Hal Glick is a well-known name in Ocean City, formerly one-third partner of  Moore Warfield & Glick real estate, now retired. He became even better known to the general public when an award/fundraiser was established in his name. He was the first recipient of the Hal Glick Distinguished Service Award in 2000 in recognition of his outstanding service to the community.
    About six years ago, Hal was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a type of bone cancer. With a great fight and chemotherapy, he has successfully battled this type of cancer only then to receive the news of a diagnosis of MDS a blood disorder. However, there comes a time when chemotherapy needs to be stopped pointing to a more favorable option, a bone marrow transplant which can combat both of these disorders for good.
    In January he decided to opt for the bone marrow transplant and in February both his daughter Lauren and her brother Shawn were tested to see who would be a better match. Only a sibling can be a full match but that was not a possibility for Hal for he lost his brother many years ago. So Lauren and Shawn did a full blood test for compatibility. As they anxiously awaited the results, Lauren remembers the day well when Hal announced she would be the better match and how his whole face lit up with hope.  They embraced with a big hug.
    And so a series of tests began. Lauren had to get a chest x-ray, EKG and full panel blood work. As the recipient, Hal’s requirements were even more stringent and extensive as he needed to have healthy organs to withstand intense chemotherapy which would lead up to receiving Lauren’s bone marrow and the fight against their two systems.
    Surgery, scheduled for April, had to be delayed due to some minor health issues developed by Hal. The team at Johns Hopkins wanted to be absolutely sure that Hal would be able to withstand the transplant. Those days of anxious anticipation stretched out slowly for both father and daughter.
    This waiting period was from April 23 to May 10, and it turned out to be a very positive delay. Lauren’s daughter Maddy (10) really wanted her grandfather to attend her spring musical at Worcester Prep; because of the delay he was able to attend.
    “We made it a point to enjoy those days, spending a lot of quality time together,” Lauren remembers.
    Finally, the word came that he was ‘good to go’ and “we were ecstatic,” Lauren said. “On May 9th I left Ocean City for one of Baltimore’s finest hospitals, Hopkins, at 5 am with my friend Sarah Flores, an RN (who had been a donor) and met Patty Spiegel, a family friend. Patty came with me to every doctor appointment and both friends were by my side for the procedure. They both took such great care of me.”
    Early the next morning, Lauren was prepped for surgery receiving a spinal with twilight (another option is general anesthesia). Bone marrow was aspirated from both sides of her posterior iliac crest, 1800 cc’s. She says she felt very comfortable through this two-hour procedure. She was in recovery for eight hours during which time both Sarah and Patty were able to witness Hal receiving the marrow after it had been filtered (he received more than 1600 ccs).
    Lauren wants everyone to know that this procedure can save a life and everyone should consider becoming a donor.
    “I would do it again if I had to,” she says. The marrow completely regenerates within 4-6 weeks. “The only after effects were I was a little tired and sore but I was back to singing in a week.” She reports that after just three weeks, she was back to working out and building up her running stamina again, and after a month, pretty much back to normal.
    Hal is doing well. His Neutrophils, or white blood cells, are building back up. He has now been moved into Johns Hopkins housing to be checked on daily as an outpatient. His blood levels fluctuate which is normal and he is building up his appetite and strength. Lauren wants to give her heartfelt thanks to Hal’s wife Christine for being at his side throughout the entire ordeal. “I admire her so much,” Lauren says. “She has been the best companion and patient advocate to my father, and we can’t wait to have him home again in 30-60 days.
    Lauren encourages us all to consider becoming a donor. For more information call 800-745-2452 or www.abmdr.org, just one of the many sites you can browse.