Welcome to the Harold Kennel information page. This page has been maintained by Harold’s sister in New York City, Mary Ellen Kennel, since 1999. It was originally set up as a quick reference for all of Harold’s family and friends to receive critical updates immediately following his accident, which happened while he was traveling.

It is now our intent that this page is a destination for healing and information to those along a similar path, finding themselves in need of added strength, comfort and hope.

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Today our mother and I had a wonderful visit with Harold. When I arrived, he was seated in a wheelchair in the hall, quite alert. His face lit up when he saw me appear in front of him, and we both smiled from ear-to-ear.

Harold continues to receive excellent care from the staff, and I was again humbled to see how much so many of them care about (and for) him.

Mom still continues her visits with Harold at least once each week. Her age is beginning to catch up with her in more ways than one, and we am continually grateful for her health and strength.

We love you Harold!

Today our mother and I stopped for a visit with Harold. I still travel to Pennsylvania to visit my mom and him every couple of months. We had a very nice visit, as mom and I had just gotten back from a trip to Virginia to visit my aunt, and Harold seemed very happy to hear about that.Harold seemed in especially good spirits today, and I was impressed by a new menagerie of photos from his past, that had been placed in his room. It brought back fond memories of us growing up together.

I am always humbled by what good care Harold receives, how much his nurses and aides really care about him, and how hard they all work.

Mom still continues her visits with Harold about once each week.

We love you Harold!

Today my mother and I stopped for a visit with Harold. I actually get to visit him every few months, but haven’t carved the time out to update this site. We had a very nice visit, and once again enjoyed talking about sports and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Harold seemed particularly pleased to see us today. As is customary with all of my visits with Harold, I did most of the talking while he seemed to enjoy hearing about different family members and loved ones. I don’t usually take pictures with Harold, but actually got two very nice ones of all three of us that a kind nurse took.

Mom still continues her visits to Harold as often as she can. God bless her!

We love you Harold!

Today my mother and I stopped for a visit with Harold on our way back from a trip to Virginia. Harold seemed particularly pleased to see us today. He enjoyed hearing about my recent trip to Yankee Stadium. As is customary with all of my visits with Harold, I did most of the talking while he seemed to enjoy hearing about different family members and loved ones.

Mom still continues her visits to Harold about three times a week. God bless her!

We love you Harold!

Today my mother and I stopped for a visit with Harold on our way back from a trip to Virginia. My sister had been to visit Harold recently, and had some very good reports of him being quite alert. Sadly, my visit was one of the worst I’d ever had. I’ve mentioned before in my progress notes that I don’t like to gauge Harold’s overall health based upon my visits, since I don’t visit him more than once every few months. Harold’s grogginess today could have been due to the time of day I was there, or perhaps he’d just received his medications, I can’t really say. He is on some relaxers. Overall, it was certainly wonderful to visit with Harold and exchange a few kind words. Mom and I will go back again soon.

Mom still continues her visits to Harold about three times a week. God bless her!

We love you Harold!

Today my mother and I had a wonderful visit with Harold. He greeted me with “Hello sis!” and enjoyed hearing my take on the current baseball season. I told him I’d recently attended a Yankee’s game and he said, “Oh yeah, how’d they do?”

This was definitely one of the best visits I’d ever had with Harold. Mom and I read to him a bit from the newspaper and he seemed to really enjoy our presence. I will go down again soon to visit with Harold and the rest of my family.

We love you Harold!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Harold in his facility in Pennsylvania. It was near the end of his day, so he was a bit tired but I felt he knew who I was and that he seemed glad to see me. He was only able to respond with “Yes” and “No” which made me sad because I wasn’t sure if he was actually aware of what I was asking him, “How was your day, Harold?” “I see your guitar in the corner there, have you learned any new songs lately?” The reality is that sadly he does not have the capacity to learn new songs, but I know he’s always enjoyed playing the guitar, so I was trying to engage him with thoughts of things that bring him pleasure.

My mother continues to visit Harold every few days, God bless her.

Please continue to pray for our family as Harold’s youngest daughter is struggling with some very serious health issues.

To all of those dear souls out there searching for answers to your questions as to why this is happening to you or your family, and what type of treatment should you take, hang in there. I don’t have the right answers for you, but I do know that if you meditate and pray, they will come to you. Seek and ye shall find. God Bless you all.

Lastly, I caught part of a recent television interview while scrambling to get ready for work. The interview was with Billy Graham’s daughter and she was saying that the reason she wrote this particular book, “Why: Trusting God When You Don’t Understand by Anne Graham Lotz” was because she’s had an unanswered prayer her whole life. Just one. But, she didn’t curse God because she wasn’t getting an answer, instead she embraced her lack of understanding and used it as a platform to learn answers to other things. I have not read the book, but I have heard of this particular way of viewing issues. For example, love your anger, welcome disappointment, and nurture your fears. It’s a simple but practical methodology that really does work. It’s all about using life’s obstacles to grow and become stronger. May you find a peace that’s personal to you.

We love you Harold!

These past few months have brought us a mixture of hope and sadness.

My mother continues to visit Harold every few days, and he has been a bit more respondent lately.

Our family was shocked with the loss of one of Harold’s dear friends a few weeks ago.

Please continue to remember these dear loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

You are loved Harold!

Today is Monday, February 17, 2003. Happy Birthday Harold!

Well, here it is, 2003, and life has its way of grinding, shuffling and shoving forward. Unfortunately in Harold’s case, life’s taken him a step or two backward this past year.

Harold has been in and out of the hospital since the beginning of this year. He’s had various health issues which his doctors are working furiously at stabilizing. This has been a bain of sadness for me as I’m so far from him up here in New York City. Our mother continues to give me daily health reports on Harold’s condition, but I wish I could visit him more frequently.

I continue to monitor this Web site, and I still occasionally receive an e-mail of praise or question from a lost stranger with a common bond, out there among the ethers of these machines and wires, seeking solace for a loved-one or family member.

And so it is now, with the prospect of World War III looming, that all of us continue our tap dance on this big round whirling dervish, and we continue to hope, pray and coax each other onward in faith…