Help a family that has always helped others

Hi my name is Ed Stracke and I along with Jim Travers and Bob Harnett, are reaching out to all to help a family that has always helped others. This is a tragic story about a family that has always conquered the challenges put in front of them. As you read their story I hope you’ll be compelled as I am to try to make life easier for them moving forward. Thank you for your consideration!

 

The story…39 years ago, Gabbi and Barb Harnett were faced with the reality that their 3½ year old son, Joe, suffered permanent brain damage from a prolonged seizure. While still reeling from the effects of their son’s sudden disability, their 1½ year old daughter, Molly, suffered the same prolonged seizure and the same damaging result. Not yet born, their son, Neal, was affected in the same way soon after his birth. Caring for three children with severe handicaps was difficult, but the Harnett’s faced their life-changing circumstances head on. Never did we hear, “Why us? Why our family?”

 

Barb recently had a massive brain hemorrhage and passed away at the age of 67. She was the one who managed all the daily family activities and care for their children. Life isn’t fair, but this is more devastating than anyone can imagine.

 

Early on, even with all the challenges they faced nearly four decades ago, they thought of others. Initially, when a fundraiser was started to provide a little extra help for their family, they thought more money was raised than they needed, so they gave back to help others like them. They started the Jolly Open, not only to raise money to help others, but to celebrate their kids and an awareness that life does not end when you have disabled children. Their impact has been far-reaching in providing resources and support to help other families. Their connections and the large outreach resulted in over $4 million dollars being raised, mostly to help kids with disabilities attend a special camp and provide much needed respite for parents.

 

COVID was devastating and isolating for many people. For the Harnett’s, the struggles multiplied because Joe, Molly and Neal did not have day programs or respite…it was 24/7 care provided by Barb and Gabbi. The effects of COVID are still impacting Joe, Molly and Neal because care providers are still limited or nonexistent and now the care falls on Gabbi, who is still working in his medical supplies business with his oldest daughter Carey.

 

In Ecclesiastes 11:1, it says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again”. Their entire life, the Harnett’s have lived this faith-filled message by helping others without expecting anything in return. You can now do the same for them.

 

What can you do to help? Providing financial resources will not bring Barb back, but it will lessen the burden of caring for the three kids and help Gabbi maintain a stable home environment for them. You can only imagine how hard this endeavor can be….

 

To donate to help the Harnett’s, consider a gift to the JoeMollyNeal GoFundMe. While it will take hundreds of thousands of dollars to adequately provide financial support, think in terms of what YOU can do. All gifts will be welcomed and appreciated to help a grieving family that simply needs help today and in the future.

 

Thank You!