Support for Harris Family Medical Expenses

Debra Jones is organizing this fundraiser.

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My name is Debra Jones, sister to Dawnette, sister-in-law to Steve Harris, and a proud aunt to their boys.

Steve is a loving father and devoted husband. He is kind, compassionate and a great listener. Steve has great empathy and genuinely loves others. He is highly intelligent with a passion for learning as well as sharing that knowledge with those around him. Steve is known for brightening a room with his sweet smile and infectious laugh.

On March 3rd, 2022, Steve was on a work conference call but had to end the call early because he wasn't feeling well. When his family arrived home later that afternoon, they found Steve on their couch in pretty bad shape. They rushed him to the hospital where, after running many tests, found Steve had suffered a brainstem stroke. With less than 10 percent of people surviving brainstem strokes, it was a miracle he was still alive.

Doctors quickly transferred him to Banner Desert, where doctors who specialize in strokes could perform surgery to remove the blood clot. During the surgery, they found the blood clot had developed new blood vessels and was redirecting blood back to his brain. The doctors became fearful that removing this blood clot would cause more bleeding and possibly more strokes. The doctors decided not to remove the blood clot on his brainstem and instead put him on blood thinners and medications to try and dissolve any other possible blood clots. Steve awoke from the surgery still being able to communicate and talk along with some mobility.

Two mornings later, Steve’s family arrived early to find he had suffered a few more strokes overnight. These strokes caused him to go into full-body paralysis with only the ability to move and communicate with his eyes.

Since his stroke in March, Steve has spent over 120 days in the care of specialist doctors and nurses. Between emergency rooms, ICU, and skilled nursing facilities, the average cost per day has ranged from $700-$2000 per day. During these 120 days, Steve has suffered from numerous complications including multiple strokes, heart attacks, brain bleeds, tracheotomy, a feeding tube, a large bed sore that now requires surgery due to its severity, and many other complications that come from being in and out of these facilities.

Despite all these trials, Steve continues to fight and has been beating the odds. He has a long road to recovery but the Harris family has been so grateful for the love and support they have received during this difficult time.

Steve is the sole provider for their family and now they are left trying to figure out how to pay these large hospital bills. These medical bills are in addition to the prior medical bills they had accrued from Dawnette’s battle with stage 4 cancer just a couple of years ago.

We hope these donations can help this deserving family so that they can focus more on Steve’s recovery. Donations will go to the Harris family to help relieve some of these financial burdens.

Thank you very much from all of the Harris Family for your thoughtful donations, as no amount is too little. God bless you and this family!