On July 22, 2008, Harris's little brother Michael was rushed
to the emergency room with a serious bacterial infection. His condition quickly
worsened –- septic shock, a coma, and oxygen deprivation to his four limbs --
resulting in quadriplegic amputation.
The two both played sports.
"I've even won some awards, but that's nothing in
comparison to my brother. He wins the cake for being awesome."
Despite losing his hands, and having prosthetic devices
where his feet once were, he still competes.
"He doesn't let anything stop him," says Harris.
"He fought through it in a way I didn't know was even
possible," wrote Harris Stolzenberg on a website. "He inspires me and
everybody around him with his unforgettable smile and positive attitude."
His mental fortitude carried him through his challenges, but
he couldn’t have done it without the overwhelming support of the West Palm
Beach, Florida community, which helped pay for the prosthetics and therapy that
would cost many thousands of dollars.
After the Boston Marathon bombings, when Harris saw that
many families were going to be dealing with similar hardships, he felt
compelled to help.
He has begun training to run in next year's marathon, in
honor of his brother and to support those with injuries and unpaid hospital
bills. On a website Mikeys Run, he will raise money and donate 100 percent of
the funds raised to families in need.
Training for a marathon will not be easy but with your
support, I know I can cross the finish line.
And when I do, it will have been more than the run of an individual; it
will be a run for my brother and for
everyone injured in the Boston Marathon attacks.
Learn more at MikeysRun.com.
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