"It takes a village' was never truer than it was on Sunday November 17, 2024.
Hope for Harry Go Fund me:
Life as we know it, can change in an instant. And for Annie and Harry Gale that instant was September 12, 2024. One minute they're chatting about coffee and the next minute Harry is having a massive stroke, and an ambulance is taking him away. Since that day life for the Gale family has not been the same. For Annie, as courageous and strong as she is, holding the family together, has no doubt been challenging, as it would be for anyone. Especially with children, a 96 year old mother in law, extended family, friends and a job...In my eyes, Annie has walked through the last couple of months like super woman. Making sure everyones' needs are being met, the kids', her mother in law, checking in on her job and visiting her husband in hospital daily would be a tall order for anyone.
Annie Gale has the strength that I suppose many of us have would have if we were pushed. It's like the woman who lifts a car if she saw her child stuck underneath it. When tragedy strikes and lifes' challenges appear some of us may shut down, and some rise to the occasion. Annie has certainly been one of the latter. She definitley has risen to the occasion. This was the most unexpected turn of events in the Gale household. And I'm hoping that after this massive show of love and support on Sunday, that Annie and the Gale family know that they're not alone in this, and this beautiful loving community of friends and music lovers standing with her in support of her and the entire Gale family.
On November 17 from 1-5pm at the local Community Center in Sebastopol was proof to the saying "it takes a village". The "village"came out in droves to support this family. Harry Gale is originally from New York but has been around Northern California since the eighties. He has been playing guitar and recording our local musicians at his studio, Route 44 for as long. His guitar licks have been heard on many albums with a variety of artists. And he's played in hair bands from the eighties starting with 'Broken Ties' and 'Love Tribe', to 'Harrys Big Rock Revival' and most recently he has been playing with 'Spike Sikes and his Awesome Hotcakes'. (Pictured below, at the Sebastiani Theatre, Sonoma. April 2024.)
Harry has always greeted me with a giant smile and great enthusiasm. And whenever I've seen him play, he has always impressed me with his rockstar talents on guitar.
The love for him was very apparent at the event this past Sunday at the Community Center. There was so much love and healing vibes pouring out for him and his family that I cannot imagine them not reaching him only a mile ish away at the hospital he has remained in whilst in a coma after the massive stroke he had suffered on the 12th of September.
Below, Harry sees me from across the yard. August 2024.
Whilst he's been in a coma both of his children turned another year older and on the 9th of November he turned 60 - all whilst laying in a hospital bed in Sebastopol. On his birthday my friend Gailene Elliot and I visited. Her with guitar in hand, me with a full heart and more photos of him to put on the walls around his bedside of him being a rockstar.
During this birthday visit we shared time by his bed with both of his sisters and the music that emerged from Gailene and her guitar. I believe that music reaches people with brain trauma from my own experience. And the extensive studies out of Stanford that I have studied over the past decade to create my own music app to help people with brain trauma. For me, the interest began when I saw a film called, 'Alive Inside'. This film changed my life. Made by social worker Dan Cohen and film Director Michael Rossato-Bennett. It was a winner at the Sundance Film Festival and in my opinion, a true masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9IHUPamCB4 Although much of the film deals mostly with dementia, Alzheimers and old age, the Stanford study also applies to all types brain trauma including sudden accidents, PTSD, childhood trauma, ADHD, Parkinsons and strokes. Music helps so many ailments to do with the brain. The studies show that there is a part of the brain that only responds to music and temporarily 'revives' memories and brain activity to brain trauma patients. (As seen in 'Alive Inside'). Although this 'reviving of memories' in Alzheimer/Dementia patients has only been proven to be temporary, I do beleive that all types of brain trauma can be helped with the assistance of music in a medicinal way. I know this first hand due to an experience I had with my dad when he was in a coma. The experience I had with my dad exactly corralates to the findings at Stanford that music reaches the human brain no matter what. I imagine especially with music people such as my dad was, and Harry is, I do believe the music is reaching him, hence the music playing by his bedside. I put up a sign above Harrys' head in his hospital room, requesting visitors and staff to push play upon exiting so he can always be listening to music. I feel that the music and the community's love can reach him and heal to bring him back to his family and friends. But right now as his daughter Issy dreamt...he is still resting his brain until the time he is ready to come back.
Francis Rico, Harrys' sisters, Mimi and Cindy and wife Annie (pictured below).
On late Sunday afternoon at the Hope for Harry event, Francis Rico and Jim Corbett did a meditation like segment (pictured below) with beautiful words and the sounds of flutes. We as a community stood together in the venue sending love and healing to Harry laying in his hospital bed. Hoping those healing vibes were successful at reaching him and helping him feel all the love and support we were sending his way.
After the event was over we did an approximate tally, and I'm happy to report that the financial efforts to help the Gale family was a great success. Everyone was so incredibly generous. As well as the enormous dose of the emotonal support the family must have been feeling by the end of the day. I want to thank each and every one of you for giving what you could to help the Gales in this difficult time. The donations, support and love shown to Harry and his family on that day shows that even though this country (and the world) is full of hate, division and turmoil...love will win in the end! (Or at least that's what I'm hoping.)❤️ Below, Harry playing his heart out at the Redwood Cafe Nov 3 2018.
From The Music Soup...Love each other fiercely. Tell your loved ones often that you love them. Apologize easily. Deal with and clear up conflicts quickly, it's healthy for the heart, mind and body. Be vulnerable. Hug and cuddle often. Hugs provide oxytocin, a natural blood pressure reducer. Never go to bed angry because things can change in an instant. Listen to music often. And always remember that tomorrow is never guaranteed to any of us, ever. ❤️🎵 ❤️
© Cheryl Alterman Photography 2024
Fabulous synopsis of the event and the hope for full healing - as we move forward ever conscious of the need for music. Yes, life changed for the family in September when Harry had his stroke, but it also changed with the incredible outpouring of support from the community. Looking forward to the day when we can announce that all of our prayers have been answered and that Harry is fully recovered again! Thank you so much, Mimi