Help Ken Boyer in His Recovery Journey
Our friend Ken Boyer is facing some pretty serious health challenges right now. Ken was an early friend and contributor to Hawaii Tracker over 8 years ago now. Any support you can give him would be appreciated and please keep him and his ohana in your prayers! 🙏
If anyone would like to support Ken and his family you can do so at the link below.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/liver-transplant-journey-recovery-nsvfc
Here is the post Ken shared on social media today:
"Hello my dear friends and family, this is gonna be a long one, sorry but I feel it’s time I share my story that very few know. The last few years have been extremely difficult for me and my family. We’ve suffered tremendous loss and I found myself feeling ill also. Very weak, extremely tired and fatigued, abdominal pain, unable to think clearly and at times not even being able to form sentences, unable to remember things, etc…I was very concerned and went to the doctor. After a series of tests and such I was ultimately diagnosed in November of 2023 with End Stage (Stage 4) Liver Disease (Cirrhosis) as well as several other related diagnosis, the worst being Hepatic Encephalopathy. Went to a few doctors to review the diagnosis. One was very hopeful and said may be able to get a transplant. Another said I had 6 months to live and it sure felt like it. Since then I’ve changed my diet, saw many specialists, been back and forth to Oahu and even to California. It is believed that this disease came on from a fall I had into stagnant water on a river back in 2008. At that time I contracted Leptospirosis. That was very difficult to navigate for quite some time but I did get better and I thought that was that. Apparently not…
It’s heavily affected my ability to work. We tried many things attempting to keep Rico’s Taco Shop open but it just wasn’t able to operate successfully without me being present. My wife did an amazing job of trying to keep it going. She was just working herself to death though. She ultimately was able to secure a great job and I have since been unable to find a way to operate Rico’s. This has been crushing to us in so many ways. My dream business, emotionally, financially…. Needless to say, it’s been a roller coaster. This has pushed us to the breaking point in so many ways and continues to daily. The hardest part is what I see it doing to my wife and kids. They are amazing. My wife has been by my side through all of this and I can’t thank her enough for all that she’s done. The kids are affected a lot and it kills me. I don’t have the energy to be there with them and present like I’d like to be. They are strong. They know daddy has some health issues but don’t understand the extent of it. My oldest daughter is aware but living in the mainland at this time.
Unfortunately the cirrhosis has progressed and has made it impossible to do much. A lot of days I’m unable to drive even. There’s been countless trips to the ER and stays in the hospital due to this as well as many procedures and medications. Currently I’m on 12 medications. I will need a transplant to live and I’m working towards that. However I will be having to move to either Oahu or California to do so. I’m working on getting disability but have been denied and have to keep pushing for it. My days consist of falling asleep at all times out of nowhere, even standing up. Or the opposite, extreme insomnia. The day to day of all the symptoms is overwhelming and I won’t bore you with it all. Some are very ugly too, you don’t wanna know lol. The cost of ongoing care has been a huge burden on us as well and we do need help there also, somehow.
I decided I needed to be transparent about this. I owe it to you all. You’ve all been such amazing friends and family that it only seems right. I’m sure some have wondered “what happened to that guy, he used to always be online”. Well, I just can’t be like I used to be. Life has become very mundane.
The last thing I wanted to do was ask for any donations. We’ve been trying to do anything and everything we can to sell off everything to raise funds. We’re just not nearly close enough and currently not able to cover bills even. But my main concern is being able to get to Oahu or California when the time comes for a transplant. Which will happen sometime in the near future. I don’t know any other way to make this a reality. We have a lot of loose ends here that we will have to deal with financially before it’s possible to even leave and once I’m there I’ll need to rent a place to stay. Medical should cover the majority of the medical bills. Depending where I go. If I have to go to California the medical will be different and won’t cover nearly as much. But Oahu doesn’t have nearly as many viable livers annually. So that’s where the concern is as to where I’ll be going.
Either way, no matter what happens, if you donate, it will be going to the ongoing cost of care, travel, housing, and anything else that is going to be out of pocket.
If you can help, that’s fantastic and I appreciate it more than I could ever explain but a share means just as much. Thank you all! I will try to get back with everyone as much as I’m able to. Even a prayer!!!
Love you all 🙏🏼"
Thanks Maren!
Mar 14, 2021
Thanks Maren!
Mar 13, 2021
356 PM HST Sat Mar 13 2021 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL ISLANDS UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY... Kona-South Big Island-Big Island North and East-Kohala-Big Island Interior-Big Island Summits- ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for * The Big Island. * Through late tonight * A front over the western half of the state will maintain the potential for flash flooding through tonight. * Significant flooding may occur due to the overflow of streams and drainages. Roads in several areas may be closed, along with property damage in urban or low lying spots due to runoff. Landslides may occur in areas with steep terrain.
Mar 14, 2021
Update below: flood advisory now until 4:30 pm - and especially for parts of Puna and Hilo 1203 PM HST Sat Mar 13 2021 ...FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 PM HST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE ISLAND OF HAWAII IN HAWAII COUNTY... At 1203 PM HST, radar indicated spotty moderate to heavy showers across the entire Big Island, with showers moving toward the northeast at 10 to 15 mph. Additional showers lie offshore the Kona coast, and will continue to periodically move ashore, bringing brief periods of heavy rain and low visibility. * Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to... the entire Big Island, especially the Kona and leeward Kohala Districts.
Mar 13, 2021
209 PM HST Sat Mar 13 2021 ...FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM HST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE ISLAND OF HAWAII IN HAWAII COUNTY... At 209 PM HST, radar indicated moderate to locally heavy showers moving northeast into the leeward side of the island. Meanwhile, a nearly stationary thunderstorm was bringing very heavy rain to the area from Volcano to Hilo. * Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to... the entire Big Island, with rainfall especially heavy over the Puna and south Hilo Districts near Mountain View, Keeau and Hilo town.
Mar 14, 2021
Update: Hwy 11 is now open at the 60 mm. From HPD: A one lane contra-flow now in effect at the 60 mm in Ka`u. Flooding has subsided and a one lane contra-flow traffic pattern has been established on Highway 11 near the 60 mile marker at Honu`apo in Kaʻū. Motorists are still being advised to drive with caution and remain on the look out for run-off, ponding and debris on roadways in the district. https://local.nixle.com/alert/8594740/
Mar 13, 2021
341 PM HST Sat Mar 13 2021 ...FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM HST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE ISLAND OF HAWAII IN HAWAII COUNTY... At 341 PM HST, radar indicated moderate showers moving northeast into the leeward side of the island. Additionally, heavy showers were soaking the area from Keeau to Hilo to Hakalau. * Locations in the advisory include but are not limited to... the entire Big Island, with rainfall especially persistent over the south Hilo District.
Mar 14, 2021