Help Hope Live for Harmony Perez

January 9, 2025

Happy New Year Update: January 9, 2025 – 4 Months Home!Happy New Year, everyone! We hope you all had a joyful holiday season. As we reflect on the year gone by, we’re filled with gratitude for the support and love we’ve received throughout the year. 2024 was undeniably scary, heartbreaking, and challenging, but we made it through—thanks to our faith, the strength of our family, and the incredible support and kindness from all of you.Fundraising Update & Matching Gift: As shared in our last update, we received an incredibly generous donation from an anonymous donor who is matching all donations made through March 2025, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000! Thanks to this match, your support is making an even bigger impact. Over the holiday season, we’ve received many donations from family, friends and even new supporters who we have never met who have been moved by our story. We can’t thank you enough for your generosity, your prayers, and for helping spread the word about our fundraiser. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us make progress, and we’re so grateful for each of you. With these donations Harmony’s dreams of having a stairlift so she can tuck the girls in at night and check in on them before she goes to sleep is now possible. Every night since the girls were born, she would head upstairs to check in on them one last time before she could wind down and relax for the night. Buying a stairlift for our type of stairs must be custom-made, which can cost $20,000 or more. There are also modifications that need to be made to the kitchen in order for Harmony to be able to cook again.Family Updates & Christmas: This Christmas was very different from past years when we would normally have family come stay with us, or we would travel to New Jersey or Florida to be with the rest of our family. This year, we decided to lay low and enjoy Christmas with our family of 4, in our home. Although Harmony could not be as involved as she normally does in the preparation and execution of Christmas, she amazed me by how she kept the holiday spirit up. She did all the shopping and wrapping of gifts from her chair, on a makeshift desk I set up for her in our room. She even tried helping me set up the decorations outside before getting stuck in the mud in our yard and filling her tires up with mud which took me a couple of hours to clean up. LolHarmony even took the initiative to invite some of our close friends to join us at church for Grace Snellville’s Christmas Eve service, a tradition we will keep up in the years to come. Our family and friends took up a whole row at church, and we were welcomed by our longtime friends Dawn and Tom at the entrance.We had a great Christmas considering the circumstances, and the girls were extremely happy to have their mommy home, their gifts from Santa, and they were spoiled rotten by our family and friends.Insurance & Equipment Update: In a major win! Harmony finally received her long-awaited PINK custom power wheelchair, after over six+ months of us battling with insurance…appeal after appeal. This new chair has been a game-changer for her daily life. It can raise and lower up to 12.5 inches, allowing her to reach things she couldn’t before!  It also means we can now hug and kiss her at eye level—something we’re all cherishing and have missed.Milestones & Memories:This holiday season, we had some beautiful milestones and memories. Harmony and I were able to attend Maya’s school Christmas performance. Additionally, Harmony was able to surprise Maya by volunteering as a "room parent" at her 3rd-grade holiday party—something she wasn’t able to do last year because she had already volunteered for Riley’s party. Maya asks Harmony to come every year but this year she didn’t ask, probably thinking it wasn’t possible with Harmony’s current condition. But I dropped Harmony off at the school just before the party, and Maya’s teacher led her down the hall for a surprise visit from Mommy. The look on Maya’s face when she saw Harmony in the hallway was priceless—she jumped into Harmony’s chair and hugged her so tightly, full of “happy tears.” It was one of those unforgettable moments, a testament to Harmony’s unbreakable spirit and her dedication to her family.Final Thoughts: Through all the challenges, Harmony continues to amaze me with her resilience. Despite the obstacles she faces every day, she strives to keep life as normal as possible for our family, and her strength continues to fuel us all. We’re not just surviving—we’re moving forward, step by step, and we couldn’t do it without the support from each and every one of you.Thank you again for your prayers, your love, and your generosity. We’re excited for what 2025 will bring, and we’re incredibly grateful to have such an amazing community behind us.With heartfelt thanks,The Perez Family

December 8, 2024

3-Month Update: An Exciting Fundraiser Offer from an Anonymous Donor & Making Progress at Home, On Our OwnAs we enter the holiday season, we want to take a moment to wish all of our friends and family a Merry Christmas and Happy Thanksgiving. While this time of year can be busy and stressful, we feel incredibly grateful to have Harmony home with us to celebrate and make new memories together. It's been quite some time since our last update, and there is so much to share.First, we have some exciting news about our fundraising efforts: On December 5th, we were contacted by an anonymous donor who has offered to match all donations to our campaign, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000!!!!This is an incredible opportunity, and we need your help to maximize the impact of this generous offer. Please share our story with your network so that we can reach this goal and continue supporting Harmony’s recovery.In addition, we are thrilled to share that our story has been featured in the December issue of “Up Close and Personal” in Tucker & Lilburn. This is a local magazine that gets printed and distributed monthly to all residents of Lilburn and Tucker, GA. Thanks to a wonderful neighbor, our fundraising efforts are now reaching a broader audience in the local community, which will hopefully inspire even more donations to help us in our journey. Family Updates & SupportSince our last post, we’ve had some bittersweet moments. My parents, who have been a constant source of love and support over the past seven months, have returned to Florida. While we were sad to see them go, the girls and I are adjusting to our new routine and tackling the challenges ahead. We are ready to forge ahead as a family, though, of course, we know they’re just a phone call away if we need them. We also had a lovely surprise visit from Rachel, Riley’s Godmother, which was such a boost for all of us.Thanksgiving: Harmony and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner with friends at home and it was a success. Harmony and I cooked a Puerto Rican Pernil, our brothers from another mother (Chuck & Rob) fried our turkey to delicious perfection, and the Lee family provided delicious sides and blessed us with their company, making it an easy and cozy thanksgiving. Milestones and MemoriesThis month, we’ve managed to get out a bit more and enjoy some special moments. In addition to keeping up with Harmony’s follow up appointments, Harmony and I were able to have lunch with Riley at her school with some of her friends, and we also supported Maya during her “Earth Day” performance at school. Of course, we couldn’t let the Christmas season pass without picking out a “real” Christmas tree, a tradition we’ve been keeping for years. While it was an adventure we won’t soon forget, it was a highlight for all of us.We also had a wonderful visit with our close neighborhood friends at Alice’s house over the Thanksgiving break. Before Harmony’s strokes, we regularly visited Alice, and this was the first time since the strokes that we were able to bring Harmony in her wheelchair. It was a joyful reunion, and we look forward to more visits ahead.The Power of CommunityOur neighborhood continues to be an incredible source of support, whether through kind check-ins or donations to our cause. We truly feel the love of our community, and we are so fortunate to be surrounded by such caring people. We even had some members of our neighbor’s church pass by to take measurements and plan the installation of the front entrance deck/ramp we need built for Harmony. Their church has a “ramp and deck” ministry where they build ramps for folks who need them in Appalachia twice a year. They have agreed to take on our project free of charge, using the donated materials one of our friends was able to secure for us. I’ve also been deeply moved by my work friends and colleagues, who have contributed a significant amount of their personal leave time to help me focus on my family without the added worry of work. Their generosity has been invaluable since I’ve been out of work since April. I miss them all and know they have been working extremely hard this season with all of the disasters going on in the southeast.Medical and Therapy UpdatesAs for Harmony’s recovery, there’s been significant progress. She successfully underwent her SP Tube surgery three weeks ago, with minimal complications. Harmony has also begun outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy at the Shepherd Center, which will replace the in-home therapy she had been receiving. This is long overdue, since we have been on a waiting list since she was discharged from the Shepherd Center over 3 months ago. Her 1st session was this past Friday where she set up her therapy goals with the staff and worked her butt off practicing her car transfers and strengthening her upper body. We’re excited for the new opportunities this will bring, including access to cutting-edge equipment and the expertise of the Shepherd Center’s outstanding team.Looking ahead, Harmony is also preparing for the “driving clinic” at the Shepherd Center in January. This will give her the opportunity to explore the various different hand controls available and learn how to drive again in her current condition—another huge milestone we’re all eagerly anticipating.Finally, a huge thank you to our friend Mike, who helped us repair the hydraulic cylinder and computer that control the automatic doors and ramp in Harmony’s new car. After one of the cylinders failed, we were devastated, but Mike was able to help me track down the parts and make the necessary repairs. His help has been a lifesaver, and we are so grateful for his expertise and the extensive amount of his free time he spent fixing it.Gratitude and Looking AheadAs we reflect on the past few months, we are continually inspired by the outpouring of support from our family, friends, and community. Every donation, every kind word, every thoughtful gesture has meant the world to us. We are optimistic about what lies ahead—especially with the matching donation opportunity and Harmony’s continued progress in therapy.We couldn’t be more grateful for all of you who are supporting us in so many ways. Whether it’s through donations, sharing our story, or simply keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, you are helping us move forward, and we are deeply thankful.Wishing you all a holiday season filled with love, peace, and joy. From our family to yours, thank you for being part of this journey with us.With love and gratitude,The Perez Family

November 4, 2024

Day 61 Back at Home – 2-Month UpdateIt's been a journey full of highs and lows since our last update, but no matter how hard the day is, we end it with a nightly walk with Skye, and look forward to what tomorrow will bring and starting a new.Insurance BattlesWe’re still fighting for Harmony’s prescribed power wheelchair, which has now been denied for the third time. We’re working with our insurance company’s case management team to keep up the fight. Persistence is key, and we’re not giving up!Exciting Transportation NewsOn a positive note, I sold Harmony’s Jeep to Carvana, and, with the help of your donations and a loan, we were able to buy her a Honda Element X-WAV (Extreme Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) that I mentioned before. It’s only got 52k miles, and it’s incredible! With hydraulic pumps, the driver's side door opens automatically, and a ramp lowers for her to drive her wheelchair right in. Soon, we’ll install hand controls so Harmony can regain some of her independence behind the wheel. Until then, I can easily take her to appointments and outings with the kids. This vehicle is a game-changer, eliminating the struggle of manual transfers, and giving Harmony a glimpse of future freedom.Medical and Therapy MilestonesHarmony has been staying busy with follow-up doctor appointments and in-home physical and occupational therapy twice a week. Recently, she decided to have a port placed in her chest for her weekly and monthly medications, making it easier and sparing her from constant IV needles. We also have a tentative date for her SP Tube surgery, which will simplify things for her when we’re out and about.A Huge PT AccomplishmentOne of Harmony’s goals was to “army crawl” up to the second level of our home to visit the girls in their rooms. After weeks of determination with her therapist, she reached the top! We're incredibly proud of her grit and perseverance. There was a minor mishap when I tried to get her back down in her manual wheelchair – let’s just say our stairs are a little steeper than the ones we practiced on at the Shepherd Center! Thankfully, neither of us were hurt, but it was a scary reminder of the challenges we still face.Family SupportMy parents have been a constant source of love and support over the past six months, and they even joined us to cheer Riley on at her recent “Cheer-Off” competition, where her team claimed third place! This month we also decorated Harmony's new car and all attended our neighborhood trunk or treat. With my parent's support, we’ve made it this far. They’ll be heading home soon, and while we’re sad to see them go, and anxious about managing without them, we’re ready to tackle what’s ahead. We can’t thank them enough for putting their lives on hold to help us through this over the past 6 months.The Power of CommunityI try and keep these updates on a positive note because overall we are doing well considering the circumstances. However, it sure isn’t easy…. actually, it’s far from easy, but we are getting through it, day by day, with God’s help and blessings.There is still so much to do and so much to deal with. Every day brings new challenges, and new accomplishments, and we continue to need help. Please keep spreading the word about Harmony and our fundraiser.Your ongoing support continues to fill our hearts with hope. From thoughtful gifts, calls, and visits…. to meals, help with tasks, and monetary donations, our friends and family continue to lift us up. We are beyond grateful for this community and the love you’ve shown us.PS: We will be posting more pictures soon. Keep an eye out :)

October 30, 2024

Confusion about Help Hope Live Fundraiser....Do the funds donated go directly to Harmony?Good evening friends, family and supporters. While I work on our next update, I wanted to take the time to clear up some confusion about our Help Hope Live (HHL) Fundraiser. https://helphopelive.org/campaign/24108/Many of our supporters have asked if the funds donated to Harmony through HHL actually go to Harmony and Harmony only.....THE ANSWER IS YES! Harmony is able to access $.97 cents of every dollar donated to her campaign through HHL.What makes HHL different from other fundraising sites is the money donated goes into a trust fund that can be used to directly pay for medical related goods, services, fees and accessibility repair contractors. Therefore, the funds never hit our personal account and does not count as income which could be taxed and also prevent us from obtaining income dependent grants or services.Another great benefit of HHL is that they are a 501c3 which allows all donors to claim tax deductions for any money donated to Harmony's campaign. In addition, HHL provides one-on-one fundraising services through a "client services coordinator" who provides personalized guidance, resources, and ongoing support. The "client services coordinator" assists us with bridging the gap between what health insurance will cover and what Harmony needs to heal, live, and thrive. These efforts play a critical role in helping clients recover and maintain their health and independence.I hope this information clears up some of the confusion and hesitance to donate to Harmony's HHL campaign.Thank you all for your continued support, donations and prayers. We appreciate you all more than you know!Thank you,

October 14, 2024

40-Day Update on Harmony's JourneyToday marks 40 days since Harmony returned from her second stay at the Shepherd Center. While we are adjusting to our new normal, it’s been a long and challenging process filled with both good and hard days. However, we remain focused on taking things one day at a time and celebrating every small victory. Harmony continues to show immense strength, pushing herself to be the best mother and wife she can be, no matter how difficult the day.Recently, Harmony was able to attend several of Riley’s cheer practices and games, as well as Maya’s tumbling practices, which meant so much to the girls. Over the past few weeks, we’ve also had countless follow-up appointments with her doctors and specialists. Despite the support we’ve received from the Shepherd Center, we’re still learning how to manage the day-to-day challenges that arise. I’m currently still on leave from work, despite all of the disaster activity going on, and my parents are back from their cruise and staying a little longer to help us out.We also celebrated my birthday on October 5th, which was strange to begin with because for the past 20+ years working for FEMA I have always been deployed working disasters on my birthday. It was a busy day as Maya had a birthday party to go to and Riley had a night game to cheer at, however my parents and the girls still went out of their way to make me feel special and celebrated.As we continue this journey, one of our biggest current challenges is the financial strain of the ongoing care and equipment Harmony needs. Physical therapy at home began last week, and we’re hoping occupational therapy will start soon, but we’re still fighting with our insurance company to approve the power chair that’s essential for Harmony’s mobility. Every delay adds to the stress, and we’ve been working tirelessly with the Shepherd Center seating clinic to explore other chair options in hopes that insurance will approve one soon.Transportation is another huge hurdle. Harmony’s Jeep lease is up in February, and we’re in urgent need of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that she can ride in and eventually drive. This is so important for her to gain back her sense of independence and for me to be able to return to work eventually. After speaking to several dealerships in the metro-Atlanta area, we discovered how incredibly expensive accessible these modified vans are—ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $90,000 even with higher mileage. While this was disheartening, we recently found a modified 2011 Honda Element in great condition for a more affordable price. We’ve placed a deposit, but we still need to raise additional funds to purchase it. (Take a look at the "Honda Element" album in the photo gallery)On top of that, we are continuing home modifications to make our living space more accessible for Harmony. Today, the contractor who renovated her bathroom took measurements for a front deck and ramp, which we’re building with donated materials from a friend. However, there are still major kitchen renovations needed to give Harmony independence, but they’re currently beyond what we can afford.This is where we need your help the most. The financial costs of Harmony’s care, therapy, equipment, transportation, and home modifications are overwhelming, and we can’t do it alone. We are so grateful for the support we’ve received so far, but we’re still a long way from covering the costs of what Harmony needs for her continued recovery and independence.If you are able to contribute, no amount is too small. Every donation helps us get one step closer to providing Harmony with the tools and resources she needs to regain her independence and quality of life. Your generosity has already made such a difference, and we deeply appreciate your continued support during this difficult time.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

September 22, 2024

Home Update #2, 9/22/24

Good afternoon friends and family,

Harmony has now been home for 12 days, and while we have made some progress there are still a lot of things to figure out and a lot of challenges ahead. We are still working with the Shepherd Center and our insurance company to get the power wheelchair that Harmony needs approved. Insurance companies can be so difficult to deal with…..can you believe the only reason they have denied this specific wheelchair is because it comes with LED lights which are no additional charge?! Fortunately, while we are working on the appeal, we were able to obtain a power wheelchair from FODAC that is almost identical to the chair Harmony was using at the Shepherd Center. This has enabled Harmony to be more independent and even take walks with Skye and I in the evenings, which she very much looks forward to. It was a challenge at first even going for these walks because of how steep the curb is from the street to our driveway. I was able to temporarily lay down a piece of plywood that makes it safer and easier for her to leave our driveway in her new power chair. This chair will do for now, but it is not configured for her specific needs and is not a permanent solution. I have even started painting various parts of her chair pink to make it feel more like hers and the one we are fighting insurance for. Thank God for FODAC because without them we wouldn’t have the manual chair Harmony came home in, or the power chair she has now.

My parents left this past Wednesday back to Florida for a previously planned cruise which they very much deserve. They have been such a huge help and great shoulders to lean on and will be back in a couple of weeks. Them being away has given us the chance to “sample” what life would be like on our own without their help. So far, we have been managing but it’s not easy. Between getting the kids to and from school and extra-curricular activities, as well as preparing dinner…this is enough for anyone person to handle, not to mention assisting Harmony with her daily living activities and getting her to and from her follow up doctor’s appointments. Thankfully, my peers and co-workers have been donating their leave for me to use so I don’t have to work, however I hope to return to work soon. Another challenge has been keeping an eye on the kids and making sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing when they are upstairs in their rooms. I make frequent trips up and down the stairs to check on them, but it is really affecting Harmony’s feelings about not being able to get up there to help and spend time with the girls. I am going to contact a couple of more companies this week to get some quotes on a stair lift to hopefully solve this issue, but I know it won’t be cheap. Another issue is our kitchen…..we didn’t realize how hard or impossible it would be for Harmony to maneuver and/or use the kitchen to perform her motherly and house making duties since my parents have been here to take care of all of that. We are working on making some minor modifications to make it easier for Harmony, but we truly need a complete kitchen makeover for Harmony to thrive and be happy in this house. We even briefly tried looking at single level homes in the Parkview school district, however with the size of house we need, the current prices and interest rates, it’s not possible for us to purchase, and move into a more accessible home at this time.

Our neighbors and friends have been awesome throughout these hard times. They come by to visit with Harmony and check up on us to see if we need anything. Our neighbor Beth surprised us by bringing us some beautiful Mums for the front entrance of our house, while one of my sister’s longtime friends from New York who recently moved to Alpharetta brought her son over to power wash our driveway. Yesterday, Riley had cheer about an hour away from our home and we knew that it would be too much for Harmony to be out all day in the 90+ degree weather, so one of Riley’s teammates moms picked Riley up and brought her to the game, while Coach Smith brought her back home. Maya was able to get a play date with her friend Sage and her mom Megan offered to keep Maya all day. All of this was a tremendous help and allowed Harmony and I some quality alone time to get some stuff done around the house.

Today, as I write this, Harmony is having a rough day and is taking a nap. Her and I got to sleep in but when I helped her out of bed and into her chair this morning, she got very nauseous and had really bad nerve pain in her legs and back. She tried her best to push on with the day but had to get back in bed to rest and hopefully sleep it off. I’m doing my best to keep the house in order and clean so that Harmony can get around in her chair and so that we can start the school week off right. The girls are cleaning their rooms while I write this and wait for the groceries to arrive. Harmony and I are doing our best to keep a positive outlook and trust in God that he will help us through these difficult times. We have good days and bad and try and celebrate and appreciate the good times and successes along the way. This is just such a hard situation to be in, which no young family should have to experience. I want the best for Harmony and the family we have built, but there is just so much to be done and so much we need help with financially, that all we can do is make the best of what we have and be patient knowing that it will all work out.

Thank you, all of your continued thoughts, prayers and donations, without you all this would be so much harder.

September 10, 2024

FIRST FULL WEEK BACK AT HOME :)

Good Morning Friends and Family,

Today marks a full week since Harmony returned home from the Shepherd Center for the second time, and it’s been a week filled with joy, emotion, and reflection. One of the most touching changes has been in our girls, Maya and Riley. While I knew they missed their mom, I hadn’t realized how deeply they were affected. Since Harmony’s return, their smiles, laughter, and overall happiness have been a powerful reminder of how much we all need her presence at home.

Though we are incredibly grateful to have Harmony back, this week has been a rollercoaster of emotions. The modifications to our home, made possible by your generous donations, were a heartwarming surprise for her, especially the remodel of the main floor bathroom. Harmony shed tears of joy during her first shower, as it was the first time in over four months she could roll in easily and enjoy a warm, comforting shower. It was a truly special moment, and none of this would have been possible without your kindness and support (see attached pic). A huge thank you also goes to my coworkers and friends who donated their leave, allowing me more time at home to complete modifications and to care for Harmony and our family without having to also worry about work during this very difficult time.

As we settle in, we’ve realized there’s still a lot more to do. To help Harmony live a more comfortable, happy, and independent life, we need to widen several doorways, remove the carpet, and install new flooring in the formal living and dining rooms to create better accessibility. We’re also working with contractors to get quotes for building a decent sized patio/deck ramp at the front entrance. Currently, Harmony can only access the house through the garage ramp, which was kindly built and installed by close friends.

We’ve also discovered that our kitchen, in its current setup, won’t allow Harmony to easily engage in the homemaking and motherly duties she is so eager to return to. More pressing is the need for a stairlift so Harmony can access the second floor, where the girls’ rooms are. Recently, Riley told Harmony "how much she misses her tucking her in at night and their special chats before bed." When I tucked in Maya last night, she also mentioned how much she "misses Mommy’s bedtime hugs and kisses." It’s heartbreaking for Harmony to hear, and we’re making it a priority to get quotes for a stairlift, though it’s a costly project due to the design of our stairs.

Harmony is making excellent progress with transferring between her bed, wheelchair, couch, and even her Jeep. However, because the Jeep is so high off the ground, it’s exhausting for her to manage these transfers for every appointment or outing. This weekend, Harmony will attend her first Camp Creek Elementary football game since her injury, to cheer on Riley, our rapidly growing 5th-grade cheerleader! This brings up another significant need—a more accessible vehicle. We plan to lease or purchase a van equipped for easy wheelchair access, which will also allow Harmony to learn to drive using hand controls. With our Jeep lease expiring in February, we aim to secure an accessible vehicle by then.

We are beyond proud of Harmony’s progress and continue to be inspired by her resilience and optimism. We’ll share another update in about a week. In the meantime, we ask for your continued prayers, thoughts, and support. Please keep spreading the word about our fundraiser—we couldn’t do this without all of you.

Fundraiser link: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/24108/

Warmest regards,

September 4, 2024

HARMONY IS HOME!!!! :)

The Perez family is happy to inform our friends and family that Harmony was discharged from the Shepherd Center and returned home yesterday, September 3rd, 2024! :)

Harmony and I surprised the girls by picking them up from school yesterday.. It was such a happy and emotional moment for all.

Now we get to try this again as a family and move forward with our new lives after these life changing events. We continue to pray and keep our faith in God that Harmony will walk again and that he has a great plan in store for us.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. I will continue to update you all through here as things progress.

August 30, 2024

Harmony's Recovery Update #25 - Returning Home Soon!

Hello, everyone! We wanted to share an update on Harmony’s journey as she continues to recover from her second spinal stroke. It has been a whirlwind of emotions, especially with Harmony returning to the Shepherd Center (SC) for a second time. She’s been there for 19 days now after spending 13 days at Gwinnett Northside Hospital. This time around, the stroke has been even more challenging, largely due to the severe pain, which she describes as feeling like "razor blades raining down on her legs and back." :( We were thrilled to have her back home for a bit (6 days), even though we had to isolate due to COVID. But, unfortunately, her time at home was brief.

A lot has happened since Harmony has been away again. The girls have started school, and Harmony was unable to attend "meet the teacher" and the girls' first day of 3rd and 5th grade. Riley’s cheerleading season is also in full swing. For those who know Harmony, you know how much she loves supporting Riley at her cheer events, being a former cheerleader herself. So far, Harmony has missed the cheer showcase and Riley’s first two football games. My parents and I have been there to support and cheer the girls on, taking lots of pictures and videos to share with Harmony so she doesn’t feel left out and, we all attend church as a family with Harmony at the Shepherd Center every Sunday. We love and cherish these Sunday visits, as it gives us time to catch up and pray together.

When Harmony was home, we quickly realized that the setup of our main floor bathroom wasn’t accessible enough for her to use comfortably, even after widening the door. I promised Harmony that I would make this a priority and ensure the bathroom is remodeled for her return. I'm happy to report that we found an amazing contractor who understood the urgency. He completed the demolition and accessibility remodeling just yesterday, and Harmony is going to love the results. While the contractor worked on the bathroom, I focused on our back deck, replacing boards, power washing, and re-staining/painting it. This will give her more outdoor space to relax, especially since she can't access the upstairs or the basement right now. None of these improvements would have been possible without the generous help and donations from friends, family, and coworkers through the Help Hope Live and GoFundMe pages. Thank you all so much!

There's still a lot more to do. We need to make the kitchen more accessible, install a stair lift so Harmony can get to the second floor where our daughters’ rooms are, and build a front entrance deck and ramp. Accessible transportation is another big concern. We've raised a good amount so far, but not nearly enough for everything Harmony needs to thrive when she comes home. Donations have started to slow, and we're working with Help Hope Live to brainstorm new fundraising ideas. Unfortunately, we were recently notified that insurance has denied Harmony’s request/prescription for a power wheelchair, which could cost upwards of $25,000. We're working with our SC caseworker and the doctors and therapists at Shepherd to appeal this decision. As things stand, Harmony may have to return home in a manual wheelchair until we find a solution. Given her various autoimmune conditions and the muscle weakness caused by the treatment of these diseases with long-term steroid use, a power wheelchair is essential for her mobility and safety.

Despite these challenges, Harmony has been working incredibly hard, making great strides in her therapy. I’ve seen so much progress in her daily living activities, especially with her transfers and growing independence. Her schedule at the SC is packed with therapy, classes, and outings from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. most days. I spend my days at home taking care of household tasks/preparation, making phone calls, and advocating for her care, and then I visit her in the evenings, while my parents care for our children so Harmony and I can catch up and spend time together. Harmony’s doing so well that we even managed our first independent outing to Home Depot to pick out fixtures for her new bathroom. It wasn’t easy, but it gave us a glimpse of what life will be like when she comes home, and I know things will get easier with time and practice.

Our hearts are full of mixed emotions as we look forward to Harmony’s tentative discharge from the Shepherd Center next week. While we are excited to have her home, there’s also anxiety about adjusting from the 24/7 care she’s had at the Shepherd Center to managing at home. We still have a lot to figure out, including transportation to and from outpatient therapy and scheduling numerous follow-up appointments with her doctors but we are making progress.

Thank you all for your continued love, support, and prayers. We couldn’t do this without you! Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and spread the word about our fundraising efforts.

August 12, 2024

Shepherd Center Round 2

Good evening family and friends,

I will post a more detailed update when time allows.

Harmony has been at Gwinnett Northside Hospital for 12 days and will be transferred back to the Shepherd Center tomorrow, Monday August 12th, 2024 for another acute inpatient rehabilitation stay. The neurologists at Gwinnett Northside confirmed that Harmony had a 2nd spinal stroke on July 30th when I initially brought her back to the hospital. After 4 MRI's, a spinal tap, MRA and numerous blood tests the doctor's still don't have a clear answer on why this very rare spinal infarction has happened again, which means they don't know how to prevent it from happening again. The only treatment plan at this point is for her to return to acute inpatient rehabilitation, while we await some more test results and rely upon the doctors/neurologists at the Shepherd Center to investigate further. To add insult to injury, maya has not been feeling well and recently tested positive for COVID, which complicates things further. Hopefully, she has a mild case as Harmony and I did a few weeks ago and she recovers quickly.

Harmony and I feel blessed that the Shepherd Center has accepted her because it truly is a special place and we know how hard it is to get in to. Our faith remains strong that this will get better but there is still so much to do, and to figure out.

The Perez household has had a very rough time since this all began back in April, but we will get through this with our faith in God and the help of our family and friends. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers and I will continue to keep you all updated through this platform. Please also continue to spread the word about our fundraiser so that we can provide Harmony all of the equipment, modifications and comfort she deserves. Harmony remains strong and hopeful throughout this all.

If any of you live nearby please feel free to pay her a visit. She needs all of the support she can get and it provides me a chance to spend time with our girls and work on getting the house ready for her return once again. If you have trouble reaching her, please feel free to reach out to me to arrange visits.

Thank you

August 3, 2024

The Test(s) Continues…..Urgent Update! Spinal Stroke #2 :(

As you all may remember from my last post, Harmony came home from the Shepherd Center on Tuesday, July 23rd. On Wednesday, July 24th, Harmony and I felt ill, and both tested positive for COVID, which meant we spent her 1st 5-6 days at home in our “relocated” bedroom on the main floor in “isolation” from our kids and my parents. We had been waiting patiently for the moment we would all be together at HOME. We had that moment (Praise God!), the day she came home, with lots of love and hugs and kisses and hope, and the eagerness of us all to embark on the journey ahead and conquer these new challenges. These initial moments were so joyous; however, they were cut short. We didn’t let this keep us feeling down for long, as we continued to take things day by day and celebrate every success, no matter how small. My parents continued to take care of, and keep the kids busy/happy, while preparing meals and providing us anything we needed, from a short/safe distance away…. the kitchen where they donned masks and gloves, as did I, whenever I left the room, in order to prevent anyone else getting sick. My sister, who lives in Tampa even sent a “care package” of goodies for the kids, our favorite snacks, and over the counter medicine, and items to help with our symptoms. We were just starting to feel better and looking forward to ending isolation and re-uniting fully with our family.

On July 30th, Tuesday at 5am, I woke up to hearing Harmony calling my name from the bed next to mine for help because she was in pain. She was tossing and turning her whole body by moving her legs with her arms because she was so uncomfortable. I tried re-positioning her and even helped her get into her wheelchair so we could try sitting on the couch to see if that would alleviate her pain. Instead, her pain got worse, so I helped her return to the bed, I woke my parents and decided to call 911. Harmony has an extremely high threshold for pain, so I knew something was really wrong for her to be continually crying and moaning like she was. We even tried an additional dose of her nerve pain meds prescribed to her, but nothing helped.

The Fire Department arrived first and EMS shortly after. They could see Harmony was in distress and I had given them the whole sequence of events, since this all started back in April. They quickly loaded Harmony into the ambulance while I gathered our things, as well as her wheelchair and prepared to hop in the Jeep to follow her in the ambulance. We debated back and forth on where they could and couldn’t take her, because initially they wanted to take her to Piedmont Eastside due to it being the closest and they had to stay IN the COUNTY (Gwinnett). We had such a bad experience at Piedmont Eastside back in April, that we insisted she be taken further to Gwinnett Northside in Lawrenceville.

We arrived at Gwinnett Northside shortly after 7am and Harmony was taken straight back to a room where they treated her pain the best they could and conducted multiple MRI tests to find out the cause. Late on the day of our arrival we still had not received the reports from radiology but the hospitalist on staff was concerned, so he admitted Harmony to the hospital, however there were no beds available on the “Neuro” floor where she needed to be evaluated further. Harmony remained in the ER for 3 days until a room finally became available late last night. I stayed with her as often as I could to advocate for her and keep her company, however during this time we also had “meet the teacher” at school and Riley had her “Cheer showcase”, so I ran back and forth to try and keep some kind of normalcy and parental support for our girls. Harmony was very disappointed that she could not attend either and that she was in the hospital yet again  Despite all of this, we continued to try and look on “the bright side of things”. Maybe there was something all of the other hospitals and doctors missed that could make this better? How could it hurt to have more eyes and brains trying to help Harmony?

This morning, I had breakfast with the kids and my parents, we talked about the plans for the day, and I left to go spend some time with Harmony and hopefully talk to the doctors as they do their rounds. We 1st met with the hospitalist who showed us the MRI images and explained that there were some areas to be concerned about and that the neurologist would be in shortly to explain it all. At this point, Harmony was still in pretty bad pain, with few periods of relief between the time she arrived in the ER to finally getting a room on the Neuro floor. The hospitalist made some adjustments to Harmony’s meds which seemed to work well for the rest of the day as long as they stayed on top of it, and administered her meds every 2 hours, on the dot.

The neurologist came in to see us about 20 mins later and confirmed that Harmony had a 2nd Spinal Stroke, except this time it was in the lower thoracic part of her spine around vertebrae T10. The doctor explained that she did not know what caused it but that her focus would be on identifying why this is happening and preventing it from happening again. She also ordered more tests, like a lumbar puncture/spinal tap to check for inflammation of her spine, as well as another type of MRI that will inspect the veins and nerves, in-and-around her spine to see if they can identify any issues there. This was news we were not expecting to hear, and it scares the daylight out of us!

As a result of this 2nd spinal stroke and Harmony being in bed, for the most part, since leaving the Shepherd Center, she has gotten weaker, and today, she was unable to perform an independent board transfer from her hospital bed to the reclining chair in her hospital room as she was able to do the day she discharged from the Shepherd Center. Gwinnett Northside PT/OT staff assisted Harmony with the transfer and recommended she return to an inpatient acute rehab, once the doctors finish their tests, figure things out, and we eventually discharge from here. Immediately after they made the recommendation, we asked that they send the referral for Harmony to return to the Shepherd Center since we loved that facility so much. I also immediately reached out to Harmony’s care team at Shepherd to alert them and ask them if they will have her back if necessary. I received no promises, however I received some good feedback from them and a very good feeling that they will take her back, if her condition warrants it, upon discharge from Gwinnett Northside.

I stayed with Harmony for the rest of the day/evening before returning home to take Skye for a walk, write this update, and get some rest before returning to the hospital tomorrow. Maya is going to accompany me tomorrow, so she can spend some time with Mommy and brighten up her day. The next step is the lumbar puncture/spinal tap which may occur tomorrow or Monday depending on the radiologist’s hours of operation.

Throughout all of this we have had some weak moments, but our faith remains strong, and Harmony continues to fight and keep a positive attitude. She is the most resilient, bravest, strongest person I know, and she continues to show these qualities every day!

That’s all I’ve got in me to write today, and we ask that you please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Please also continue to spread the word about what we are going through and our fundraiser website: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/24108/

When we get through this, we will have the strongest family ever! Nothing will be able to get in our way or stop us! God Bless!

July 31, 2024

Hello friends and family,

I wish I had good news about how things are going at home but around 5am this morning I woke up to Harmony crying in agonizing nerve pain in her legs and could not do anything to help her (I tried!) but call an ambulance and have her taken to Gwinnett Northside Hospital in Lawrenceville. We arrived around 7am and they took her and I back to a room in the the ER immediately. They have been administering meds to help her with this agonizing pain while we wait for her MRI results to be read. At around 11pm they advised us that she will be admitted, however we are still waiting on a room on the neuro floor. The only good news I have at this point is that her COVID symptoms are over and this hospital visit seems to be unrelated.

We are hoping and praying for answers and relief from all she has been through in the past 3+ months. She has only been home for 6 days after being discharged from the Shepherd Center, and more than half of that time, her and I have spent in isolation in our own home unable to hug, kiss and spend time with our girls and my parents.

Dear God please make this all go away! I know you are capable of miracles and we really need relief so that we can continue living happy lives with our family. Family and friends please continue praying for us. We will get through this!!!!

July 27, 2024

We have been so busy preparing for Harmony's return home that I didn't have a chance to post Harmony's graduation ceremony from inpatient rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center, which took place on July 23rd, 2024.

My parents, the girls, and I are so proud of her and how far she has come despite all of the challenges she faced throughout her stay. The Shepherd Center Atlanta is a special place and we feel blessed that Harmony was able to complete her inpatient rehabilitation, and are so thankful for the loving and caring staff, as well as her fellow patients/friends she made while there. Enjoy the video below!

July 24, 2024

Hello Family and Friends, I will post some more pics and updates soon. Things have been very hectic and overwhelming and we are still taking things day by day. Harmony was discharged from the Shepherd Center yesterday and returned home, however this afternoon she tested positive for COVID :(

The Perez household is doing our best to take care of Harmony and stay healthy. I don't know what God has in store for us, but this sure has been difficult and doesn't seem to be getting easier. :( Please continue to pray and keep us in your thoughts.

July 11, 2024

Update #20: July 3rd - 10th, 2024 - Preparations for Harmony's Return Home Begin

Dear Friends and Family,

I know I promised everyone an update over the weekend, however I just haven’t had the time to sit down and capture all that has gone on since my last post.

Maya’s B-Day and the “I-Can Studio":

With the help of friends and family, we were able to successfully host Maya’s surprise 8th birthday party at the Shepherd Center, which was a wonderful and joyful moment for our family. Harmony and I also spent quality time together in the Shepherd Center’s (SC) I-Can Studio, practicing what we have learned, and what life will be like at home, post-discharge. I am so grateful that the SC offers the I-Can Studio, because it really gives patients and their caregivers a snapshot of what life at home will be like before they are discharged.

July 4th Week:

After our experience in the I-Can studio, it became apparent that I needed to shift my focus on preparing our home for Harmony’s return, however, with it being July 4th week, it made it difficult to make any significant progress.

This year, the holiday felt very different without Harmony at home, but we made the best of it. Harmony was able to have the true ATLANTA experience, waking up early (5:30am) with her friends at the Shepherd Center to attend the 55th annual Peachtree Road Race to cheer on the wheelchair competitors, as well as the runners who came afterwards. The Peachtree Road race is a 6.2-mile race that happens every year on July 4th for the past 55 years. This year there were approximately 50,000 participants even though it was extremely hot and humid outside with heat index levels reaching 105 – 108 degrees!

Harmony and her friends had a great time at the event, returned to their rooms for some rest and recuperation, before they all decided to head up to the roof-top parking lot to see the various fireworks going on around the Buckhead and Atlanta area.

Although the kids and I missed spending the 4th and watching fireworks with Harmony, we were extremely happy to know she was spending time and having fun with her fellow friends/patients at the SC. While harmony was watching the fireworks, my mom, the girls and I went to our neighbor Alice’s house for a tasty dinner, some great company and some fireworks of our own, thanks to the Lingenfelter family. 

Support from Family & Friends:

Harmony has had many visitors over the past few weeks, including friends, such as Kim, Megan, and members of the Lilburn Mom’s group, who have been her friends since Riley was born…. over 10 years ago. They all showered her with love, support and gifts, which included a “Prayer Bear”. Harmony wanted me to let you all know how meaningful it has been to her, and how grateful and thankful she is for all of the calls, texts, cards, gifts and visits. Although she may not respond or reply, it doesn’t go unnoticed. These past couple of weeks, Harmony has been struggling physically and mentally…adjusting to all of the changes taking place…and your support has helped her push through. Please keep it coming!

Home Preparations and Future Plans:

Between Harmony being so busy with therapy, all the intense training, a few setbacks, and the holiday week, I have not had much time to prepare our home for Harmony’s return. Since my last update, we’ve learned that Harmony's tentative discharge date is set for July 23rd, 2024. This exciting news brings both joy and anxiety as we prepare for her return. With my parents' help, we’ve started decluttering and making necessary adjustments to our home. My parents moved upstairs to our master bedroom, to allow us to work on the main floor guest bedroom.

On Sunday, a friend of Harmony’s brought us dinner at home, and offered their assistance with the immediate modifications that need to be made. This was a huge help because I have been overwhelmed in general, and in a state of analysis paralysis, thinking about everything that needs to be done and how to pay for it. They helped me prioritize what needed to be done to get Harmony in the door and temporarily set up, until I can hire a contractor for the bigger projects.

Looking Ahead:

This past week, I’ve focused on clearing the playroom and decluttering the garage for the upcoming modifications. Over the next few days, I will be working on clearing out the guest bedroom, so that I can remove the carpet and install adequate flooring, just in time for Harmony’s medical equipment to be delivered.

Today, we had a discharge planning meeting with Harmony’s care team to finalize the details for her transition home, but we're still sorting out outpatient rehab and transportation logistics post discharge. I’ve been on extended leave from work since April 22nd and will eventually need to return, so we’re figuring out how to manage everything. Despite the challenges, we’re taking it one day at a time and keeping our faith that everything will fall into place.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. Your kindness means the world to us.

Warm regards,