Road to Recovery for Michael Harris

On Friday, June 8, 2018, my brother Michael Harris was shot in the back. This happened in front of his home with our father and his son, my nephew, present. He was immediately put in a car by his friends and driven the 1.8 miles to UC Davis Medical Center Emergency Room. Thank goodness they did not wait for an ambulance as that is what probably saved his life. 

The bullet entered his back at the T8-T9 level and is lodged in his spine. Michael is now paralyzed from his lower abdomen down. He has not been able to feel his lower body since the night of the shooting. In addition to the bullet in his spine, Michael also suffered 2 broken ribs in the fall and a collapsed lung.

Yesterday, June 13th, he was finally moved from ICU to the rehabilitation part of the hospital. Michael will be in rehabilitation with extensive physical therapy to build his upper body strength and learn how to take care of himself for the next 3 to 4 weeks. When he comes home, there will be a lot of care needed not only for him, but for our dad as well. 

Michael and my dad, Mike, live together and Michael oversees our dad's day to day needs. Our dad has had multiple strokes in the past and walks with great difficulty using a walker. He has also had a colostomy for 2 years from an emergency surgery for a twisted bowel. This will not be reversed. 

The immediate need is funds for gas, hospital parking, snacks for Michael, building a ramp, cleaning and rearranging the house, groceries, household bills, etc. The long term needs are unknown at this point. Michael can no longer work and with help from a social worker, is applying for Social Security. This will help with not only his care, but the needs of his son as well. We all know that Social Security does not pay much and there will be many, many things that will need to be paid for. 

If you cannot help financially, please consider visiting Michael, visiting our dad, helping with household chores, mowing the lawn, bringing dinner to Michael or our dad.... There are a ton of things that can be done that don't necessarily require money. My husband and I have been taking our dad dinner every evening and then going to visit Michael. 

Thank you so much for reading this and if nothing else, please share. Thank you all!