Supporting Henry

I saw Henry last week and I forgot how much I loved Henry’s smile.   It takes over his whole face.

As many of you know our friend Henry had a terrible accident in Denver, on a scooter, that has resulted in a severe brain injury.   He has a really long road to recovery.  He could recognize me and said my name however he cannot currently string more than four words together and then mumbles the rest in a jumble.  You can see that he can understand, but his body is not cooperating with getting the thoughts out.  His right arm and leg are inactive due to his left brain injury, leaving him for now bedridden or wheelchair bound.

Jeff, his wonderful husband, is holding the family and work together however they are only taking things day by day.  There will be significant costs outside of health insurance coverage to help Henry get the treatment to give him the best chance of recovery. 

Henry’s spirit is truly unique.  He has dedicated his life to making other people’s lives better.  He has put so much good out into the world.  When I watched the clip from  Channel 4 Denver https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/03/19/scooter-crash-man-traumatic-brain-injury/  it was so surreal.  They only captured the shell of the man.  Our Henry is not just a man from Minneapolis.  He is the MOST prolific giver of the givers I have ever met.  He was the inspiration for and cofounded an organization that has built 6,000 classrooms in Africa.  He has been central to the international giving of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis and has fostered relations with so many other clubs in other states.  He is a regional director for CARE “an organization that works in 94 countries around the world to support over 1000 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian-aid projects.”  He volunteers at St. Stephens Homeless Shelter and has sponsored educations for many of those they have met in Africa.  Henry arranged and largely paid for Henry Solomon's high school education in Malawi and for him to come to Minnesota, where he attended MCTC for two years, and also financially assisted Mwaona Nyrongo's (another Malawian) graduate level education in various southern African countries.  There are also many others he has helped.  All of these are truly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Henry’s global giving impact.

Please won’t you consider helping towards Henry recovery.  It is so hard for givers to ask for help.  I had to nudge Jeff into this, but they need our help now more than ever.   Henry has responsibility for 18 employees and he has so much more to give to this world. Please help us help him.  There are so many lives that need him in this world with us.  Please give generously to help Henry come back to us.