By the time he was in his twenties, Tony was forced into dealing with his own mortality. His survival story begins when he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1984. The source of the disease was never confirmed, but it was believed that it was related to some past dental work. This young man stood 6’4 tall and weighed well over 200 lbs.  He was living alone in Springfield, Missouri when he was diagnosed.

After fighting the disease for five years, Tony learned from his doctors in February, 1989, that he would not recover from the damage to his liver and was going to die. The doctors did not offer any options for saving his life. Back in the 1980’s medicine was not as advanced and treatment options were limited and not as well known. Organ transplants were just becoming a standard surgery in the treatment of liver disease but, were still fairly new and not entirely common and supported in many states. According to Tony, the state of Missouri had reservations concerning transplant operations back then and therefore this surgery was not presented as an opportunity to save his life.

As he became weaker, Tony was placed in a convalescent hospital to live out his final days.  His weight dropped to 140 lbs.  He was in excruciating pain and preparing for the worst.

Being so young and somewhat naïve, he initially accepted what the doctors told him when it came to his health. As the days passed and Tony waited to die, he decided to become proactive and learn more about the disease that was destroying his liver. Since the Internet was not available back then, he began his research the old fashioned way, by reading medical books and articles. As he gathered information, he began his search for a cure. He started writing letters to the doctors who contributed to the books and articles he was reading.

Letter after letter was mailed asking the doctors if they knew of a cure for his disease. Responses would come back with the news that there was no cure and most did not offer any additional information, they simply answered his question. There was one doctor in Canada who did take it a step further and mentioned experimental liver transplants. Tony realized that his line of questioning while searching for a cure was a near fatal mistake. The magic question was whether or not there was a treatment or procedure that could save or prolong his life.

Tony had friends helping him search for answers and they located a physician in Pennsylvania who could perform a liver transplant. In fact, he was the doctor who pioneered the procedure and contributed to the development and use of the anti rejection drug.

The doctor offered to meet with Tony in the state of Pennsylvania. With the assistance of his friends, he traveled to Pennsylvania for his consultation. The meeting was a success and the doctor placed him on an organ donor list. Even though he was a candidate for the transplant, there were complications to consider with regard to how his body would accept the new liver. This young man finally was given some hope for his future and it was only as a result of his diligence in asking questions and seeking answers.

The process for the liver transplant was nothing less than an emotional roller coaster ride. He would receive the news that an organ donor became available, and then minutes later, he would be informed that the organ would be donated to another individual whose circumstances were more critical at that moment. One can only imagine the emotions an organ transplant patient goes through while waiting for their life changing surgery. Tony was experiencing all of the emotions: the guilt and pain for the donor and their family, the anticipation, the fear of the surgery and potential rejection of the organ.

He was at a point when he felt as though he could not take any more disappointing news and now, down to 120 lbs, was admitted to the hospital for the last time. His emotional and physical conditions were rapidly declining. His friends were by his side for support during this horrible ordeal. He was doing everything possible to stay positive and focused even when the situation appeared hopeless.

The surgery, finally!

By October 31, 1989, his condition continued to deteriorate when, for the final time, he received the news that a liver was on its way. He was promptly prepared for the surgery. However, this time he didn’t allow his hopes to get up since the circumstances had and still could change at the last minute. The hospital staff began running a series of tests, and the EKG technician that he befriended was there at his side, as she had been many times to comfort him. Her significance to his story will become known in a moment.

At 2:20 a.m. on Halloween, the liver was delivered in an ice chest and he was on his way to the operating room. During the thirteen hour, intricate surgery, Tony’s lungs collapsed and he literally died on the operating table. The surgical staff brought him back to life and proceeded to conclude what appeared to be a successful surgery.  As he began coming out of the anesthetic fog and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a witch standing over him.  After nearly suffering a heart attack because he thought he had died and went to the “bad” place, he found out that it was his friend, the EKG technician, dressed up in her Halloween costume.

In this case, the timing of surgery on Halloween could not have been any worse. The last thing he needed after waking up from a surgery that nearly took his life, was a person in a realistic witch costume, scaring the life out of him. Needless to say, she was in considerable trouble for her lapse in judgment that day, and that relationship had run its course.

The recovery process from the liver transplant was a difficult one.  He did not know if his body would reject the new organ, even with the medication. Tony was given about a year to live, not a terrific prognosis after what he had been though. However, doctors were concerned about the potential and likely complications of the transplant. No matter what the time frame, he was going to consider every day of life, a precious gift.

Despite the obstacles he was to face, he decided to begin a new life and plan for his future in Pennsylvania. Tony was completely broke from spending all of his money when he thought he was going to die, a common scenario with terminal patients. He found the means and took an apartment in a small town. He was beginning to adjust to his new life and environment when he decided to make his second chance at life count for something. It was his intention to educate the public on the importance of asking the right questions to avoid a repeat of his scenario. He became a representative of change in what appeared to be an uninformed, complacent society.

Tony founded an organization dedicated to encouraging people to be proactive, ask questions, and understand what resources are available to them, and how to locate the information. He committed himself to making a difference.

 His Angel…..

As he continued to recouperate from his near death experience, he met another individual who was to impact his life in more ways than he could imagine. Lutricia (Lou Ann), a beautiful angel, came into Tony’s life at a point when most other people would have run the other direction. Lou Ann was a registered nurse whose medical background came in handy when having to understand what Tony just endured. She was aware of what she was getting herself into, and she did not allow this to prevent the relationship from blossoming.

This was the beginning of a powerful connection that was about to affect many lives in a positive way. It began with their devotion to each other and expanded into building the organization Tony founded after his surgery. Tony, who was never known for his athletic abilities, even planned to “Swim across Europe” for the World Transplant Games in Hungary.
Before they married in 1992, Tony fell ill again and received the news that he was a diabetic. At the time of his testing, his blood sugar level was 995. He was admitted to the hospital for one week for testing and treatment. He quickly learned that the tools used in testing for diabetes were completely insufficient and not user friendly. Once again, Tony devoted his energy to finding new ways for individuals to do self testing in a more comfortable and less painful manner.

As Tony became stronger and healthier, it was becoming clear that he was truly a walking miracle. He and his wife, Lou Ann moved to Louisiana in 1999 to become loyal New Orleans residents. They continued their efforts to educate the public while building a successful business. Together, they aggressively worked with Social Services to devise and /or improve the delivery of relevant information to the public.

 Another transplant?

Unfortunately, Tony’s health struggles were not over yet. He had to face the consequences that his body suffered as a result from past illnesses. In 2001, he developed a terrible, head-to-toe rash. This ended up being a symptom of renal failure. His kidneys began to fail and by 2003, he needed to have a kidney transplant. Faced with yet another frightening medical trauma, he summoned up the strength that got him through his past experiences. This time, he was informed and knew what to expect. He was confident a donor would be located and that he would be okay.

 Lou Ann tested to be a possible kidney donor. While the odds were against a match, she wanted to know that she tried everything possible to save her husband. She ended up defying the odds and surprisingly, Lou Ann was a perfect match.

In 2003, both Tony and Lou Ann underwent the surgery to provide Tony with a healthy kidney. The dual surgeries were a success and both quickly resumed their hectic humanitarian and professional schedules.

Even in the wake of the Katrina devastation, they were never discouraged. They returned to the city after fleeing for their lives and losing almost everything.  It is their desire to see the former residents return and rebuild their lives. They are doing whatever it takes to achieve this goal.

 Here’s to a happy ending….

Today, Reverend Tony and his wife, Lou Ann make dreams come true for thousands of couples. They own and operate The French Quarter Wedding Chapel right in the heart of the French Quarter. The facility is a beautiful place for people to begin their new lives together.

They are committed to rejuvenating the New Orleans economy and have been making diligent efforts to present proposals to governmental officials. Regardless of the many roadblocks, Tony and Lou Ann will not give up their goal to rebuild New Orleans. They have been actively working to gain the support of the state in recognizing the wedding industry as an avenue to stimulate the economy.  Their plan is to help promote tourism which will create jobs and encourage residents to come back to their homes.

Reverend Tony is not a person who takes life for granted and together with Lou Ann, they use every lesson learned and experience to make a difference in the lives of others.

If you would like to check out their website, please go to www.frenchquarterweddingchapel.com

I'm sure they would love to help you plan a trip to New Orleans and the wedding of your dreams.


       Another happy ending.......