Pastor meets Mormon recipient of life-saving donation

On October 12, 2005, Rev. George Fleming underwent an operation to save a stranger's life. Aren Harper, a 5-year-old boy from Arizona, was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, and Father Fleming was a match.

"I have to admit that when I made the commitment to doing this in my mind it seemed to me like I was going to do it no matter what so I didn't really fully prepare the way I should have," said Father Fleming, pastor of St. Bonaventure parish in Speigletown and Holy Trinity in Schaghticoke.

Nevertheless, the surgery was a success and, four years later, Father Fleming finally met face-to-face with the family, along with the (now) 9-year-old Aren, for the first time in Washington, DC, over the New Year holiday. 
The experience, for him, was emotional.

"The strangest part was that it wasn't strange," he explained. "It was very humbling because they were so grateful."

Ecumenical bond
The Harper family seemed to feel the same way.

"My husband and I were going to pick him up at the airport and we were nervous about how it was going to be to meet this guy," said MaryBeth Harper, mother of Aren. "But when we took him back to our house, the emotion just wasn't there anymore. It seemed more like we were picking up an old friend. It seemed like we had known him forever."

The father, Rick Harper, said it was the first time the Mormon family had spent time with a Catholic priest.

"It was very nice meeting Father Fleming, and saving my son's life was an extra bonus," he said. "We're Mormons, and my son literally has Father Fleming's blood running through his veins. So if he marries a nice Jewish girl we've pretty much got the bases covered."

To the Harpers, Father Fleming's bone marrow was not only a blessing to their son, but for the whole family. 

In January of 2005, Mrs. Harper's daughter Lily, who suffered from the same condition - combined immunodeficiency - as did Aren, died without finding a donor. The thought of losing both their children in the span of 10 months was, according to Mrs. Harper, "extremely overwhelming."

Life anew
Within three weeks, however, the doctor's informed the Harpers of Father Fleming's match. Now, Aren is relatively healthy and living the traditional life of a child.

"Aren's just kind of a happy-go-lucky kid," said Mrs. Harper. "He has a few problems from the transplant, but overall he's a pretty normal kid."

As for Aren's comprehension of the whole thing, "I don't think he fully understands it," Mrs. Harper said with a laugh.

During his first conversation with Father Fleming, Aren ended the conversation by saying "Oh yeah, thanks for the bone marrow." 

His opinion of Father Fleming after meeting him for the first time? "He was a pretty nice guy."

For Father Fleming, the emotion hit him later.

"After the fact, it really hit me," he said. "It was tough not to cry. I felt kind of blessed that I was a part of it. It didn't take much out of me to agree to it in the first place, so it was a great feeling."

Paying it forward
The Harpers have continued to be blessed after the transplant. In June 2007, they welcomed a daughter, Tatiana, into the world. The doctors had advised the family that there was a good chance she would also suffer from the same condition as Aren and Lilly; she was born completely healthy.

"It amazes me how totally unselfish George was," Mrs. Harper said. "It's amazing to me how the choices we make have an impact on the future. And it's amazing to me how the choices (George) made had an impact on our life. It's because of him that our son is here and we are able to enjoy him. There is nothing we can do that will ever be enough to thank him."

In an effort to convey their thanks, both MaryBeth and Rick Harper have both signed up to become bone marrow donors.

"It's the least we could do," explained Mrs. Harper.

Father Fleming explained that he felt the spiritual sense as well, and perhaps that was no more evident than the sign he received in that morning's paper. While checking his horoscope that day, he read "today you will meet somebody who has your back."

(1/8/09)