Living in a small community where "Minnesota Nice" is a real thing is a blessing that many people never get the chance to experience. If you are reading this, then count yourself as a lucky person to be living where you are. When "bad" things happen to "good" people, as the saying goes, we are offered an opportunity to do a kindness for one of our neighbors in need, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Being able to help someone, whether we know them personally or not, gives us a chance to feel good about the prospect of doing a kindness for no reason other than someone needs us to. And you just never know when you or someone you know will need the favor returned.
When a tragedy strikes, as it will, it brings a community together. Working together to help the ones in need builds a bond that no one will soon forget. The recipients are the obvious ones to receive what they need to get through their personal tragedy, but the givers will have a sense of confidence that they were able to help in some small way, and that in itself blesses the giver.
In June, one of our community members was badly injured in a farm accident. The Messenger reached out to see what could be done to help. In order for the community to know the details of the accident, we reached out to Erin Erickson and Lindsey Quam to get the details to keep us all informed. The following is a detailed account of what happened.
On June 12, 2023, Marshall Friese was airlifted to St. Mary’s hospital from Cannon Falls with a severely, lacerated liver causing internal bleeding. It was a Grade 5 Liver Laceration, leaving only 30% of his liver intact. He was pinned between a skid loader and feed mixer while doing his morning chores at their family dairy farm in Cherry Grove, MN. Doctors were able to stop the bleeding with an embolization procedure and he spent several days in the intensive care unit. Marshall was in the hospital for 8 days and was able to come home with an abdominal drain for a few short days before being admitted again. Fluid collections were continuing to form after taking over 5 liters from the first visit, to taking an additional 3 liters of fluid on the next. After another discharge from the hospital, they were able to spend the long, holiday weekend in Wanamingo with friends and family. Then suddenly on Thursday, July 6th, a pseudo aneurysm burst in his liver giving him sharp pain and internal bleeding. He was taken by ambulance back to St. Mary’s for another embolization procedure to stop the bleeding vessels in his liver. He spent five days in the ICU again where his pain and breathing were giving him a lot of trouble. The doctors drained 3 liters of fluid from his lung cavity and he ended up needing a breathing tube to allow his body to rest from all the stress. Marshall stayed in the hospital from July 6th until July 21st. He underwent multiple procedures, scans, a chest tube, pelvic drain, and the upsizing of his abdominal drain.
Admission #4 was August 9th after the trauma team saw something they didn't like in the follow up appointments he had been to. Another lobe of his right lung was collapsed, white blood cells were elevated, kidney function was down, more build up of fluid in his liver , and his portal was not free flowing. He had a chest tube as well as a liver drain put in to keep the fluid draining out and the pressure down as well as being put on an IV, and oral antibiotics were administered.
Admission #5 was August 29th, and he was in for another week. He went in because of chills and pain, and the doctors found a large build up of fluid around his lungs and liver again. He was given medication for the pain to help get it under control.
He had surgery on September 19, so the liver specialist could remove the dead tissue from the liver injury in June, and replace it with newly grow tissue from the lab. While they were doing the operation, they also used part of the regrown tissue to repair the gall bladder and diaphram.
Marshall and Alyssa are happy to be back home but still aware they are not out of the woods yet. The risk of bleeding and infection remains high. They are praying the abdominal drain placed in his liver will be able to control the biloma he has but surgery is the next option. They are very grateful for all the thoughts, prayers, messages, and gifts from everyone.
There was a fundraiser for the Friese family. They sold tee shirts to raise money, and the response was overwhelming. For more information on donating much needed funds, , please contact Erin at 507-202-8654. It is a great feeling to know that we as a community care about our neighbors, and we don't have to go through tragedies alone.
