Respiratory Therapist Art Hardy died on Saturday, August 7th, 1993, when the plane carrying the Neonatal Transport Team from The Medical College of Georgia crashed near the Augusta, Georgia airport.  Art Hardy, 35, was a 1991 graduate of the B.S. Respiratory Therapy Program at MCG.  Tragically, there were no survivors and the nurse, pilot and baby were also killed in the crash.  Fellow respiratory therapists, other health care workers, friends, family and the entire community mourn the loss of Art Hardy.

 

Art Hardy was a Green Beret who traveled the world and had an impressive military career.  Art also worked as an O.J.T. Respiratory Therapy Technician over a span of twelve years before deciding to pursue a degree in 1988.  On his application to MCG’s Respiratory Therapy Program, Art wrote, “As a respiratory therapist, I could earn a good living, raise a family, help others and enjoy what I am doing.   I cannot think of any better reasons to want to go into a field.”  Art realized his dream and became a B.S. graduate and a registered respiratory therapist, but he did not have the chance to raise a family as he had planned.

 

We may never know what happened on that gloomy Saturday afternoon, but we do know that Art died doing what he loved.  He loved children and he loved being a neonatal respiratory therapist.  Art used to joke about his job and say, “Where else can you go to work, wear pajamas and hold babies all day?”  This is just one example of Art’s good humor and love of life.

 

Art died, just as he lived, giving selflessly of himself to care for others.  He had the uncanny ability to make friends and keep friends.  It is not surprising that so many of us in and out of respiratory care feel a tremendous loss.  We will miss him and remember him.

 

Written by:        Shelley C. Mishoe, PhD, RRT, FAAR