Fighting Parkinson's - Now a Stroke
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This site is for family, friends and the extended community that are surrounding Harry Bondareff and his wife Kerry Rae Connolly with love, prayers, good energy and support.
Harry’s Fight!
In 2011, at the age of 47, Harry was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease. For a man whose world was about movement, adventure and exploration, this was an unbelievable blow.
Only five years after his diagnosis, with the rapid progression of Parkinson’s Disease, Harry could no longer work and had limited ability to do the things he loved.
Harry’s medical team offered a hopeful intervention: a brain implant that could help him to manage PD symptoms and reduce the side-effects of his medications. “Deep Brain Stimulation” (DBS) was brain surgery, and Harry was nervous about the idea. Eventually, as Parkinson’s progressed, the hope of having some relief and some of his life back brought him to the place where he was ready for surgery.
December 18, 2017, was Harry’s DBS surgery. That morning, Harry and Kerry Rae were full of anticipation and hope. By 1:00 p.m. his surgeon reported that the the surgery had been a success. And then, just a short time later, the world changed dramatically… Harry had a hemorrhage in his brain stem. A stroke!
He spent 13 days in a semi-conscious state in the neurological ICU. It was a very uncertain time with limited information about how much damage had occurred due to the brain bleed. When he was stable enough to leave the ICU, he was moved to the acute neurology floor where he spent two weeks. Harry has been at an inpatient rehabilitation facility now for two weeks and will likely be there for several more weeks. His cognition was not impaired, but much of his body (both on the right and left sides) was affected by the complex pontine brain hemorrhage. Please read the journal entries on CaringBridge for more detailed information.
Fighting the stroke is a full-time job. Managing PD symptoms is also a full-time job. Figuring out how to do both simultaneously, while largely confined to a bed and a chair, is exhausting and complicated. Many of you will remember that before December 18, Harry could barely sit still for any given amount of time, so his current stationary situation is excruciating for him.
How You Can Help
In addition to the grief and loss both Harry and Kerry Rae are experiencing, they are also facing new financial challenges caused by this medical tragedy. Harry has been unable to work since July of 2017, due to Parkinson’s, and his wife Kerry Rae is taking an unpaid, extended leave from work to support Harry while he stabilizes, goes through rehab and until they are able to set up a long-term support structures for Harry.
There are daily life expenses – rent, utilities, transportation, food – as well as covering self-paid health care premiums. They recently found out they cannot return to their sweet apartment because of stairs and are looking to find affordable housing that is wheelchair accessible. There will be new expenses that arise as a result of the brain hemorrhage and recovery, like purchasing a vehicle to transport Harry, specialized equipment and of course covering medical expenses and long-term care.
A financial contribution will help Harry and Kerry Rae get through the next phase of recovery. Anything you give or share will go directly to covering expenses and making this transition smoother.
About Harry
Love, dedication and commitment are a few of the wonderful adjectives to describe Harry. He loves his east coast family and Kerry Rae’s mid-west family dearly. He values community and holds dear the people who live all over the world that he shares his life with. If you are reading this, you are likely one of the many people who know and love Harry – or you are connected to someone who is part of his family or friends. You know what a special soul he is – and you know the gift that he is to so many people.
When you think of Harry, you might picture him having an adventure: climbing Smith Rock, hiking the forests of Mt. Hood, swimming in mountain lakes or traveling around the world with his wife, Kerry Rae. Or you might think of his quirky sense of humor, his reflective conversations, his love of good music. And of course, who can forget the big batches of curry he loves to make and share.
Harry’s interest in the environment and commitment to sustainability has been evident in his education (masters in environmental studies at University of Oregon), his former career as an entrepreneur in the recycled paper business, in his outdoor explorations and also in his commitment to live simply.
To embrace life and to have one more big adventure, in 2015 Harry and Kerry Rae sold their home and most of their possessions and bravely set off for two years: they backpacked around South America for 10 months and visited friends and family all over the country.
We’d like to invite you to join Harry and Kerry Rae in the next part of Harry’s courageous journey. This one is a long one – and not an easy one. And yet it’s one that we know Harry can make – love, commitment and determination will carry him through.
Harry’s Fight!
In 2011, at the age of 47, Harry was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease. For a man whose world was about movement, adventure and exploration, this was an unbelievable blow.
Only five years after his diagnosis, with the rapid progression of Parkinson’s Disease, Harry could no longer work and had limited ability to do the things he loved.
Harry’s medical team offered a hopeful intervention: a brain implant that could help him to manage PD symptoms and reduce the side-effects of his medications. “Deep Brain Stimulation” (DBS) was brain surgery, and Harry was nervous about the idea. Eventually, as Parkinson’s progressed, the hope of having some relief and some of his life back brought him to the place where he was ready for surgery.
December 18, 2017, was Harry’s DBS surgery. That morning, Harry and Kerry Rae were full of anticipation and hope. By 1:00 p.m. his surgeon reported that the the surgery had been a success. And then, just a short time later, the world changed dramatically… Harry had a hemorrhage in his brain stem. A stroke!
He spent 13 days in a semi-conscious state in the neurological ICU. It was a very uncertain time with limited information about how much damage had occurred due to the brain bleed. When he was stable enough to leave the ICU, he was moved to the acute neurology floor where he spent two weeks. Harry has been at an inpatient rehabilitation facility now for two weeks and will likely be there for several more weeks. His cognition was not impaired, but much of his body (both on the right and left sides) was affected by the complex pontine brain hemorrhage. Please read the journal entries on CaringBridge for more detailed information.
Fighting the stroke is a full-time job. Managing PD symptoms is also a full-time job. Figuring out how to do both simultaneously, while largely confined to a bed and a chair, is exhausting and complicated. Many of you will remember that before December 18, Harry could barely sit still for any given amount of time, so his current stationary situation is excruciating for him.
How You Can Help
In addition to the grief and loss both Harry and Kerry Rae are experiencing, they are also facing new financial challenges caused by this medical tragedy. Harry has been unable to work since July of 2017, due to Parkinson’s, and his wife Kerry Rae is taking an unpaid, extended leave from work to support Harry while he stabilizes, goes through rehab and until they are able to set up a long-term support structures for Harry.
There are daily life expenses – rent, utilities, transportation, food – as well as covering self-paid health care premiums. They recently found out they cannot return to their sweet apartment because of stairs and are looking to find affordable housing that is wheelchair accessible. There will be new expenses that arise as a result of the brain hemorrhage and recovery, like purchasing a vehicle to transport Harry, specialized equipment and of course covering medical expenses and long-term care.
A financial contribution will help Harry and Kerry Rae get through the next phase of recovery. Anything you give or share will go directly to covering expenses and making this transition smoother.
About Harry
Love, dedication and commitment are a few of the wonderful adjectives to describe Harry. He loves his east coast family and Kerry Rae’s mid-west family dearly. He values community and holds dear the people who live all over the world that he shares his life with. If you are reading this, you are likely one of the many people who know and love Harry – or you are connected to someone who is part of his family or friends. You know what a special soul he is – and you know the gift that he is to so many people.
When you think of Harry, you might picture him having an adventure: climbing Smith Rock, hiking the forests of Mt. Hood, swimming in mountain lakes or traveling around the world with his wife, Kerry Rae. Or you might think of his quirky sense of humor, his reflective conversations, his love of good music. And of course, who can forget the big batches of curry he loves to make and share.
Harry’s interest in the environment and commitment to sustainability has been evident in his education (masters in environmental studies at University of Oregon), his former career as an entrepreneur in the recycled paper business, in his outdoor explorations and also in his commitment to live simply.
To embrace life and to have one more big adventure, in 2015 Harry and Kerry Rae sold their home and most of their possessions and bravely set off for two years: they backpacked around South America for 10 months and visited friends and family all over the country.
We’d like to invite you to join Harry and Kerry Rae in the next part of Harry’s courageous journey. This one is a long one – and not an easy one. And yet it’s one that we know Harry can make – love, commitment and determination will carry him through.
Organizer and beneficiary
Clint Chiavarini
Organizer
Portland, OR
Kerry Rae Connolly
Beneficiary