Breathing with the Bostons

On rare, wonderful occasions, we have the good fortune of encountering irrefutably extraordinary individuals. These special someones possess a seemingly magical ability to motivate others. Sometimes they inspire creativity. Other times they sow the seeds of perseverance. In the best cases, they ignite joy. Islander Kellie Boston routinely performs all these feats with aplomb, and of late, she’s been “rocking this life” from a hospital room.

The quintessential renaissance woman, Kellie is dedicated to a plethora of passions – her family of seven (counting three Great Danes), her thriving photography business, the yoga workshops she leads, her entrepreneurial mentoring, her “rocking this life” apparel line and, oh yeah, the beach and the creatures who call it home. In late 2023, Kellie’s already chock-full reality took a sharp turn when Mike Boston, her beloved husband of 24 years, learned he was in dire need of a second double-lung transplant.

Mike, an easygoing, eternal optimist with a massive, sweet smile, was born with cystic fibrosis. He knew from a young age that his condition would be a challenge with which to contend. In 2018, his health began to decline, and he received his first double-lung transplant. After five and a half years of outstanding health, a bout with COVID-19 in late 2023 abruptly drove him back to the ICU. By early 2024, his survival would become dependent on a second double-lung transplant. Hoping for a miracle, the Bostons were utterly crushed when their long-time hospital declined to move forward with a second transplant.

Unwilling to abandon hope, and determined to protect Mike’s life by whatever means possible, Kellie began working the phones. After eight medical facilities rejected her pleas, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville stepped up to the plate. Miraculously, the Bostons would later discover that both Mike’s previous double-lung transplant in Jacksonville and his forthcoming transplant in Nashville were given the green light by the same individual. Dr. David Erasmus, medical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Institute Lung Transplant Program, threw them their vital lifeline twice.

Five days after being transported to Nashville via medevac, Mike received his transplants during a 10-hour surgery. Anyone who knows the Bostons knows they don’t live life in a typical fashion. Kellie aptly refers to herself as a “why not?” kind of person. She and her family are all about diving into situations with authenticity rather than running from fear. Likewise, the Bostons’ medical journey has also been undeniably out-of-the-ordinary.

Retransplantations are incredibly rare, but the Bostons have been-there-done-that against all odds. Breathing on one’s own, sans ventilator, 21 hours post-surgery is practically unheard of, however, Mike hit that milestone. An in-network hospital with an out-of-network life-saving surgery necessitates a mind-blowing sum, but the Bostons are determined to find a way to make it happen. Similarly, being in two places at once is a physical impossibility, but Kellie has come as close as imaginable.

An avid proponent of small business and the local community, Kellie supports fellow islanders on the regular, taking a great deal of pride in community involvement. The Bostons’ stint at the Jacksonville ICU happened to coincide with Kellie’s most bustling photography gig of the year, Dickens on Centre, in which she photographs a whopping 500 or so portrait sessions with Santa. Unbeknownst to Santa, his helpers and his young fans, Kellie’s nights during the event were spent sleeping in the ICU. She returned to the island to shoot, only to immediately rush back to Mike’s side in Jacksonville.

Although the Bostons are well-known and well-loved members of our community, they are typically rather private people. They kept Mike’s first double-lung transplant in 2018 under wraps for more than year, eventually confiding in only a small circle. It was during Dickens on Centre that Kellie realized extra support would be a necessity. As soon as word started to spread, the community that the Bostons have bolstered for the past 15 years jumped at the chance to rally around them. Before they knew it, a movement had formed, and the folks of Amelia Island were assembling to support Kellie and Mike.

To keep friends up to date on Mike’s condition, Kellie launched a Facebook page called “Breathing with the Bostons.” Suddenly, local businesses and individuals alike joined the cause, sponsoring a boatload of events on behalf of the Bostons. The Facebook page quickly became a source of encouragement for the family with well-wishing posts from near and far. In heart-warming fashion, close friends and colleagues, islanders they barely know and even very considerate strangers have all pitched in.

Today, just a few days post-transplant, Mike is exceeding all expectations and as Kellie proclaims, “He is killing it.” He has some arduous work ahead and will be in Nashville recovering for another 3-6 months. Kellie will, of course, be in tow, cheerleading for Mike and returning to the island every so often to grace her family and businesses with her one-of-a-kind magic.

The Bostons are the sort of folks who truly appreciate and savor all that life has to offer. They treasure our small-town community and are experiencing first-hand that “people really care for other people,” which has been a game-changer for them during such trying times. They are “extremely grateful, honored and humbled” by all the love that is being sent their way. Despite the daunting trials and tribulations they have faced, they believe wholeheartedly that positive attitudes will continue to pave their way. Among the many lessons the Bostons have taught us all by example, perhaps the most poignant is “do good and good things come back.” Here’s hoping that Kellie and Mike Boston will come back to Amelia Island soon, stronger than ever.   

For more information about the Boston’s journey and upcoming local events, visit www.facebook.com/breathingwiththebostons.