NORFOLK
Judy Boone nearly died last spring. Her liver was failing, causing other vital organs to begin to shut down.
Then in June came a life-giving liver transplant in Jacksonville, Fla. Seven months later, Boone has returned to work part-time, gained 30 pounds and is helping care for her grandson.
Today, every sunrise she sees dawning over the Chesapeake Bay behind her Ocean View cottage is a blessing, she said.
"It is so good to be alive," the 54-year-old founder and owner of Judy Boone Realty said.
Boone's company is dominant in the northern section of Norfolk. She and her husband, Ronnie, began investing in rundown sections of Ocean View nearly 30 years ago, helping to pioneer gentrification of the area.
She is known for her charity work with children, whether it is buying computers for local schools, raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or donating toys to the needy at Christmas.
Ronnie Boone said it was fitting that her liver came from a child, who was about 7 years old. They know little else about the donor.
"Who can imagine making a decision like this, to give your child's organs away, when you're dealing with such a terrible loss," Judy Boone said.
She asked doctors if she could contact the parents, and was told no, but she could write a letter that they would deliver. Boone penned one to "Dearest Donor Family." She keeps copies next to her bed.
"While deep in grief, you gave me a gift of life, an unselfish act and forever I shall be grateful to you, whoever you might be," she wrote.
"I want you to know I shall carry a part of your child and family's loved one forever with me. I will do my best to protect your little one."
Since receiving the transplant on her 36th wedding anniversary, her recovery has been sporadic. Twice she has returned to Jacksonville for treatment, and on the second trip, her body showed signs of rejecting the liver. That has abated, but only with the help of anti-rejection drugs, which suppress the immune system.
"She has good days and bad days," said City Councilman Barclay C. Winn, who knows how serious liver disease can be. His daughter, Elizabeth Brannon Winn, died of liver failure in November.
The outgoing Boone is under doctor's orders to avoid crowds, especially anyone who is sick. She hasn't been to mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in months and takes communion in her home. She shops during the day, when crowds are light, and goes to work several days a week, often wearing a mask.
"They all know if I'm there, and they have a cold, don't come on the third floor," she said. "Stay the heck away.... I'm my biggest problem. If I see somebody I know, I've got to hug them. I can't help it."
She canceled her annual Jingle Bell Ball, a Christmas party in which the price of admission is a toy for children. Boone said nearly as many toys as usual were collected.
Her treatment at St. Luke's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic was largely not covered by health insurance. Because of their business success, the Boones paid the $1.8 million. Her husband took out a second mortgage on their home to pay the medical bills. Housing sales and rentals have slumped since, cutting into the company's revenue.
Boone said they received a $700,000 refund from the hospital because she didn't stay as long as anticipated. But bills continue to mount.
"I would pay whatever it took to get Judy well," Ronnie Boone said.
Robin Conway, sales manager for Boone Realty, said Judy Boone's yearlong illness helped grow a sense of camaraderie among agents.
"We all pulled together," she said.
Boone said she is doing her best to honor the child who saved her life. She is more patient now, less prone to losing her temper. Her religious faith is deeper, she said, in part because of a vision she had hours before her surgery.
After praying with a minister, she checked out of the hospital and went to a Jacksonville Beach condominium. She said she was awakened at 3 a.m. by the fluttering of wings. She said she heard a voice and was thrown against the bed.
Though she doesn't remember the exact words, she was told everything would be OK.
Two hours later, her son, Ronnie Jr., called. There was a liver available, he said.
"When I heard the phone ring, I knew who it was and what he was going to say," she said.
It will be a year or two before doctors are sure her body has accepted the liver. On her birthday, March 15, she hopes to participate in Ocean View's St. Patrick's Day parade, which she helps sponsor.
Boone said she also plans to adopt organ donation as a cause.
"I want to do whatever I can to make sure as many people as possible experience that same miracle."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Judy Boone did not grow up rich
Judy Boone was not a rich child in a rich family. She was my babysitter and her family lived on the other side of the block in Capeview Colony, back when it was very unfashionable and we all stayed inside after dark for safety. I don't know how Judy earned her money, but she was certainly not born with it, nor did she marry it. That being said, it is quite obvious that those with money get better and more prompt medical care than those without, and that is wrong.
lknjr...........
You correctly stated what I completely forgot. Our insurance industry is deplorable. They crept in, sold corporations bills of goods and left the rest of us with our lives and health hinging on a yay or nay from someone many times not even competent to make medical decisions. All for what? M.O.N.E.Y. they are despicable.
please keep things in perspective
your family is dealing with an awful medical situation that seems incredibly unfair...because it is...but it is in no way related to this story...the article is about a positive and any opinions related to Mrs Boone's financial strength simply do not apply...i have witnessed many unfair situations in our medical system over the last 38 years...and yours is right up there...perhaps Mr Minium could devote some newspaper space to your issue..it is time for all of us to recognize the reality here..our medical insurance industry has become a true american tradgedy... sadly there are so many more stories like yours and so few like Mrs Boone's ...thank you
What?
No one is de-valuing organ donors or doubting how precious they are to saving lives. My point was that Judy Boone was able to have the lifesaving procedure because she has money. You can go on and on about your experiences but that isn't going to save my mom. Regardless of what you think about the process for qualifying for an organ, if you can't pay to have the surgery, or even to have regular care from a doctor and know when the end is near, you don't get the transplant. Period.
rich her whole life?..if i could please finish
i am lucky..my father and sister were two of my donors..they are both living healthy lives..so i can still thank them and most importantly love them ...my sister and i celebrated our 16th anniversary Monday night...but my third donor is still unknown to me..it was Christmas 1971 at M.C.V....they also performed that ultimate "unselfish act"..hopefully the dust will settle here and we can embrace the true beauty of Mrs Boone's story...one that many local citizens share today...the wonderful gift of life that all organ recipients share with their donors..i do not know Mrs Boone on a personal basis..but i truly believe that she allowed this article to be printed for only one reason..organ donor awareness...thank you
rich her whole life?
sorry BB...but that's a comment from someone who has never really been broke... last year as Mrs Boone lay in that condo and as her loved ones prayed for that call she was physically bankrupt....and whatever financial wealth she has or had was of no value...the criteria for liver transplantation is simple...which patient has the least amount of time left...as each patient waits for that call...their body begins to destroy itself...and how much money you have really doesn't matter...i have never had a liver transplant...but one of my dearest friends survived one 16 years ago and we speak daily...i have received 3 kidney transplants..the first in 1970...i waited for that same phone call 18 months while dialysis kept me alive...it was a fairly new procedure at the time...in fact there wasn't a dialysis machine available for me in Norfolk or Va Beach... i have watched the transplant scene in this area for 38 years next month....and i hope that Mrs Boone's story reinforces the beauty of organ donation..."you gave me a gift of life an unselfish act and forever i shall be grateful to you" as an organ recipient that statement really hit's home...i'm lucky...my father and sister were two o
BB...
you're so very welcome -- it's not hard to understand human suffering. I have an aunt and uncle in Ohio who years ago decided that when one of them becomes unable to care for themselves and must be confined to a nursing home they must DIVORCE to get the care they need and not lose the home they've had for 45+ years. Isn't that PATHETIC???!!! This is what MANY people in this country do not understand. Catastrophic illness, unless one has money, will wipe out an entire family's assets. And guess what? No one cares. The truly indigent who've depended on welfare their entire lives are better off than those of us middle class workers. This isn't fair either -- is it? But I doubt those who've posted here unfavorably towards your dying mother and your feelings know anything about any of this. Yet again, maybe they do. But their blinders are still on. I hope there's something out there you can find for your mother. BB you take good care.
Thank you debi
Thank you for your kind comments. My mom doesn't qualify for medicaid. She's not even 50 yet and my dad still works. A social worker suggested that she should divorce my dad because even though he makes very little, it's enough to keep them from qualifying for any aid. Call it stubborn but my mom is a religious woman and she refuses to divorce my dad, even though they'd still be together, in order to get healthcare. Maybe once they become homeless, he will not feel compelled to continue working and trying to support the family. If neither of them is working, they might qualify without a divorce. Thanks again debi for understanding. For other reading this, please understand that I am not saying I want Judy Boone to die. It's just that articles like this on rich people getting help, when I know my family cannot but should, do make me very angry.
BB in VB
...again...I'm truly sorry to hear your mother's/family's plight. There are such heartwrenching stories from all walks of life. I'm reminded of the Biblical saying that everyone's days are numbered. We'd all like to think there's no 'unless you have more money'...I believe no family goes untouched from catastrophic illness of some sort. God knows my family has had it's share. The travesty comes when insurance companies, hospitals, physicians, etc., appear to not render the same life-prolonging services to all no matter the financial status. I may be speaking out of turn here but I believe Medicaid has great benefits --- even transplant coverage. I know very little about it but perhaps you can check into this for your mother. We all walk a thin line in life but I am again reminded of what this original article shared with us and that is Mrs. Bloom felt wings, heard a voice..........and there's no doubt in my mind it was either her guardian angel or the child who died. Still makes the hair on my arms stand up.
For your information
My mother worked very hard her entire life along with my father. They lost it all when my father broke his back on the job and lost the fight for workman's comp. My mom got cancer of the uterus because the doctors didn't realize the sack never came out when my little sister was born. She contracted Hep C during the surgery to remove it but couldn't sue or otherwise get help from the hospital because we couldn't afford an attorney. These days she doesn't work anymore because some days she can't even walk due to the liver damage. My parents will be homeless soon because Virginia Beach rents are pricing them out of the area. Judy Boone's family was rich and she has been rich her whole life. She didn't "earn" her ability to live out her full life any more than my mom has and my mom will die while she lives.
When your loved one is on the flip side of this....
then you two who are chastising BB in VB will understand. Far too many times those without die --- and far too young. I completely understand her [or maybe his] sadness in watching Mother die and not being able to do anything. Show a little compassion to the dying here people.
It never ceases to amaze me
It never ceases to amaze me how cruel people can be. Here's a woman who was on her death bed talking about grateful she is to be alive and all anyone wants to talk about is how unfair it is that she got a transplant because she has money. Who do you think you are to assume that she doesn't deserve to live because she had the money to afford the surgery? And if you read the article, it sounds like they had to do what most families would have to do.....put a 2nd mortgage on their home to afford it. People need to get over themselves and their hate and see this article for what it is about......a wonderful woman with a second chance at life.
to BBinVB
Although i am deeply sorry for the loss of your mother, i am not sure this story is the right platform for your resentful remarks toward Judy and the fact that she has the money to pay for this transplant.
BBinVB
Sorry to hear about your mother. I completely understand what you're talking about. Far too many times those with the $$$ are placed at the front of the line for life-saving measures. Doesn't seem fair does it...
Deserving
I think that it's great that Judy Boone was able to get a liver transplant. I am sorry that BBinVB's mother doesn't have insurance or means to outright pay for her liver transplant, but I am sure that Judy Boone earned every dollar she has and should not be apologetic for having any of it. The healthcare system in this country sucks, but that is not Judy Boone's fault. If a person educates themselves, works hard and saves/invests their money then they are entitled to spend it in whatever way they see fit and if having a few extra dollars entitles you to a few extra privileges then so be it. I'm sure she worked a few extra hours than most of us to earn the few extra dollars and the few extra privileges. I'm just glad that Judy Boone has realized that life is a precious gift and is doing exactly as her doctor instructs her to so that she can be around for a few extra years to enjoy the life she has worked hard to build.
What money can do...
The organ isn't all you need for this procedure. You also need a huge hunk of cash. I believe Judy Boone's liver problem was the result of a weight loss surgery many years ago. My mom's liver will eventually be destroyed as a result of hepatitis C contracted during a hysterectomy to remove cancer. Judy Boone got a transplant but my mom will not. Not only is there a waiting list (surely with shortcuts for the privileged few like everything else) for organs, my mom has no health coverage and will simply die when her liver fails. It makes me feel very resentful toward the 'wealthy beyond our wildest dreams' residents, like Judy Boone, who can afford to live when other locals will have no choice but to die.
Wow !
Great story. Hope she is around a lot longer. Ocean View is very impressive along the waterfront now.(wish i could afford one though).Even The fishing pier is awesome. Thanks Judy.
Good News!
Am glad to hear of Judy's recovery...and you're in our prayers for a full and speedy recovery! Thanks, Harry, for keeping all us 1971 Norview alumni updated! Best to Judy and Ron, Wayne
Gift at a time of crisis
When a loved one is suddenly snatched away by death, a gaping hole in our hearts is created; often it seems that nothing makes sense to us. What a good way to find something meaningful out of such pain as to share the gift of life for a stranger. Having had contact with several recipients and in one instance, a donor's family, I've seen the grace which results on both sides. Each of us should consider planning in advance to give and help guide of families. Thanks for the heartwarming story, and good luck, Mrs. Boone!
Snipped from the story...
"After praying with a minister, she checked out of the hospital and went to a Jacksonville Beach condominium. She said she was awakened at 3 a.m. by the fluttering of wings. She said she heard a voice and was thrown against the bed.
Though she doesn't remember the exact words, she was told everything would be OK."
Wow. Words fail me.