brings together athletes, entertainers, community partners, and healthcare organizations to recognize frontline healthcare professionals. Firehouse Subs also provided lunch for the event.
For the Hunters, the visit was personal because their son previously received care in the neonatal intensive care unit at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
“When our son was in the NICU, we experienced firsthand what nurses mean to a family during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They don’t just care for the patient; they care for the parents and the entire family, too,” Leanna Hunter told Nurse Approved. “Coming back to Wolfson and having the opportunity to recognize these nurses was incredibly personal for us. I hope every nurse knows that the compassion they show families stays with them long after they leave the hospital.”
Recognizing Another Jacksonville Team
The hospital visit came five days before the Jaguars’ Sept. 13 season opener, giving Travis Hunter and his wife a chance to recognize the healthcare professionals serving the same community.
“People see what we do on Sundays, but nurses are showing up for people every single day, often during some of the hardest moments of their lives,” Hunter said. “Leanna and I wanted to come here together and show them some love. Jacksonville has welcomed us, and being able to give back and recognize these nurses before the season starts means a lot to both of us.”
Leanna Hunter also spoke about what returning to Wolfson meant to their family.
“Wolfson Children’s holds such a special place in our hearts. When our son was in the NICU, we experienced firsthand the compassion and care nurses give families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Being back here today and having the opportunity to thank these nurses personally means more to our family than I can put into words,” she said.
For nurses, the Hunters’ return offers a glimpse of something clinicians may not always see once a patient goes home: how their care can stay with families long after a hospitalization ends.
Allegra C. Jaros, MBA, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, said the recognition highlights the work of the hospital’s pediatric and neonatal nurses.
“Our nurses play such an important role in the care we provide at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. They’re committed to giving every child and family top-quality care while being there for them through some of their most difficult moments,” Jaros said. “I’m incredibly proud of our pediatric and neonatal nurses, and it’s really special for us to recognize the difference they make every day. We’re grateful to Travis, Leanna, and the Healthcare Heroes Initiative for joining us in celebrating our nurses and the incredible care they provide for our community.”
A Healthcare Initiative With a Nursing Connection
For Create Amor founder and CEO Matthew Vuckovich, the mission behind the Healthcare Heroes Initiative has roots in nursing. His mother was an emergency room nurse.
“My mom was an ER nurse, so I grew up seeing the heart, sacrifice, and commitment that healthcare professionals bring to their work,” Vuckovich said. “When someone like Travis uses his platform to recognize nurses, it gives these healthcare heroes a moment they’ll remember long after today. Our mission is to bring this platform to hospitals across the country, creating a national movement around celebrating the heart behind healthcare.”
The Hunters came to Wolfson to recognize nurses. Their own experience there also let them show those nurses something they may rarely see: what their care can mean to a family years after the hospital stay ends.
