Danae O'Leary cares for ron and the bungalow

During a few moments of downtime, Danae O'Leary admits she's still wrapping her brain around the events of the last month and a half. On Sept. 5, five days shy of a year that she and her husband, Ron, opened downtown eatery The Bungalow, Ron was admitted to Sarasota Memorial. The 36-year-old was diagnosed with a rare cardiomyopathy and now anticipates a heart transplant -- and a half-million-dollar bill: He'd passed on health insurance to instead finance the couple's dream. His childhood friend-turned-wife and business partner, Danae took a break from her night gig (she's also a social worker with TideWell Hospice) to discuss ...

His routine

Ron's at home. He's very lethargic. He's up around 11 and then he falls into that routine with his e-mails and writing his "thank you" notes to people who have been donating to us and checking online and doctor's appointments and then usually back in bed and resting. He's still quick to laugh, but certainly he has his moments of being totally overwhelmed.

Her routine

Right now, it's like I have three full-time jobs. I don't like to consider Ron and fundraising a full-time job, but it certainly is. But I have a lot of friends, a lot of community support. People I don't even know have come in to offer help to us.

The kindness of strangers

One day, I was sitting in here about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I was by myself with the computer, the restaurant was closed, and it was pouring rain, and this man comes walking up to the door with his pant legs rolled up, this Irish man. And he said, "Can I help you at all? Who's tending your garden at home?" It's just even little stuff, taking out the trash, mowing the grass, I mean, everything, and I was just shocked. People off the street have come in and have a similar story and have just been so gracious to come in and help us.

Ron and Danae will be at JR's Old Packinghouse Café for a BBQ dinner and musical benefit, 1-5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 19. For details on this and other upcoming benefits, visit blogs.creativeloafing.com/the941 or ronolearyfund.org.