Thursday, August 5, 2004 11:11 PM CDT

Hi, this is from Kathy.
It has been a very busy couple of weeks. Don and I went up to our son Chris's cabin for a few days. Don also went to our church service for the first time in a very long time this past Sunday, then we went to the transplant picnic and visited with some of the 45 transplant recipients that were there, Dr. Lake and Ann Kalis were also there. We missed Dr. Ty Dunn, KEEP WEARING THOSE SOCKS TY. Then, back to church again to ride on the Swede Hollow Trolley, and then home to collapse after a long day.Monday, Don went to the eye doctor and was told he had to go see an eye surgeon, Today, he went, and was told it was very severe(legally blind), the prognosis is very good. August 31st, he will have cataract surgery to correct this, two weeks later he will have the other eye done. As always, we want to thank the donor for letting us be busy again. Don is trying to respond personally to all the guestbook entries on the computer, but cannot right at this time because of his eye condition. Don's new email address is donboxmeyer@comcast.net
Thanks for everything. Kathy
Hi, this is from Linda
I want to give you an update on The Memorial Blood Drive that we had in Don's Honor. I was amazed at the turnout of people on July 22nd. Molly Lindblad, Donor Recruitment Representative from Memorial Blood Center said we had a very successful blood drive. Many thanks to ALL of the people who tried to donate and could not at this time, for whatever reason. Remember I am having another blood drive sometime in October or November. The Total Units collected were 54, First time donors were 49. That was great. Already as many as 162 patients are benefiting from your donations in local hospitals. I plan on having a Blood Drive three to four times a year. Please email me at cgclmc114@aol.com or call me at 651/773-0690,if you would be interested in donating again and if you know of others that would like to donate. We would love to have you come back for the next blood drive. AND PLEASE REMEMBER, Consider putting DONOR on your drivers license, I DID. Thanks again to everyone and have a safe weekend. Linda

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:19 PM CDT

Hi from Don and mostly Kathy (lol). Well it's been some time since I could get someone to get this on the website, I'm not a computer person.

Don has been fishing with his son Chris at Cross Lake. Yes, we went up for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Wow! Me who thought he wouldn't be home from rehab until August. I am thankful. As I was buying him a hotdog in a service station in Milaca, I was thinking how lucky I was, it's the little things. Don caught a few fish at O'Brien lake with Chris and thanks Tom for letting Don use your dock.

Today, Don was a golf marshall ranger for an Exercare Golf outing. Yes Ann, he is tired. Last Friday we had a mini Boxmeyer reunion, wow, I have never seen so many Boxmeyers together all at once. This weekend, the transplant picnic and I know the transplant games are going on. The picnic we hope to make but we will skip the transplant olympics this year.

However, the heart warming get togethers between the transplant people and their donor's family are really touching. It makes me think of Don's donor and his family. Thanks to them for letting Don have all the recent experiences.

One last thing, thanks to my wonderful sister Linda for her hard and unrelenting work on the successful Blood Drive last thursday with the Memorial Blood Bank. And guess what, as busy as they are, who showed up???? Dr. Humar, Dr. Ty Dunn, her husband Dr. Dan Dunn and son Colin and of course, Ann Kalas. But guess what, Ginni Doyle and myself are the four minute blood givers of the whole group. First time donors and life-time givers from now on. Thanks alot!

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 10:09 PM CDT

Hello -
What a busy life- fishing, going to lunch with the boys, looking after his grandchildren. Don has had more action in the past couple weeks than the previous several months.
He is looking forward to seeing those of you who will be at the blood drive on Thursday.
Other than that we are appreciative every day for the gift he recieved from someone he will never know.
Keep your eyes peeled - there most likely will be a comeback column in the PP sometime in the coming weeks.
Have a great weekend!!

Monday, July 19, 2004 9:49 AM CDT

Hello -
They're going to have to hange a premanent "Gone Fishin'" sign on the front door if Don has his way.
We went to Lake Elmo yesterday for several hours. It only took a little time and my dad was back to his old form, backlashing every reel he touched HEHE! The fish didn't cooperate as well as we would have liked but we didn't care.
Everything else is going quite well, he seems to be gaining stamina daily.
Also a reminder, if you are interested in donating blood please contact my Aunt Linda. Her contact info is on the main page.
thank you for everything.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Friday, July 9, 2004 2:04 PM CDT

Quick Update: Sunday July 11 - Don went fishing!!! Check the pictures page for a few shots. Nope, we got skunked, but it was the best day we have ever had "fishing"!!!
(regular note below)

It's been 2 months & 5 days since my transplant and I'm going fishing on Sunday! I feel I have made remarkable progress since I came home from the hospital and rehab and I still look upon each day as a splendid gift. Right now, I am waiting for my friend Stan Turner to go to lunch with our regular Friday salon. The only sad thing about Friday lunch will be missing our dear friend Del who died so suddenly. Another sad note, today we mourn the death of Buzz Johnson - lifelong member of 1st Lutheran Church, my second cousin and a good friend.

I also want to give a special thank you to all of my friends who have, for so long, kept up their care and concern for me and this includes all of you.
While I'm not really a spiritual guy, I truly feel that the power of your collective prayers and best wishes certainly have contributed to a successful recuperation.

As I continue my journey back to normal, robust health, I hope to spend more time on the computer answering individual e-mails and writing occasional columns for the Pioneer Press.

God bless you all.
Don

As I'm watching Don go out the back door, down our 4 steps and out to lunch with Stan, I just smile and nod in amazement. I thought Don wouldn't even be home until August. Thanks to Dr. Humar, Dr. Ty Dunn (and Colin for sharing his mom), Ann Kalis and a whole lot of other people.

I'm eager for the blood drive July 22 because some of those busy people, yes, even Amber (dialysis) will be coming and the rest of you non-medical people also.

I promise there will be a little surprise for all of you; Oh yes, I've been out spending a little money lately.

On a serious note, I'm not a computer person, but at night and sometimes during the day, I always think of all of you transplant wannabes and transplant has-beens. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the road to today. I have something to send to the transplant people and any of you who might want a "Kathy surprise", but I need your home address. You can sent it to: donbox@worldnet.att.net.

My brother Arnold is back in the nursing home for medical therapy; he fell again. Hopefully he'll be home soon.

Thanks for everything.
Kathy

P.S. There are still openings for the blood drive - no pressure from me! Ha!

Saturday, July 3, 2004 6:25 PM CDT

This is from Don, via from Kathy and Linda. I've now been home a little over a week and each day makes me feel a little stronger and less like a patient with a serious illness. My recovery has gone remarkably well according to all the doctors and nurses, I feel better than I have for many months and possibly years. I have a great many people to thank and starting with my marvelous family, Kathy, Chris, Diana and Erik and their families, and some marvelous sister-in-laws. Some close friends, DelFiacco and those who have been concerned throughout this whole ordeal and most importantly the family of my deceased donor whom I may never know, but remain indebted to forever for this magical metamorphisis. In my recovery I also have a deep gratitude for the talented doctors who pulled me through, DR.TY DUNN, DR. HUMAR and DR.GRUESSNER and the cheerful attention and honesty of ANN KALIS. Lastly, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU for the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers. You have helped me realize that each day we live is a precious gift. Regards,DON

This is a note from Kathy, because of the above named doctors, today we are able to have Kalie and Jacob overnight on Grandma's newly decorated Pier 1 porch and I was able to take Kalie and Jacob to the Grand Excursion because Grandpa babysat himself. He also was able to enjoy his own shower, due to the installation of a safe, beautiful oak railing from Chris and Teri, they said it was my birthday and mothers day gift. Figure that, it leads to Don's shower. Dr. Ty Dunn is on to pancreas, we are already missing her. Don has been accepting beautiful phone calls lately and a few back door visits, I think people are afraid to bother him. Trust me, BOTHER HIM. LOVE, KATHY

Friday, July 2, 2004 2:37 PM CDT

Hi all,

We hope you have/had a fun, safe and healthy July 4th holiday weekend!

Just an update on the past few days. Don has been up and at it a bit more, and even drove his truck for the first time in over a year. He said it felt good! Nothing fast and furious yet, but he did get back in the driver's seat, so to speak :)

Holes were drilled into his belts, to allow the old belts to snug around his new trim waistline. He has been going for longer walks outside, and this will help make him want to get out even more!

We have been chatting, and though we don't want to push it, a brief fishing/boating trip is looking good for sometime in late July. That will be a nice day indeed!

Have a great weekend everybody, Don will update this site when he starts getting at the computer, which will be soon.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 12:33 AM CDT

Hi all,

I just got a call from Mom that she and Dad are right now down in Stillwater, visiting Bob and Bobby at Stillwater Trolley. This is really the first major "field trip" Don has made except for seeing Erik and Jen's new home in Hugo the other day. The day is beautiful and Dad is excited to be out enjoying it.

Don is working on his strength building, but it is still slow going. We all know it will take some time to regain the muscle that melted off over the past few months, but it will come.

Hopefully on their way home, they can stop by my place so Dad can take a look at our boat - that will get the desire flowing to get better even sooner, to get back out on the water.

That is about all the update we have right now! We hope you all are enjoying good health and enjoying the summer. For any who are under the weather or for our friends who are "waiting" to feel better, we pray for your health and our fingers are crossed that everything goes well. As we have learned, keeping the faith is extremely important.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Thursday, June 24, 2004 8:25 PM CDT

Greetings to everyone, from (Don at) the old homestead - where I am now kicking back and relaxing, for the first time since April 6th.

It is truly a joy to be home. I am told that medically I am making good progress, and that two weeks of physical and occupational therapy helped prepare me for safely moving about the house.

But I still get impatient because progress comes very slowly. I am not a good candidate for a marathon right now.

I want to thank you all for your expressions of support, your prayers, your cards, your phone calls and for all of the support you have given Kathy and all three of our children and their families and me.

I am especially grateful, and will be forever, to the man whose organs saved my life. He and his family made it possible for me to have a father's day this year, and for many more years to come.

Warmest regards,
-Don

Thursday, June 24, 2004 8:25 PM CDT

Greetings to everyone, from (Don at) the old homestead - where I am now kicking back and relaxing, for the first time since April 6th.

It is truly a joy to be home. I am told that medically I am making good progress, and that two weeks of physical and occupational therapy helped prepare me for safely moving about the house.

But I still get impatient because progress comes very slowly. I am not a good candidate for a marathon right now.

I want to thank you all for your expressions of support, your prayers, your cards, your phone calls and for all of the support you have given Kathy and all three of our children and their families and me.

I am especially grateful, and will be forever, to the man whose organs saved my life. He and his family made it possible for me to have a father's day this year, and for many more years to come.

Warmest regards,
-Don

Thursday, June 24, 2004 2:50 PM CDT

Hello -
Just a short message today - DON IS HOME - where he belongs. The therapy has been progressing well so now he is back in familiar confines after about 3 months.
It will be great for him and my mom as the begin their new journey to better health together.
Thanks again for everything
Love - the Boxmeyers

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 10:07 PM CDT

Don had a shower today and it was a big treat! He walked 250 feet and had his first slice of pizza in a long time. His therapists are kicking him out as of Thursday morning. He will be sporting his new Columbia shirt from Dr. Dunn & her son Colin, who, I might add, picked the shirt out him-
self (orange w/blue fish). Don will be entertaining visitors at home and hopefully, he will be seeing many of you at the July 22nd Blood Drive.
Over the weekend one of the liver transplant guys from the
suppport group met his deceased donors wife. It was on
TV and wow, was that something. It also advertised
the upcoming transplant games to be held at the university.

Not a day goes by that we aren't aware of how lucky we
all are that a wonderful family gave their most valuable
gift to Don. He is just now trying to piece together the
past couple of months. Our daughter Diana didn't go to
journalism school as you might have guessed. She did the
first part of this entry; but we love her just the same.
I will have to admit, she is pretty good at making those
green crosses (Green for transplant). If you would like
a green cross, please leave your address.
Thanks for all your support and well wishes......Kathy B.

Sunday, June 20, 2004 5:02 PM CDT

Hello -
Happy Father's Day to everyone. This obviously is a very special Father's day for our family. We are in the lounge at Riverside Rehab enjoying brownies my dad made in occupational therapy. He looks amazingly good. Hopefully we're within a week of him making the big move back home.
There isn't a whole lot medically to talk about, its just nice to enjoy good conversation and talk about the FUTURE.
Have a great day.
Thanks again for everything!
Love - the Boxmeyers

Friday, June 18, 2004 12:15 AM CDT

Hi all,

Don was sent back to Fairview Medical Center on Thursday due to some bleeding. They found it and fixed it with endoscopy (sp?). He is moving back to rehab in room 509 at 1 pm today.

The diet and liquid restrictions have been lifted and Dad now has the green light for "normal food and popsicles" - if you see him with a green tongue, it isn't because he is sick! ha! Finally! No more thickened water...

He sounds good, feels good, and is getting stronger. He will focus on working on the stairs/steps and the rest of the therapy. No date yet on when he will get home, but he is working hard toward getting there. He always is quite slim, the slimest he has been in probably over 30 years.

Both Kathy and Don are upbeat and excited to get him home!

Uncle Arnold is now at home as well, so we are all very happy that he is feeling better and in comfortable surroundings again. Yehaw!

Thanks everybody!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Thursday, June 17, 2004 2:52 PM CDT

Good Afternoon -

As the earlier journal noted, Don received some blood today. As a result of that he was taken back to the hospital to figure out where the bleeding was coming from. They found the source and cauterized it but he will remain at Fairview University on unit 6B for a few days.

The good news is that his physical therapy has been going well, except for a couple days ago when he got a little cocky when getting in or out of bed and took a bit of a spill - he has a decent shiner to show for it though.

As always our prayers are with to family of the donor and we are thankful for all of your support.

Love - the Boxmeyers

Thursday, June 17, 2004 10:46 AM CDT

Hello -
Here is the latest on Don. His physical therapy is progressing and he has done more and more each day. He got a bit cocky getting into or out of bed a few days ago and took a bit of a spill - he now has two black eyes to show for it.
He does have a fever today though and is receiving blood, so as we are excited for him to continue to recover and get home, there may be a hiccup here and there. His address at the new place is at the bottom of this page.
While he's tired, and quite busy with therapy during the day, he is taking visitors.
That is all for now, and as always we're keeping the donor's family in our prayers and thank you for everything.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Tuesday, June 15, 2004 10:20 AM CDT

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of updates. It just seems that when things are going better, you just enjoy the days and forget about some things.

First, Uncle Arnold has been transferred to United Hospital and is doing much better. I don'thave specifics, but I believe his diet has been changed and they are getting his blood chemistry back to normal. That is a big sigh of relief for everybody, and we are all really happy for the good progress. Thanks to all for your prayers for Arnold.

Secondly, Don is doing very well at rehab, and looking good too. He is under 200 pounds, but that is good. He is eating a fair amount, and trying to drink as much water as possible, but still on the "thickened water" for the moment. Hopefully the swallow test today will go well. He needs to drink more water, but he can't drink "water" - catch 22.

But his liver is still doing great, and a test just in this morning shows his creatin. number just above 1, which is very good. That shows his kidney is doing well.

Don did have a stumble on Sunday, but nothing major got brusied, and shows that while he is doing well and walking and climbing stairs, he still needs to be very careful and not get too over confident in his progress. The staff at the rehab center are great, and Dad says the treatment he is getting is very good, and very helpful.

He is quite busy during the day, with up to 7 or 8 sessions a day, but the evenings are slower. If anybody wants to visit, it is easy to get to - just give my Mom a call, or email me (chris). If all goes well, Dad might be home by early next week, the doctors say. We don't want to push it, but we - and especially Dad - are anxious for him to take the next big step, which is coming home. That will be a big step for Mom as well, and she will be kept busy.

Don got to see one of the new fishing rods yesterday, and he is anxious to get out and see how it works ;)

That's it for now - I am long winded, as usual...
Thanks again for all your support through this roller coaster ride! Don looks forward to seeing you all soon!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Sunday, June 13, 2004 1:16 PM CDT

Good afternoon –
Don has settled into his new surroundings quite nicely. Physical therapy is progressing quite well also. He is improving more and more each day. He is walking a lot more and has started working on steps as well. There is no set date for his return home, but based on his recent progress it won’t be long.
He has spent more of 2004 than not at Fairview University Medical Center and we have come to know a lot of the folks there quite well. The nurses and staff on both 6B and 4D have literally been lifesavers. They have treated us all with great care and made this tough time easier.
We have been fortunate to have some of the best doctors on the planet looking after him - too many to name without missing someone. Ann Kalis, his wonderful transplant coordinator and Dr. Ty Dunn who did the transplant with Dr. Humar were the core team that helped Don through this. While its easy to be amazed at the skill and knowledge of the surgeons and doctors as they performed life-saving procedures day after day, the human touch of both Ann and Ty is amazing. Many people have commented on how strong Kathy (mom) has been through this, but it wouldn't have been possible to stay sane through this without the true compassion, gentle caring, and genuine hope that these two angels provide daily.
Also, this deal wouldn't have worked out so well without Donnie's hard work. Anyone that has seen him in the past few months would know that it hasn't been easy. I probably would have given up five or ten times by now, but I guess he has the Energizer bunny in him. The strength, determination, patience and courage he has shown through this are extraordinary.
We just can't wait to get him back in the boat, and from time to time, maybe even the Pioneer Press may let him get his $.02 in again as well.
We'll keep you posted as his rehab and therapy continues.
Thanks for everything-
Love - the Boxmeyers

Sunday, June 13, 2004 1:15 PM CDT

He has spent more of 2004 than not at Fairview University Medical Center and we have come to know a lot of the folks there quite well. The nurses and staff on both 6B and 4D have literally been lifesavers. They have treated us all with great care and made this tough time easier.
We have been fortunate to have some of the best doctors on the planet looking after him - too many to name without missing someone. Ann Kalis, his wonderful transplant coordinator and Dr. Ty Dunn who did the transplant with Dr. Humar were the core team that helped Don through this. While its easy to be amazed at the skill and knowledge of the surgeons and doctors as they performed life-saving procedures day after day, the human touch of both Ann and Ty is amazing. Many people have commented on how strong Kathy (mom) has been through this, but it wouldn't have been possible to stay sane through this without the true compassion, gentle caring, and genuine hope that these two angels provide daily.
Also, this deal wouldn't have worked out so well without Donnie's hard work. Anyone that has seen him in the past few months would know that it hasn't been easy. I probably would have given up five or ten times by now, but I guess he has the Energizer bunny in him. The strength, determination, patience and courage he has shown through this is extraordinary.
We just can't wait to get him back in the boat, and from time to time, mabeybe even the Pioneer Press may let him get his $.02 in again as well.
We'll keep you posted as his rehab and therapy continues.
Thanks for everything-
Love - the Boxmeyers

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 11:52 AM CDT

Hi all,

This is Chris, in the room with Don. Don will be moving from Fairview U. Hospital to Fairview Riverside Rehabilitation Center this afternoon. This is a routine part of the recovery process, and we are all excited, including Dad. This is the process where it goes from the "medical" attention (primarily) to the strength gaining and getting ready to return home.

Kathy is currently in a "Transplant Care" class here on the 6th floor, learning how to care for Don during the next phases of recovery.

Don still gets tired fairly quickly, but is eager and excited to gain some strength and some muscle mass back. We are talking fishing, so he knows he has to gain those Popeye forearms back in order to haul in the lunkers!

More info to come soon. Things are progressing nicely, and I am reading the guestbook entries to Don now. Thanks to all!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 10:56 AM CDT

Hello -
Today is moving day. We're packing up the U-Haul so Don can move to the Fairview Rehab facility. It is located in the old Riverside hospital and he will be on the 5th floor (more details on the location when we have them).
With respect to his organs, we are pleased that they are working well. He is walking some (with the help of a walker) and he will have a lot of physical therapy to get him ready to go home. There is no set date as to when he'll be back at the Boxmeyer compound, but it could be as soon as 2-3 weeks.
He has spent more of 2004 than not at Fairview University Medical Center and we have come to know a lot of the folks there quite well. The nurses and staff on both 6B and 4D have literally been lifesavers. They have treated us all with great care and made this tough time easier.
We have been fortunate to have some of the best doctors on the planet looking after him - too many to name without missing someone. Ann Kalis, his wonderful transplant coordinator and Dr. Ty Dunn who did the transplant with Dr. Humar were the core team that helped Don through this. While its easy to be amazed at the skill and knowledge of the surgeons and doctors as they performed life-saving procedures day after day, the human touch of both Ann and Ty is amazing. Many people have commented on how strong Kathy (mom) has been through this, but it wouldn't have been possible to stay sane through this without the true compassion, gentle caring, and genuine hope that these two angels provide daily.
Also, this deal wouldn't have worked out so well without Donnie's hard work. Anyone that has seen him in the past few months would know that it hasn't been easy. I probably would have given up five or ten times by now, but I guess he has the Energizer bunny in him. The strength, determination, patience and courage he has shown through this is extraordinary.
We just can't wait to get him back in the boat, and from time to time, mabeybe even the Pioneer Press may let him get his $.02 in again as well.
We'll keep you posted as his rehab and therapy continues.
Thanks for everything-
Love - the Boxmeyers

Monday, June 7, 2004 1:44 PM CDT

I am now at one with a new kidney and liver and to imagine that someone was generous enough even in death to share his body with me still overwhelms me. I have never approached such a formidable task/challenge and now the difficult medical journey is close to a successful end and a new phase of my recovery will begin. I am deeply grateful for your hundreds of messages and support and cards. To think that many of you who don’t even know me took time to express your concern is humbling. To all of the waiting pre-transplant people and children please have patience and hope and I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Thanks to the wonders of medicine, and I firmly believe all your prayers, I have a bright future to look to.
Don Boxmeyer

Saturday, June 5, 2004 11:33 PM CDT

Hello -

What a difference a week makes. Don's liver and kidney are both progressing at a nice pace. He is also gaining strength each day. He has a lot of work to do with PT (physical therapy). He is walking with a walker which is pretty exciting after being on his back for 6 weeks. He had a nice reunion today with Norbert and Irene form the Infusion clinic at United, they helped him through hundreds of transfusions over the past couple years.

It is great to see him recovering, but it was a little bittersweet today as Don learned about the death of one of his closest friends, Don DelFiacco. Thank you to Dr. Ty Dunn for your gentleness and compassion in giving this news to Don, not to mention the fact that you with the help of a great supporting cast, kept him alive for the past several months.

It is important to constantly keep the donor and his family in our thoughts and prayers daily. The decision to be a donor may seem like it is as simple as putting the check on your drivers license, but we can't possibly understand the extremely difficult circumstances in which the family makes the final decision. They truly are heroes.

Don is up for visitors, but he is still tired so we let him rest when it looks like he needs it.

Thanks again for everything.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Thursday, June 3, 2004 11:43 AM CDT

Hi all,

Well, more good news! Don took his first "walk" (in a wheelchair with Kathy driving) outside yesterday. It was a short trip, but he really enjoyed being outside again - the first time since March! He will be going outside again at 1:30 today, strolling with Kathy and Ann Kalis, his Transplant Coordinator. Another first - Don had his first post-transplant book signing, for Ann. She would not let him sign her book until AFTER he had the transplant. Now that is confidence!

Don still cannot eat or drink, as his swallowing is not up to par yet. Hopefully soon, but we sure don't want him to have pnuemonia again. They also are on the verge of pulling his dyalysis lines, but not quite 100% sure yet. This would be a major victory, and it will come in time.

Don's spirits are up and he is still ready for and taking part in therapy to make him stronger. Dr. Dunn said his liver is working great and the kidney is really starting to work better, but not quite there yet. All things are promising, however. He needs to get soome real food going in and gain some muscle back. We all look forward to when we will be able to thank ALL the doctors and nurses and staff who took, and are taking, such great care of Don.

For those of you who have not seen Don in the past week (or months) or so, you will be amazed at how good he looks. His skin color and skin condition is a 110% improvement. He is talking about fishing and how he just wants to sit on the end of a dock and drink iced tea and watch a bobber as ducks swim by.

Kathy is even feeling better! She is very optimistic, very excited for the next steps in Don's recovery. She has been extremely strong through this all - more so than anybody could imagine. She truly kept him alive until the transplant, and then pass him on to the doctors. The torch will soon be passed back to Kathy ;)

Anyway... I ramble. Don is excited to see you all and to read all the greetings and well wishes. He has seen some, but not all, and is very appreciative. He is continuing well on the road of recovery, and very anxious to see all his friends and family once again, in a healthy state.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

(p.s. One of Dad's nurses is an Ole, and I went to school with her sister - small world. I told Dad, "Well I guess some St. Olaf grads help people, and some just play games." Ha! We got a chuckle out of that.)

Thursday, June 3, 2004 11:23 AM CDT

Hello -
Sorry for no update the last couple days, but thankfully there hasn't been any big news. Our dad continues to improve daily (yesterday was a bit rocky though). My mom was able to take him outside for a awhile in a wheelchair - first time he has breathed non-hospital air since March. Its good to see his sense of humor hasn't skipped a beat. Our mom continues to be a constant support for him.
Other than that no news is good news for now.
At this time please check before visiting though as he is still weak and it may be a while before he's up to doing much socializing.
Again we give prayers for the donor family as non of this would be possible without their generous gift.
Thanks -
Love - the Boxmeyers

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 5:09 PM CDT

Hi all,

Another good day today. I have not yet been to see Dad today, but just got off the phone with Mom. Don is being transferred to the 6th floor, the transplant floor! However, before anybody visits, please check with Kathy as Don is still not strong and the doctors want to limit visits so far. Thanks.

I don't have any more news at this point, other than Don seems to be feeling well, and that there are not that many people on the 6th floor right now, so they expected he would get a "river-view room" :)

I did not get an update on Uncle Arnold yet today, so nothing to report there. We sure hope he feels better and recovers very quickly.

There is a new picture of Donnie the "eye fisherman" in the photo section. I must confess that I stole the camo jacket he is wearing from him a few years ago... he doesn't need waterproof clothing anyway - ha! (see earlier update if you are not chuckling...)

Thanks again for all the support, and I would also like to mention that my Aunt Linda has the required number of blood donor participants for the Memorial Blood Center Blood Drive, so we will be getting a date or two for that quite soon. We all appreciate the support from the blood donors, and especially the effort of Aunt Linda to put this together. I look forward to see many of you there - we will post a time and date and place (First Lutheran Church in St. Paul)as soon as we know it.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Monday, May 31, 2004 5:50 PM CDT

Memorial Day Update:

Hi all. As many of you may know, my Uncle Arnold (Kathy's brother) is in the hospital. I don't have the latest, but he is talking and getting the medical attention to figure out what happened. He wasn't answering his phone, and when family went to check him out he was laying on the floor unable to move. We pray that things are turning out well for him, and that he will be watching the Twins again soon. He has been one of the great supporters of Don and Kathy these past weeks/months/years.

Well, I am extremely happy to report that Don is OFF of the ventilator as of about 10 AM this morning! His breathing is much better, yet still has a way to go in that department. He only has a nasal canulla (sp?) right now, with some Cpap (mask with a forced air delivery) assistance when he may need it.

We are also very happy to report that he is talking, joking, talking, asking about how other friends and family are doing with their medical issues, talking, and did I say "talking"?... No more notepad - and he has a lot to say!

Don is ready and rearing to undergo Physical Therapy and occupational therapy and ready to start walking when he regains some strength. He is all set to complete the recovery process with a renewed sense of purpose. He has said that he appreciates all the support from family and friends, and also is a bit awed over the response from all of you on this website guestbook. He hasn't seen it all yet, but it won't be long.

We all, including Don, believe he has turned a corner. And seeing and hearing him talking today shows us he also has turned a corner psychologically as well, and really makes us that more excited for his continued recovery. He is very anxious to get better, feel better and enjoy life.

Technically, we don't have much to report other than his doctors are anxious for him to do well without the ventilator and get him up to the 6th floor, out of ICU. But he is sitting up much more, and that in turns makes him stronger, which allows him to sit up longer, which... you get the drift ;) He also keeps trying to sneak ice chips, which so far is a no-no for him. Soon he will be sneaking popcicles, and then we will know things are gettingormal :)

We are all very happy with how the weekend went for Dad, and how well he seems to be feeling. I asked if he wanted me to help him shave and he said "Why would I want to do that?" I said, because Mom told me you wanted to shave. He grinned, and said," No, SHE wants me to shave." Then we gave him a mirror, he looked in it, rubbed his chin and said, "Nope, this sucker is staying." Me, Teri and Dad had good chuckle. (Dad will give me hell for putting "me" first in that sentence...)

Anyway, I will try to interview Donnie a bit and let him tell us what to put in a future update. I can tell he is getting anxious to write something again, at long last.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers. Donnie is on the mend!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 28, 2004 11:49 PM CDT

Hi all,

Just got back from spending tonight with Dad, and things are about the same. He napped quite a bit, but today was a busy day for him so that can be expected. Don is very alert when awake, and his first comment (on a notepad) is always "Where is your Mom?" :) I told him that I know I am not as good as her, but that he is stuck with me! ha! He laughed a bit. Kathy was with him all day today, again, and needed some rest.

Again, no technical news, but his nurses think he is doing very well. His skin looks to have better coloration and I just watched (and even helped a bit) his abdomen wound get cleaned and redressed. It really is doing well, especially since this is the first time I have seen it since the transplant. I also was able to tell him that he has 49 staples from the transplant operation - I counted each one. Quite the set of "railroad tracks".

I think he knows that things are progressing well, even though it certainly does not seem like it from his perspective. All-in-all, another good and "boring" day, which is good news in the big picture. I can tell he is a bit bored, though, and that he wants out pretty bad. He did give me the thumbs up when I told him that he really is doing well... and then he kicked me out ;) no kidding, he told me to go home and get some sleep! ha!

That's about it. Thanks again everybody, for the support and well wishes and prayers, and good deeds for Kathy.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 28, 2004 0:12 AM CDT

Hi everybody, a fairly long update tonight, as I am wired with caffiene...

Erik and I just got back from visiting Dad. Don's nurse said he is doing very well today, and we hope the ventilator may be a thing of the past in the next day or two.

The doctors started taking away (this morning) the sedative that keeps him from remembering being on the ventilator, so Don has been getting a little more awake as the day has progressed. He recognized Uncle Arnold and Bill and Cindy earlier today, along with Mom of course :) Aunt Linda and Aunt Bonnie spent time with him earlier tonight, as us kids made Mom stay home and get some well deserved rest.

Don was quite alert, although napping between mini-conversations. I read him the story that Laura Billings wrote in todays Pioneer Press, and he did seem to like it. (A link to it is listed below.) We were able to get him to sort of laugh a bit, or mostly shake his head at us, so his humour is still intact.

So today has been one of the better days recently, though really no technical improvements to tell about. We know Don continues to get stronger, as it seems he did a bit today. I told him he definitely will have one hell of a column to write after he feels better, as Laura's story mentions, and he shook his head yes :)

Thanks to everybody for their support, again to the doctors and nurses and medical staff, and once again to the donor and his family for the generous gift of life.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

It's a good day - a good day for Donnie trivia...
Don spent part of his life in the Navy, and a part of that time was spent out East, where my Mom eventually moved after they got married. The movies and stories of them along with their friends Phil (a very close friend and sailor) and Cathy are pretty darn funny, that was a very special time in their lives. Don also spent a summer in Antarctica (that's winter to most of us). Don was right at the South Pole the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and probably has one of the few photographs of the flag at the South Pole flyig at half-mast. I recall him saying that was the loneliest day of his life. He really would like to get back there some time, and also New Zealand, one of Mom and Dad's eventual vacation destinations. Don also was aboard a ship during the Cuban Blockade, and he can describe in detail the tension aboard ship as they thought they were going to war. Thank goodness they didn't... Don had some great friends in the Navy, and is very proud of his tattoo of the anchor on his forearm and his time aboard ship. He is also proud of the baseball caps he still gets from friends and sailors which designate the ships they come from. You will see a couple such caps in the photos on this site.

Thursday, May 27, 2004 9:06 AM CDT

Good morning -
There have been no significant changes in Don's health in the past couple days. They still have him sedated and on the ventilator so hopefully he is resting. We are hoping that he will come off the ventilator with more strength so breathing will be less difficult. It would also be a good thing if the new kidney would fully wake up.
Sadly, today a dear friend of my dad's and our whole family, Don DelFiacco is being laid to rest. Del spent many hours with us in the waiting room during the surgeries. His concern and devotion to his friends is hard to describe accurately. He will be missed by all of us. It will be a big blow to my dad so we are waiting for the right time to tell him - if there is one.
It is fitting on this day to mention two of Don's closest friends, Jim Doyle and Stan Turner. They have been so supportive and caring during this. Don is lucky to have such good friends - we all are.
Thanks again for everything.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 5:23 PM CDT

Hello -
Not much new news today. Don is still in ICU, unconscious, and on a ventilator. They did not find anything terribly wrong in his lungs (other than the pneumonia). It appears that the docs want him to be able to rest some for a few days, so he will remain intubated for the near future. Hopefully it will be less of an adventure when the take him off the vent this time. His new liver continues to work quite well. The kidney is working sort of, but not doing everything they would like it to.
Other than that not a lot has changed.

Thank you to all of our friends and family. All your help is appreciated. Whether it be sitting with my mom in the waiting room overnight or bringing food or mowing the lawn, we really are lucky to have the support we do.

We are really hoping for even small improvements though so Donnie can be that much closer to getting back in the boat.

Thanks again - The Boxmeyers

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 8:37 AM CDT

This update is from last night. Don's breathing has remained to be a problem, and he was spending a lot of energy trying to breathe on his own. For this reason, and also to get a look into his lungs, the doctors decided to place him back on the ventilator after sedating him. He was not happy when they told him this was happening, but he understood that it had to be done.

Don is being treated for pnuemonia still, but they want to use a scope to check out his lungs, and the ventilator is required for that. The ventilator will remain for several days, and this will keep Don in ICU for awhile longer.

It has not been a good few days, and we hope and pray for better days ahead for everybody.

Thank you,
-The Boxmeyers

Sunday, May 23, 2004 7:20 PM CDT

Hello-

The roller coaster ccontinues...

It would be nice to write about Don's recovery speeding up, but that's not the case. This has been a bad weekend. The pheumonia is worse. He is back in ICU as the breathing has gotten worse. They may have to re-intubate, if that happens they may sedate him again for a few days. They are also doing dialysis to help do what the kidney has not started yet.

Hopefully we will see improvements in the days to come. He is in the best hospital with very talented Docs taking care of him, so we have faith.

All your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Saturday, May 22, 2004 2:21 AM CDT

Hello -

Each time we try to pass on good news and think Don turned a corner it feels like we've jumped the gun. As said before, the rapid recovery we hoped for has gone at more of a turtle's pace and to quote my mom, "It looks like this may go at a snails pace instead."

Friday was quite miserable for Don. While the liver continues to function quite well, the kidney isn't totally "awake" (it is doing some things it should, but other functions the docs would like to see aren't occurring yet). Besides that, breathing is still quite difficult. He has several sessions a day with a respiratory therapist, which helps temporarily. It is also still quite difficult to talk (there isn't enough force to get out much more than a faint whisper). He also experience significant pain, mostly in his leg and foot (possibly due to an infection).

We will continue to be hopeful for better days ahead. It would at least be comforting if he could be more comfortable as he recovers.

We have thanked all the wonderful docs and nurses, as well as the tremendous support system that you have all provided, but there is one person who has been above and beyond for all of this. Our mom is amazing. For those of you who know Kathy this is no surprise, but for those who don't, I can't imagine a better and more complete definition of love, devotion, and commitment than she has shown. Each and every day is a grind but she is there for all of it, never appearing to tire even when we know she is exhausted. I could go on and on but that would get me in trouble with her (I'm sure she won't like that I brought attention to her already).

THANK YOU MOM AND WE LOVE YOU!!

Again thank you for all the support and prayers.
Love - The Boxmeyers

P.S. No update until Sunday - Ebox and Cbox are chasing fish.

Friday, May 21, 2004 12:01 AM CDT

Hello -
The latest on my dad is that the new parts continue to work well. He has required some blood though in the past couple days which is something he hasn't needed for a week or so.
I'd like to say the breathing is better but unfortunately that hasn't changed much. We are really anxious for him to turn a corner there. He also has a bit of pneumonia so they are working on that.
He's going to get out of this okay, I would just like him to be less miserable sooner than later.
Ebox and Cbox will be fishing this weekend so there may be no update until Sunday.
Thanks again for all the support.
Love - the Boxmeyers

Thursday, May 20, 2004 11:26 AM CDT

Hello -

The latest on Don is that the liver is doing quite well and the "healing power" is good - the kidney is doing its part and working well. They will be doing some "touch-up" dialysis today to help remove some of the toxins in his blood. Also today he may get to enjoy a popsicle as its been a few weeks since he's enjoyed anything to eat.

Hopefully they'll get him sitting up today as well.
The main concern continues to be breathing. It appeared to be getting better, but yesterday was pretty miserable. He is on a C-Pap machine constantly to help with the breathing, but hopefully he will be able to do enough on his own to switch to periodic use.

It continues to be a long difficult road, but he is a tough old Sailor and there are many fish to be caught, ducks to miss, and grandkids to hug so he will get through this. I also want to metion what a rock my mom is. She has shown more strength dtermination and dedication than could be expected from anyone.

Thanks again for everything -
Love - the Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 2:20 PM CDT

Hello -
As of this afternoon there has not been much of a change with my dad. Breathing and speaking continue to be a challenge, but we're hoping that he turns a corner soon. He is still on the 6th floor, but if the breathing doesn't improve they may move him back up to ICU for a bit as a nurse needs to monitor the breathing all the time. Hopefully that won't be necessary.
Thank you for all the support and prayers - they are helping...

Love - the Boxmeyers


P.S. - Since Donnie dipped into the blood bank pretty good over the past several months it is fitting that my Aunt Linda is organizing a blood drive at First Lutheran in July or August. She can be contacted at cgclmc114@aol.com if you are interested.

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 9:09 AM CDT

Good Morning -
I am happy to report that my dad is now out of ICU. He has been moved to the transplant unit on the 6th floor. The docs and nurses in ICU did a great job and provided him with excellent care so we are very thankful for all of their efforts. He should feel quite at home on 6 though, he spent about 5 weeks there before the transplant.

Breathing continues to be difficult with small improvements each day. Talking is also proving to be difficult, so we're hoping for that to improve.

I can't say there is a lot of other "new" news, which at this point is a good thing. He is also infection free for now so that is good.

He has a ways to go and needs to build up a lot of strength but we are feeling quite positive. He isn't up for visitors yet, I'll let you know when he gives us the green light.

As always everything you have all done for Don and the rest of us is appreciated.

Have a great day!
Love - the Boxmeyers

Monday, May 17, 2004 1:20 PM CDT

Hello -
The weekend didn't hold any major changes for Don. The good news is that there haven't been any significant setbacks. The organs continue to function well, with the kidney getting better each day.
Breathing continues to be a concern, but he appears to be getting stronger and doesn't look quite so miserable.
Most likely he'll be moved to the Transplant unit on the 6th floor and out of ICU tonight after dialysis. Although he won't be in ICU, it would be a good idea to check ahead before visiting as resting and regaining his strength is a pretty important thing right now. I have also been periodically putting messages on my voicemail - # 651-253-4852.
We will continue to keep you updated and although the strides he is making are slow and small, he is heading in the right direction and I look forward to posting a message here from Don very soon.
Your caring, compassion, concern, and prayers are deeply appreciated.
Love- The Boxmeyers

Sunday, May 16, 2004 1:12 PM CDT

Hello -
Sorry for the delay on this update, but there hasn't been a lot new to report.
As of today the organs are still functioning well so that is positive.
His breathing is still a bit labored and he is on oxygen, but it has improved. He is far less uncomfortable (relatively speaking).
He is aware though, and appreciates all of the support that has been given to our entire family.
To quote my mom, "We maybe expected a rapid rcovery, and realized it would be more at a turtle's pace." We will continue to be patient and optimistic.
Hopefully he'll be well enough to be moved out of ICU this week. We are also anxious for him to be able to really speak as I'm sure he has a lot to say after the last two weeks.
At least he didn't miss a very good fishing opener, I guess the walleyes don't like our boat unless Donnie is in it.
Have a great day and thanks again for eveything.
Love-
The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 14, 2004 1:24 AM CDT

Good Morning –

The Thursday AM update was quite positive as things appeared better than they had in several days for Don. The rest of the day was quite tough though.

His new parts are continuing to function and his main vitals are good with the exception of some elevated blood pressure periodically when he gets agitated.

The breathing continues to be a major concern. He is off the vent and so far they have not had to re-intubate him, but each breath is labored. He is very alert and awake, more so than he has been for the last ten days. A very tough thing right now is talking – the breathing difficulty is making speaking extremely difficult.

I hope Friday is a much better day – describing Thursday as miserable would be a huge understatement.

We again offer prayers and thanks to the donor and his family, without whom recovery would not be an option. I’m quite sure the past 10 days has been worse for them than for us.

I also think it fitting to let you know that my mom is holding up quite well – the strength and courage both her and Donnie has shown is astonishing to say the least.

Thank you for all your prayers and support - it really does help.
Love,
The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 14, 2004 1:10 AM CDT

Good Morning –

The Thursday AM update was quite positive as things appeared better than they had in several days for Don. The rest of the day was quite tough though.

His new parts are continuing to function and his main vitals are good with the exception of some elevated blood pressure periodically when he gets agitated.

The breathing continues to be a major concern. He is off the vent and so far they have not had to re-intubate him, but each breath is labored. He is very alert and awake, more so than he has been for the last ten days. A very tough thing right now is talking – the breathing difficulty is making speaking extremely difficult.

I hope Friday is a much better day – describing Thursday as miserable would be a huge understatement.

We again offer prayers and thanks to the donor and his family, without whom recovery would not be an option. I’m quite sure the past 10 days has been worse for them than for us.

I also think it fitting to let you know that my mom is holding up quite well – the strength and courage both her and my Donnie has shown is astonishing to say the least.

Thank you for all your prayers and support - it really does help.
Love,
The Boxmeyers

Thursday, May 13, 2004 10:44 AM CDT

Good Morning -
I am happy to report that today Don is awake!!!
His oxygen levels look better and the organ function continues to be strong.
When I called to his room, Kim, one of the wonderful ICU nurses, told me he was up in a chair with my mom at his side. He's not up and around and walking, but he is awake, quite alert and things are looking positive.
Unfortunately he won't make the fishing opener with us Saturday, but this is the best news I've gotten since the surgery.
I think we are more realistic about the pace of his recovery now, understanding that it will be a long tough road, but I've never seen anyone tougher and more resiliant.
I will continue to report any updates, but today is a good day! Both my Mom and Dad deserve some good luck and good news.
Take care
Love - the Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:58 AM CDT

Hello -
Don is still off the ventilator, however he does have a device that's helping him breathe. It appears the organs are working, but to quote my mom he is still "Fragile." He is not being sedated, but he still has not really awaken. They would like him to be more awake as his breathing is still a concern - we don't want him to get pneumonia.
He still has a ways to go before we'll feel comfortable.

My mom would like to make sure we than Dr. Tom Ophoven for his continuous interest and concern since he started helping Don in 1998.

Safe travels to the entire transplant team as you head to Boston this week. WE ARE REALLY GLAD YOU WERE HERE LAST WEEK!!

We are amazed at the tremendous support and concern everyone is showing - especially Pastor George from First Lutheran and Pastor Bill from Fairview.

Have a good day!
Love - the Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:47 AM CDT

Hello -
Don is still off the ventilator, however he does have a device that's helping him breathe. It appears the organs are working, but to quote my mom he is still "Fragile." He is not being sedated, but he still has not really awaken. They would like him to be more awake as his breathing is still a concern - we don't want him to get pneumonia.
He still has a ways to go before we'll feel comfortable.

My mom would like to make sure we than Dr. Tom Ophoven for his continuos interst and concern since he started helping Don in 1998.

Safe travels to the entire transplant team as you head to Boston this week. WE ARE REALLY GLAD YOY WERE HERE LAST WEEK!!

We are amazed at the tremendous support and concern everyone is showing - especially Pastor George from First Lutheran and Pastor Bill from Fairview.

Have a good day!
Love - the Boxmeyers

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:23 AM CDT

Good Morning-
I just spoke with Ann Kalis, the transplant coordinator, and found that my dad was taken off the ventilator at about 10 AM. It really depends on how well he breathes as to whether they will keep him off the vent. If he struggles breathing on his own the may have to re-intubate.
Other than that the new organs appear to be functioning well.
We'll keep you posted.
Make sure to check out the new photos in the album.
Thanks again for everything
Love - the Boxmeyers

Tuesday, May 11, 2004 0:51 AM CDT

Goog Morning -
When we left the hospital tonight about 10 PM Don was resting and looking more comfortable (relatively speaking) than he has since the transplant.
He is still stable with no major changes. He is beginning to "wake up" a bit, however they are keeping him sedated until the ventilator comes out (hopefully tomorrow). Right now the main goal is for him to not get agitated as his BP has gone quite high from time to time.
We are thankful for all the prpgress he has made in the past week. We are all amazed be his toughness and ability to bounce back from even the toughest situations. I'm not sure he even knew he had this amazing strength in him.
We have thanked all the Docs and nurses at the U (he is receving top notch care in ICU and the dialysis unit in the basement is great as well), but we would also like to thank the many people who helped him during his stays at United during the last year. A special thanks to the dialisys team at Riverside also.
Hopefully in the coming days we can include a quote or two from my dad. He told me about a month ago that this is all part of a column he is working on - can't wait to read that one.
Thanks again for all the support.
Love, the Boxmeyers

Monday, May 10, 2004 9:17 AM CDT

Good Morning -
As of this morning, the only thing to report is that there is nothing really new. My dad had a pretty "boring" weekend. His BP has remained strong and he has required less blood products. His new kidney is beginning to show signs of working, but it could be a few more weeks before it really "wakes up."
After speaking with Dr. Dunn yesterday we found out that nothing about his surgery was easy and that he kept them on their toes the whole time.
Both Dr. Humar and Dr. Dunn are pleased that he is making strides in the right direction and hopefully in the next few days they can ease back on the sedation and get him off of the ventilator. Other than that there is not a lot of news.
Have a great day and thanks again for all the support and prayers!!
Love-
The Boxmeyers

Sunday, May 9, 2004 10:50 AM CDT

Hi all, first of all - HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all you Mothers!

No real new medical news at this time. But since yesterday they have reduced the amount of ventilator usage, to where it is still on and doing his breating but Don can breathe on his own if and when he wishes, but he hasn't really taken anything more than some small breaths so far. They are basically weaning him off of it, but don't want to go too fast, as it is very unpleasant if they would have to put it back in if he gets off of it too early.

The great news is that he is finally responding and he can nod yes, so we know he knows what is going on! He has answered me and I told him all is going well and he is doing a great job. I think he actually gave me the first signal as he heard me talking about a fishing rod he owes me :)

He does get quite aggitated, as can be expected with a tube in his mouth. His BP is still good and around 115-125, which they like because it keeps his organs profused (spelling?) with blood. They are now wanting family members to help comfort him with holding hands, rubbing his head, etc., as the period when he starts to come around can be scary for patients. No news on when they will reduce the sedatives more, but they do say they don't him "awake" much more until he is off the ventilator.

The nurses have been so kind and professional and are taking great care of him, and they are letting us know the best way to help both Don and them do the best thing for recovery. We really REALLY can see the light at the end of the tunel (another cliche...) and I see Don getting better almost by the hour. Still a ways to go of course, but when you see his eyes open, and see him shake his head Yes when you ask if he knows you are with him, it is a great feeling!

I will update later today, and then must let Diana or Erik take over for a few days as work duty is calling me away for a short bit.

Again, we would like to thank the generous gift of life from the donor and his family - words cannot express the thanks. And the doctors who worked on Don from the early days at United right up to his immediate surgeons and doctors for their unbelievable skills and caring and support. And the nurses who take such good care of him, it is like they are members of the family. The people at the transplant center and also all the people in the dialysis units at Fairview. And not lastly, but everybody from family and friends who have been such good support for Kathy and all of us. THANK YOU!
(We won't keep writing all this everytime, but we really do appreciate all the words and support everybody has given at the hospital, on phone calls, and email and the guestbook. Donnie will be amazed!)

Donnie Trivia - Many of you have heard Kathy say "I'll get to the bears". Here is where it is from. In journalism school, Don had a prof with only one book on his desk. It was the Three Little Bears. He called Don in to comment on a story Don wrote, and he told Don there was too much "junk" in it. He said, as he handed Don the book, "If you are going to write about bears... get to the damned bears!"
Soooo... Kathy has a way of drawing on a story. Don always tells her, "Kathy, would you get to the damned bears!"
Heh! :)

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Saturday, May 8, 2004 0:53 AM CDT

Hi all, this update is a bit late. Some good news tonight. Dr. Dunn came and told us that Don's condition has improved some. His BP remains good, and is even high - and in this case that is good because it is pumping blood through the kidney pretty good.

He hasn't required as much blood today (Friday) as days in the past, and he only used 2 units! That is great news, as it has gone higher than 10 in a day earlier. That is about the best news we could get!

She did say that we can expect some bumps in the road, but that for today, things went very very well. She even said that he responded to her when she was talking to him, and he seemed to gesture with his eyebrows when she questioned him. Teri talked to him and he opened his eyes, but hard to tell if he was trying to communicate or just reflex. Dr. Dunn says if all goes well we can expect that they might take Don off ventilator by Sunday and lessen the sedatives.

He looks physically much better as the bleeding has slowed. No signs of infection, but they are still giving him "stuff that will kill any bug or fungus!" so he should not get infection. Still limiting the visitor to one family member at a time, for short periods. I know he wants to communicate, as he seemed to shake his head while I was talking to him, but he still needs to remain "boring" and not have much that will work him up.

All indications are that the liver is working as it should, and the kidney is starting to produce a bit (little) of urine - this time for sure ;)

We hope and pray that tomorrow brings similar progress and that Donnie is able to get off the ventilator and wake up so he be full aware that he really is progressing well.

Thanks everybody, and as before, all the previous thanks still hold. Diana and Carrie are staying at the hospital tonight so Kathy can get some rest at home. After Don awakens she will be with him constantly, so she needs some quiet time to rejuvinate and get ready to be by his side, literally.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 7, 2004 1:37 PM CDT

New and quick update. We had some incorrect info about the functioning of the kidney - it has not yet been producing urine - that was probably just some tired ears wanting to hear good stuff :)

But there is no bad news at this point. Don remains stable (yet still critical) in ICU, and he has not been awakened or taken off of the ventilator. BUT... his blood pressure is good, up near the 120 mark, and that is AFTER he has been taken off all BP medication. That is a good sign.

Still no additional news on the bleeding, but since he has not yet been taken back in for more surgery, we hope it is getting better with time.

That's it for now. Don is a tough old sailor and is sure showing that now! He has amazed us before with his resilience, and we are sure he will again. Thanks everybody!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Friday, May 7, 2004 8:12 AM CDT

Good morning. And it appears this indeed a good morning. Dr. Humar talked with Kathy just a bit ago, and Don has not required blood since before midnight. This is a good sign, but additional surgery has not yet been ruled out. Dr. Humar said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the bleediing problem is getting better and that things look good, but that Don does have many hurdles yet.

Nobody knows exactly how long Don will be in ICU, or how long before he will be awake, but as long as things continue to go in the right direction, that is all we can ask.

I will update again when we hear more. The "Thanks" from previous updates still stand! :)

Trivia... Don and another reporter broke the "big" story that turned the Reserve Mining Case in Duluth (Two Harbors) on end back in the 70's. It was the biggest environmental story in the nation at the time, and involved the dumping of taconite pellets and the resulting potential human health problems it may cause. There was just a big reunion of all parties to that case less than a month ago. Unfortunately Don was not able to attend, but he still loves talking about the case and he was a big part of it.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Thursday, May 6, 2004 1:57 PM CDT

Second update today, this one a bit more positive. Kathy just spoke to Dr. Dunn a bit ago (Dr. Dunn was one of the surgeons who saved Don's life during the perforated colon a couple weeks ago, and also performed the liver and then kidney transplant with Dr. Humar on Tuesday and Weds. She has been going above and beyond making sure Don has been in the best condition possible leading up to the transplant.)

Don is still bleeding quite a bit, but currently there is not a need to bring him back into surgery. He remains stable and is actually giving the doctors an opportunity to ween him off of the "pressers", or drugs used to increase his blood pressure. He is still on quite a bit of this type medication. There is also the possibility that he received an "incompatible" unit of blood - this does not mean "bad" blood or wrong blood, just that with the amount of blood he received, there may have been some that just did not agree with his body. This has happened to him in the past, and if so, is something that simply works its way through the system.

Probably the most positive news is that all indications are that the liver is working perfectly! Also, the kidney has produced some urine, about 250 cc. That in itself is not proof that it is working perfectly, but it sure is a positive sign that things are going in the right direction.

Again, we want Don's room to remain "boring" and the news we pray for is that the bleeding will subside and allow the liver to do its job gradually.

Erik is bringing a printout of the words from everybody for Mom to see, so we thank you all for the support. The same thanks as previous updates still hold true, for all parties who have had a part of Don's LIFE.

Triva... for those who have not ever hunted or fished with Don, stay clear of him when near the shore or a boat launch - he falls into the water about 65% of the time. He's the only one we know who is dry on the outside or Gore-Tex, but dripping wet on the inside after a tumble into the lake.

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Thursday, May 6, 2004 10:12 AM CDT

Hi all,

Quick update, again not much info yet. Don (Dad) is bleeding quite a bit still, and it might be internal. That is prelim info, so no doctors have actually said it yet.

He remains stable, but if the bleeding does not get better one possibility is to reopen and see what is going on. Of course, there are other things that might be able to be done, and we might be premature. That is why we are not doctors ;)

For any new visitors, please read the previous journal entries as they are more postive, for the most part. I will update as soon I get more info, as I had no idea there would be so many people checking this out for updates.

We once again thank the donor and his family for their generous gift, and we thank the docs and nurses and staff for their ongoing excellent care. And Thank God for allowing us to be in the position we are, and for all the wonderful friends and family.

Oh yeah, I just noticed that in previous updates I sure used a lot of old cliches... Dad would have his red pen out and marking it up like crazy, as we all know he likes original sayings like "I would hope to kiss a duck" rather than boring "not out of the woods" or "bumps in the road" something like that! ha!

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 10:46 PM CDT

Hi Everybody,

Not much new to update tonight, other than Don continues to be stable in ICU and the nursing station told me "his room continues to be boring, and that is good."

Kathy and Darlene are staying again tonight, and they are finally going to get to a computer to check out this site, and all the incredible notes left for Don and family. We really appreciate it.

Don is still bleeding quite a bit, and his doctor did mention that if anybody really wanted to do anything that would help out, they could donate blood in his name, and if it is Type O+ it will get directly to him, and if it is not O+ it will still be in his name. I changed the intro above to reflect that, and added the url to Memorial Blood Center website which has loads of info.

One thing that is very noticable when spending time in the ICU is just how many stories there are, and how many really sick people there are. We are very happy that things are still looking positive for Don, and pray for him and all the others who are sick. We hope you all are healthy and pray that you and your families have good health.

That's about it for tonight. Not much to mention, which is a good thing - we want "boring" in Don's room ;)

Love,
-The Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 4:33 PM CDT

Latest update:
Don has a new kidney to go with his new liver!!!

The kidney surgery went well, with adequate BP during it. It took from about 6 am until noon, at which time we got a call from one of our biggest supporters Ann Kalis (transplant coordinator) telling us the kidney was in, and Dr. Humar would be out to talk to us shortly. What a sigh of relief.

Dr. Humar and Dr. Dunn said the surgery went well, and the BP was good, and that while they could not say it is functioning perfectly yet, that all indications are good for the liver and the kidney. Dr. Ibraham (spelling, sorry...) and Dr. Humar said that it may take up to two weeks to know if the kidney is working properly and producing urine, but that is not uncommon, and especailly for a kidney that was "sitting on the shelf" for as long as Don's new one was.

Now Don is in ICU once again, where his BP will be closely monitored, he will get dialysis, and they will work to help his blood start to clot better. There is still a concern with his bleeding (still significant), and possibly an infection, but he is getting anti-biotics and the best care that you can imagine. He is still on a ventilator/breathing apparatus, and he isn't out of the woods yet.

However, things have gone remarkably well today and spirits are up and we are all hoping that the ICU room Don is in remains "boring" ;) There is no answer to when he will be able to wake up, yet there is definite but cautious optimism from all parties involved.

Erik and I even asked Ann about when we should schedule a fishing trip, and she said July or August should be a safe bet ;)

Still a long road to go, but Donnie is past some very big bumps now. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts and deeds over the past few days and months. Donnie will able to have a party pretty soon and see you all!

Again, an incredible Thank You to all the doctors and nurses and staff at Fairview University for the lifesaving care so far and for the care he still needs in the future. Again we greatly thank the donor and his family who doesn't even know the people they have saved. Thank God. And thanks to Kathy for keeping Don alive long enough to get to this incredible day :) . And thanks you all of you who have a DONOR stamp on your drivers license...

More to come as we learn more. Not out of the woods yet, but Don has a Stihl chainsaw going and he is marching towards the edge!!! ha!
-The Boxmeyers

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 9:33 AM CDT

Well, the night and this morn brought some good news for Don. His BP got a bit better yet, and the doctors decided that it was in his best long term interest to attempt the kidney transplant.

Having both liver and kidney from the same donor is best for anti-rejection purposes. Since the kidney was "on ice" for so long, it could take several days to a week for it to start functioning, but it should work, as the other kidney from the donor was up and working well within 6 hours for another patient.

At 4 am this morn the doctors decided to go ahead, and Don was more stable, so it all looked good.

At 6 am this morn the surgery was started. As of 9 am he was still in surgery and doing well. That is all for now, as I am heading down there. Eric will have his cell phone message updated, so see the first journal entry for the phone number to call.

Thanks to all!
-The Boxmeyers

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 11:50:03 PM CDT

Hi, this is Chris. Latest news is a bit better (see below). Teri and I just left the hospital and Mom, Erik and Aunt Darlene are still there keeping the nurses and docs on their toes :)

Diana, Linda, Erik, Chris, Darlene and Kathy have spent pretty much all day in the waiting room, with some visits from close friends and family.

Here is todays quick snipet:
-"The Call" comes about 8 pm Monday. A Huge and Respectful Thank You to whoever the donor is, and to the donor's family.
-3 am prep for surgery
-5 am procedure starts
-liver comes out fine
-liver goes in fine
-liver shows signs or working properly
-Donnie developes some low blood pressure, which is not good.
-Through about 4 pm there was a question as to whether he would get the kidney, as his BP was too low and his heart working to hard.
-6 pm Decision was made to place Donnie in ICU to see if his BP could be raised, and to see if his body is strong enough for the kidney operation.
-evening - things did not look so hot as Donnies BP was just not strong enough, and not just for the kidney
-Midnight Tues/Weds - GOOD news! His BP was in a better condition, and in general he is doing better.

The very fine doctors will be deciding by 4 am whether Donnie will be in shape to get the kidney, and the lifetime of the kidney is about at max.

We would like to thank all the excellent doctors and nurses and medical staff so far - they sure have good people at the U. We also would like to thank friends and family who have been supporting Mom and Dad - too many to name.

I will try to update this before I leave in the morning. People can call Erik's cell phone for an up to date on how things are going. You don't need to leave a message on it, just listen to the message - thanks.
651-253-4852

Thanks everybody, keep your fingers crossed and prayers going that Don will be catching fish very soon!
The Boxmeyers

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