Something happened this week that made me take a mental journey back in time.
With my 50th birthday not so far off, I thought about the people I have been blessed to know in my lifetime.
There are family members, friends and relatives, which you would expect, but there is one man who was a constant throughout most my life. Aside from my father, brother and now my husband, this man was always there when I needed him, when my family needed him. He was like a security blanket, as long as he was with us, all would be right. But this week, it doesn’t feel so right.
The passing of Dr. Clyde E. Harriger has left a hole in the hearts of many.
We are just one family of the hundreds upon hundreds of patients with stories. It was
Dr. Harriger who announced to my mother she gave birth to a skinny, little baby with what he called “chicken legs.” He brought many of us into the world and was our personal guardian angel over the years.
As a child, I remember going to the Campbell Building in Geistown for one of my many office visits. It was standing-room only as patients lined the hallway waiting to get into the office just to sit down.
One year, I had strep throat and went to see him the day before my birthday. When we finally got in to see him, it was my birthday, just a little past midnight. He gave me two shots, a bag of pills and said, “Happy Birthday, Kid. This one’s on me.”
When I was in second grade, I contracted encephalitis. When my parents took me to his office, he came out to the car to examine me and feared I had the life-threatening illness. He told my parents he would meet them at the hospital and then he closed his practice and joined them.
He ordered a spinal tap.
Another doctor disagreed and said he doubted I had encephalitis and discouraged my parents from putting me through the trauma of a spinal.
Dr. Harriger turned to my parents and said it was their decision. Without flinching, they put their trust in him. A spinal was done and sure enough, it was encephalitis.
During that time period, there were several cases in the region, some resulting in death.
The opposing doctor told my parents they owed my life to Dr. Harriger. That was nearly 40 years ago.
Over the years, there were many visits – strep throat, earaches, tonsillitis, physicals, you name it.
In my early 20s, I lived in Harrisburg for a few years.
When I got sick, I’d always come home to Dr. Harriger.
At 26, I lost my mother to ovarian cancer, a cancer that all too often goes undiagnosed and is known as the silent killer.
I will never forget my first visit with Dr. Harriger following her death. With tears in his eyes he said, “I am so sorry, Kid, that I didn’t pick up on that.”
With all the respect in the world, I said to him, “No offense Dr. Harriger, you’re a doctor, not God.”
With that he broke. The truth was, he was way more than a doctor. He was an exceptional humanitarian with healing powers, time and a story for every patient.
This is one “kid” who would like to send out a huge thank you to heaven above for the gift of Dr. Harriger and an extra special thank you to his wonderful family for unselfishly sharing him with us.
DeAnn Hadix-Cardarella is a Richland resident and a freelance writer.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Submitted Photo
Discussion
DeANN CARDARELLA | Saying goodbye to my guardian angel
- Local News
-
-
Boil-water notice issued in Upper Yoder Township
A boil-water notice has been issued for a portion of Upper Yoder Township as crews work to repair a leak along Route 271. -
No NDIC jobs to stay in city
After years of political clashes and fiscal uncertainty, these are the facts of the National Drug Intelligence Center’s final days:
• 87: The number of employees losing their jobs as NDIC operations wind down this year.
• 57: The number of staffers, aside from those 87, who will be offered jobs in Washington, D.C.
• Zero: The number of NDIC-related jobs that will remain in Johnstown. -
Blogging with heart
I had a couple of interesting interviews over the past 24 hours. The first was with an ambitious Forest Hills High School junior who organized a Red Out across the district today in support of American Heart Association. Like many of those involved in Heart Association benefits, Spencer Ivock was inspired by his own family members' experience with heart disease.
-
Forest Hills junior puts his heart into Red Out
Forest Hills junior Spencer Ivock is “redding out” the schools today for his senior project.
-
Local pair accused of robbing home twice
A Johnstown couple has been charged with breaking into a Lower Yoder Township home twice in a four-month period – and then selling, for $103, some of the thousands of dollars in goods they alleged swiped.
-
Steel firm considers coal mine near Que
Cambria Somerset Authority officials plan to meet this week with representatives of an Ohio-based steel company about a plan that could put a coal mine south of the Quemahoning Reservoir.
-
In brief: Somerset motorist dies in crash
A 28-year-old Somerset man was killed Thursday morning when his vehicle left the road, hit a drainage ditch and rolled over.
- Births 02/03/2012
-
[VIDEO] Party in Punxsutawney: Groundhog Day is about more than seeing shadows
For the thousands who show up at Gobbler's Knob as early as 8 p.m. on Feb. 1, Groundhog Day is about more than whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow: It's an excuse to party.
The Tribune-Democrat's Justin Dennis spent the night among the masses and captured all of the festivities on film. -
[VIDEO] Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction
More than 18,000 people – some representing states as far away as Arkansas and Oregon – crammed into the outdoor amphitheatre of Gobbler’s Knob on Thursday for the annual weather party known as Groundhog Day.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Boil-water notice issued in Upper Yoder Township
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
NC Police: Mom Injects Chemical Into Baby's IV
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Cuts
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Hiring Burst Pushes Jobless Rate Down to 8.3%
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Past Complaint About LA Teacher Comes to Light
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
Reaction Heated on Planned Parenthood-Komen Rift
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Madonna Nervous About Super Bowl Halftime Show
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
