|
Anthony Hardenburg
The dictionary defines the noun "call-up" as "an order to
report for active military service." As a navy reserve, Anthony Hardenburgh
knows all too-well the meaning of this word. However, in May of this year,
Anthony received another type of "call-up"; one that would require giving
of himself to save another man?s life.
In late 1993, while Anthony was attending Virginia Tech
in Blacksburg, Virginia, he heard about a friend of a fraternity brother,
Joe Rodriguez, who was suffering from leukemia and was in need of a bone
marrow transplant. Anthony and his fraternity "brothers" decided to hold
a marrow drive to tissue type volunteers in the hopes of finding a match
for Joe. During the one-day drive, more than 700 people, including Anthony,
registered with the National Marrow Donor Program.
Since that time, Anthony, now 29, has been called several
times as a "potential" marrow match for a patient. Each time, Anthony underwent
the required follow-up blood testing, but each time, he was not a confirmed
match for anyone. Anthony moved to Miami from Virginia in November 1999,
and several months later he received another call asking him to come in to
the blood center for further blood testing in the hopes of matching a 64-year
old man with acute myelogenous leukemia. Anthony was elated when he found
out that he was a perfect match for this patient.
Anthony was ready, but before the marrow could be collected
he first had to attend several counseling sessions with the blood center?s
medical director, Dr. Bruce Lenes, and the blood center?s marrow coordinator,
Marie Jerome, so he would fully understand his live-saving commitment. Anthony
says he never had any second thoughts or doubts, and as the time for the
donation drew closer, he knew his commitment was "real." He says he felt
great about it.
On the day of his donation, Ms. Jerome, along with Anthony?s
mother, Sylvia, who had flown in from Virginia, and Anthony?s fiancé, Teri,
accompanied him to Miami Children?s Hospital, where the "harvest" would take
place. Anthony was placed under general anesthesia and his marrow was collected.
Although he felt nervous that day, Anthony reports that everything went very "smoothly." His
marrow was immediately flown via a marrow courier, to the waiting recipient.
Anthony spent the night at Miami Children?s and released
the following day before noon. He says he received a great deal of support
from his family and co-worker, but credits his fraternity for allowing him
to make a decision that would truly change someone?s life.
It is apparent that Anthony is grateful that he answered
this very special "call of duty." |
