Greg Bailey WCNC Sports Director

Eight-year-old Henry stood at his mother's side with a wide grin on his face. As he watched the pictures scroll by on the screen, he grabbed his mom's leg and tugged to get her attention. The rest of us saw only the sick and bloated little boy in those photos, tubes running out of his chest, no hair on his head, but Henry saw wonderful memories with his family. Just like so many healthy children we all know who react to photos of a great trip or family vacation, Henry reacted to pictures of himself wearing a costume or a silly wig. Every time he looked past the signs in the photos that said "CHEMO DAY 4" and "CHEMO DAY 6," I realized that these moments, all from the hospital, are the only memories that Henry has.

Henry is our latest star from the Hendrick Marrow Program. Sunday night Henry's mom and dad came to the Learn, Live, Hope Foundation dinner and auction to tell us about their son and the incredible journey that he continues to take. Henry battled a rare, life threatening illness for years with no success. From one doctor and one state to another his parents desperately tried to save their only son. They tried fund-raisers and online pleas for prayers and for funds. Rick and Linda Hendrick helped by paying for tests to see if they could find the one in a million who would act as a matching bone marrow donor.

Henry's parents grew so desperate they decided to have another child to see if a brother or sister could save their first born. They received the blessing of a healthy son, but suffered heartbreak when tests revealed Henry was not compatible with his baby brother. Every time they didn't know where to turn Rick Hendrick and his foundation would keep hope alive.

Sunday at the dinner we all got to see what happens when faith and community rally together to fuel that hope. A man named Russ introduced himself before kneeling to greet Henry for the first time. Everyone in the room watched through tears as Henry and his family met the man who saved their little boy. Henry's dad cried while his mom smiled and hugged everyone around her.

I was struck then and now by just how regular Russ is. He's a husband and father of two girls who turned himself into a hero simply by allowing doctors to swab his cheek. They take the big q-tip, test it and store it away. Years after he entered the marrow program the call came and Russ answered just in time to save Henry's life.

Today I watched as Henry and his two young brothers run to tell Russ' daughters about all the stuff they had seen and done with Rick Hendrick and his team. The man who saved Henry and the little boy who battled for years have now brought their families together. It's remarkable, and it is also something that can be done again and again.

Rick and Linda Hendrick have raised over $2 million dollars for their marrow program in the last two years alone. The intensive care unit at the new Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte bears Ricky Hendrick's name, honoring their son who lost his life in the plane crash in 2004. At last year's banquet the hospital unit was still under construction. This year it's already serving children, their families and saving lives. I can't wait to see what happens in the coming year. I can't wait to meet another survivor and the man or woman who acted as a hero and an angel all at once to save them.

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