Ray Harrison’s fight against staph infection

This cowboy has been in for the ride of his life! Ray Harrison, a faithful and devoted husband, father and friend. A true Montana mountain man, hunting guide of 24 consecutive years and wrangler at a well known ranch in Ennis, MT, is currently battling the massive complications of a staph infection that took hold of his 52 year old body in August of 2019. After a three week illness, and a round of antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection, the bacteria lingered in his body in the spring of 2019. But unbeknownst to Ray, a staph infection began to brew by mid summer in his otherwise healthy body. Raymond, being tough as nails, pushed through the pain. He said he'd been feeling different for quite some time, just thought he was getting older. His arms and legs were weak, so he pushed himself harder at work, hiking before the workday began to keep the stiffness from building around the metal plate in his back, an injury from a freak sledding accident on Christmas Day 2012. He worked hard to prepare his body to endure the long hours in the tractor or the various farm and ranch equipment he would be operating that day. But by mid August, after another five days flat on his back because of illness, Ray finally agreed to go to the doctor after his boss at the ranch saw his blackened fingertips and insisted that he get them checked. That same day, he was admitted to the ICU at Bozeman Deaconess, where the doctors together made the decision to rush Ray by ambulance to Saint Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula to receive care from some of the best infectious disease doctors and cardiologists in Montana. The group of five doctors and the staff in Missoula were right on top of his case, diagnosing the staphylococcus infection and the serious issues it had begun to cause in Ray’s body, only giving him a 25% chance of survival. The most emergent diagnosis was endocarditis, damage to the mitral valve in his heart. He was on the table almost immediately to receive his first mitral valve transplant. Since that alarming day in August, in only three short months, Ray has survived two open heart surgeries, replacing the mitral valve in each surgery. During his second procedure, he also received several bovine patches to his deteriorating heart and a total of 22 units of blood, plasma and platelets to offset the massive amount of blood lost during the second valve replacement. In addition to two major surgeries, Ray’s body is battling renal failure, complications from minor strokes, blood clots, pneumonia and a severe case of shingles to top off the list! Because the staphylococcus infection continues to infiltrate his entire body, he makes routine visits to his doctor’s, receiving daily infusions of antibiotics via pick line. As soon as mid November, Ray will need to undergo an impending surgery to have the gangrenous trigger finger on his right hand amputated as a result of the clots being thrown to his extremities. Ray also needs extensive dental work completed as his teeth and gums have become severely infected by periodontal disease, a surgery that can no longer be avoided.

The toll that this deadly bacterial infection has taken on Ray’s body has been devastating. This ordeal has been a living nightmare for Raymond, his spouse and devoted caregiver, Monica, and their seven year old son, Earl. Their daily expenses and medical costs continue to skyrocket and this cowboy hasn’t been on his horse or in a tractor in over three months! Please consider supporting this Bozeman grown, God fearing, husband and father. All offerings received, via gofundme and also through a local donation to Ray’s medical account at Stockman Bank, will help offset the medical bills that continue to mount. Prayers for Ray and his family are also greatly appreciated. God Bless!