Man meets Hoffman firefighter who saved his life with marrow donation
Jack Rosenberg might have died if not for Hoffman Estates fire Lt. Donald Richter.
It was something Richter had done 10 years ago that eventually brought the two together. Richter participated in a bone marrow drive to help a local family whose three children suffered from Fanconi's anemia. People registered as potential donors and their information was entered in a national registry.
Initially, nothing much came of Richter's participation, but five years later he was contacted as a possible match for an unknown cancer patient.
That patient was Rosenberg, who lived near Phoenix, where he had moved after retiring as a Los Angeles assistant principal.
Five years later, Rosenberg is still alive, and Saturday he was finally able to thank Richter face to face, when the two met at the Hoffman Estates village hall.
"How can you thank someone who literally saved your life," Rosenberg said. "This has been quite an experience. There are no words to describe it."
The two shook hands and then embraced.
"We've corresponded through e-mail, but never met," Richter said. "I'm really excited for Jack and so happy to meet him. He went through quite a struggle with his leukemia, but now he's in remission and able to enjoy his retirement."
The match was made after Richter was identified through the National Marrow Donor Program, which last year facilitated more than 4,800 marrow and cord blood transplants, or an average of 400 each month.
The registry offers patients with life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma, access to 10 million potential donors worldwide, but officials said they always look to add more names to the list.
Rosenberg said that at the time of the transplant, all he was told was that his donor was a 39-year-old firefighter. He had wondered since then how to thank the person's selfless generosity.
Ten years ago, Richter was one of many village employees who participated in a bone marrow drive organized by the Hoffman Estates Police Department to help the local family.
The drive ultimately took place jointly in Hoffman Estates, Palatine and Schaumburg, and drew 435 Northwest suburban residents to sign up as potential donors.
After Richter was contacted by LifeSource officials, informing him that he was a match not for the area children but for an unknown cancer patient, he went in to have his blood tested further.
When he was informed he was a perfect match, he never hesitated.
"I was pretty surprised," he added, "but I knew it would save someone's life."
Saving lives is something Richter does for a living, not just as a firefighter and paramedic, but through community wide health education and prevention.
"He must have taught half the people in Hoffman Estates how to perform CPR," said Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod. He added that Richter now coordinates the training in use of automated external defibrillators in village buildings and businesses.
"He's been saving people's lives for years," McLeod added.
McLeod was joined by Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz, state Rep. Fred Crespo, Schaumburg Trustee George Dunham, and Hoffman Estates Trustees Karen Mills and Gary Pilafas to mark the meeting between Richter and Rosenberg.
McLeod read village proclamations commending both men, and said what made the happy outcome even more meaningful, was seeing them surrounded by their loved ones.
"When you see the families of these fine gentlemen," McLeod said, "you realize what this is all about."