In his book, Still Growing, Still Learning, Still Me: A Journey of Protest, Healing, and Personal Transformation, former NFL player Kenny Stills reflects on the experiences and relationships that have shaped his life. Among them is a friendship with Bloom To Life’s founder, Ganesh Kumar, and a visit to India that brought him closer to the children, families, and medical teams at the heart of our work.
In the chapter “Embracing Change,” Kenny shares how that connection developed over several years. His account offers a personal perspective on Bloom To Life and the care provided at Amrita Hospital in Kerala.
A friendship that began in California
Kenny first met Ganesh at a restaurant in Carlsbad, California, in 2015. What caught his attention was Ganesh’s warmth: his laughter, his easy conversations with those around him, and the sense that he treated strangers as friends.
Ganesh did not know Kenny played professional football. Kenny recalls finding that refreshing. They exchanged numbers, and their next meeting was at Ganesh’s home, where his family welcomed Kenny with a traditional Indian meal. The evening introduced him to unfamiliar flavours, cricket, and a culture he was eager to understand.
Although Kenny’s football career took him elsewhere, they stayed in touch. Eight years later, a message from Ganesh brought them together again in San Diego. During that visit, Ganesh’s wife, Sowmi, suggested that Kenny join an upcoming trip to India.
He booked his ticket that evening.
Understanding the purpose behind Bloom To Life
Kenny arrived in Chennai in July 2023. Over the following weeks, he travelled with Ganesh through southern India, visiting temples and making time for reflection as he explored life after football.
During Girivalam, the walk around Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, their conversations turned to the experiences that had shaped Ganesh’s commitment to helping children. Kenny learned more about the personal circumstances behind Bloom To Life and the difficulties families face when they cannot afford the care their children need.
For us, that concern remains central to our work: helping families in India access surgery for children with congenital heart disease.
The journey eventually took Kenny to Amrita Hospital in Kerala, where he saw the work firsthand.
The people behind the care
“Visiting this hospital touched my heart in ways I didn’t expect,” Kenny writes.
At Amrita, the medical team explained how they prepared for complex procedures, including the use of 3D printing and virtual reality. Kenny also observed a heart surgery, an experience he describes with a profound sense of wonder.
His reflections give particular attention to the people providing that care. He writes about their dedication to children and families, their willingness to give of themselves, and the supportive community they had built within the hospital.
“Seeing people come together for a cause greater than themselves filled me with optimism.”
These words capture what stayed with him: the skill of the medical team and the shared commitment that sustained their work. He describes the staff as his heroes, recognising both their sacrifices and the way they supported one another.
A gesture rooted in family
After the visit, Kenny chose to support Bloom To Life in a deeply personal way.
“To show my support, I made a donation to Bloom to Life in honor of each of my seven siblings.”
By honouring his siblings, Kenny connected his own family to the families whose children needed care. His gesture reflected the personal significance of what he had witnessed at Amrita.
We are grateful to Kenny for his support and for sharing this experience in his book. His account gives readers an opportunity to understand our work through someone who took the time to visit, listen, and learn.
What began as a friendship in California grew into a connection with children’s heart care in India. Kenny’s story is a reminder of how understanding another person’s work can lead to a lasting commitment—and how that commitment can help give children the chance to grow.
Source: Kenny Stills, Still Growing, Still Learning, Still Me, “Embracing Change,” pp. 222–227. Banner portrait reference: Kenny Stills’s official website.
