Jan. 13, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
Story By Jenna Marina; Video By Chip Fontanazza
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Terrance Plummer made quite a career for himself as a linebacker on the UCF football team.
He served as team captain, was designated the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP in arguably the biggest victory in program history and marched in a Walt Disney World Parade.
He played in lots of wins and a few losses; in championships and scrimmages; in some of the nation's largest stadiums and overseas in a Gaelic football venue in Dublin, Ireland.
Plummer has made enough memories to last a lifetime. Yet, perhaps the biggest takeaway from his four years in Black and Gold is a friendship that started in a hospital room two years ago.
On an annual team visit to Nemours Children's Hospital around the Thanksgiving holiday in 2013, Plummer walked into Margaret Williamson's room. Along with his teammates, they were able to put a smile on the teenager's face.
Often when teams visit hospitals the story ends there. That wasn't the case this time. Plummer and Williamson have been friends ever since.
"I never thought we would have the relationship we have now. It's a really good relationship and it's going to stand way past UCF to our old days," Plummer said. "I think it's a great thing I found a new friend and a really genuine friend who really cares about me and I care about her."
A resident of Merritt Island, Williamson suffers from dysautonomia, a condition that affects processes like breathing and digesting food. Dysautonomia has no cure. The condition exists when the brain does not tell its autonomic system how to work correctly. Every-day functions such as blinking, breathing, digestion and pupil dilation become a huge task for the patient.
After living out her dream of attending her first college football game for UCF's 2014 home opener, it took her two days to fully recover from her six-hour excursion. Despite knowing what it would take out of her, she had to be in attendance for the Knights' bowl game in St. Petersburg to support her friend.
"I wanted to come to the bowl game. That's what I told my mom when we went to the first one - I really want to go to the bowl game if we go to no other ones," she said at Tropicana Field on Dec. 26. "It means a lot to me. It's his last game at UCF and that's really an important game for him. It means a lot to be able to be here and support him. I definitely look up to him, how strong he is and how nice of a person he is. You want to be like him."
The two chat frequently via text or phone calls. Plummer, whose wrist is never seen without a special bracelet made by Williamson, checks in with her mother on occasion, as well.
Plummer was appreciative of Williamson's will and strength to support him in his last game as a Knight at the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl. He is even more appreciative of the still-blossoming friendship between them.
"She means the world to me," he said. "Margaret has been a great influence on my life."