That's where Chris Harbaugh was sent for the surgery he needed, surgery that was beyond local specialists and even a Baltimore hospital. In mid-August, Chris Harbaugh had surgery to replace a heart valve and repair an aneurysm. He spent 12 days in the Ohio hospital - three of them in intensive care.
Chris Harbaugh, 35, a welder, has been working all of his adult life. He can't work now, and he recently learned that the health insurance he thought would cover his care had been canceled. Bills from his first surgery exceed $174,000. He faces another open-heart operation early in 2005.
Chris and Stacey Harbaugh have been involved in car shows that benefit Dream Come True, a local nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. They've also organized car shows that raised funds for the North Hagerstown High School football team, the team on which Stacey Harbaugh's son played and with which he's still involved. Chris Harbaugh is participating in some medical research while under Cleveland Clinic care. It won't help him, but he hopes it will help somebody else.
Now the Harbaughs need help.
A fund has been set up, and donations can be made to the Chris Harbaugh Heart Fund at any Bulldog Federal Credit Union Branch.
A benefit dinner dance will be held Saturday, Nov. 20, at the United Auto Workers hall in Hagerstown.
If you go
Chris Harbaugh dinner and dance benefit
6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20; doors open at 5 p.m.
United Auto Workers hall
18131 Maugans Ave.
Hagerstown
Dinner catered by Mountain Gate Family Restaurant
Karaoke/DJ Ken & Kristi from 6 to 9 p.m.; and Jester and Charged Particles, a jam band, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; raffles. $20 donation, no refunds. Tickets are available at The Guitar Room, 315 N. Cleveland Ave., Hagerstown.
For ticket information, call 301-797-2464. For information about the Harbaughs, call 301-797-5534.
