Fenton Man Fighting For His Life

Rick Harman does the best he can each day, even though the fight just to get out of bed is an extreme battle every morning.

Cancer is never easy. For the Harman family, things have been especially tough.

In April 2010, Rick was diagnosed with Stage 4 Acute Myeloid Leukemia and his only chance of survival – a maximum of five years – was a bone marrow transplant his body rejected.

Harman is now fighting for his life, while his family is also fighting for survival.

Friends are holding an event, called The event will include dinner, dancing, and silent auction from 7:30 p.m. until midnight Wednesday at the . Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for those 18 and under.

Harman has been given a less than 5 percent chance to live to 2012. He was incoherent for the better part of 10 months, not remembering surgery to remove lesions from his brain. "I remembered having a headache forever."

He owned his own business with his wife Lori, but now he spends 10-20 days in the hospital each month and his family has struggled to pay medical bills, put food on the table and care for their two teenage boys. The family has sold many of their possessions to keep up with the growing debt.

"I don't take for granted how pretty a sunset is anymore. I now enjoy a cold burst of wind," Harman said.

"I have adjusted to the fact that I have cancer, but I don't acknowledge it. It definitely beats me up, but all I can do is be as strong as I can and fight it the best I can."

While their father is fighting for his life and their mother is often at his side at the University of Michigan hospital, the couple's children, Sebastian, 15 and Collin, 17, are often at home in Fenton cooking and cleaning and making sure their homework is done on their own. Lori said the boys had to "grow up fast." Earlier this year, the community gave the boys money for school clothes, but they insisted they wanted to give it to their mother to help pay the bills.

“This is such a selfless, kind, and humble family who seriously needs our help,” said longtime friend Kristen Wolosonowich, who organized Wednesday's event.

Rick Harman said it's been tough not being able to provide for his family or go outside and throw the football around with his boys, but he can only, "Do what I can do."

Lori Harman said it's also been tough on her watching Rick struggle to do simple tasks.

"It breaks my heart everyday," she said. "I want to help him and I can't."

Additional donations can be mailed to 602 E Ellen St. Fenton, MI 48430 and checks can be made payable to Rick Harman.

"Someone is always dropping off a pizza or something," Rick Harman said. "With all the support, it's a really a good feeling."