FARGO — The community is continuing its support for former Fargo Shanley Deacons and Fargo Post 2 baseball player Boden Meier with an online apparel store.
Meier, who suffered a brain bleed after falling off a golf cart on May 11 in Omaha, Nebraska, remains in critical condition and
has been unconscious since.
On Tuesday, Meier underwent surgery at Bergen Mercy Hospital in Omaha to get his skull flap reattached and will return to the intensive care unit following the procedure.
Shanley’s Boden Meier prepares for a pass during football practice on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 at Horace High School.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Meier’s parents, mother Karin and father Chris, wrote this statement to The Forum on Boden’s recovery:
“This all started with a teary surgeon telling us to say our goodbyes to Bo because there was a second area of bleeding that might require a second surgery, and if that happened, he probably wouldn’t survive it. And everyday since
we’ve been looking for little wins and have been blessed with them.
"He went from ventilator to CPAP to (tracheotomy) collar and breathing room air fast once someone gave him the chance to try. And even though he’s minimally conscious, he’s been able to show he can swallow, and tolerate some PT/OT
sessions to simulate standing and sitting.
“And now, a scary ride to the ER Friday night turned into Bo getting his skull flap put back. As we write this, they are finishing up that surgery. No one has left his side since May 11 and he’s been in the OR today for 6.5 hours.
“We have a few days to decide if we will take him on a med flight to Atlanta, Georgia, to continue his progress at the Shepherd Center. Shepherd Center is a top-ranked, nationally recognized rehabilitation hospital specializing in
spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and other complex neurological conditions.
“Bo has been a champion and a competitor his whole life. We have no doubt he will continue to compete for his life and come out a champion like he always has.
“He has always had a team around him and this time is no different. And his fans are doing so much for him with all the prayers and loving messages being sent his way. We are so thankful for that because it really helps our family
so much, too.”
The online store ,
announced on Monday, June 9, features an assortment of T-shirts and sweatshirts with youth, women’s and adult sizes. The items are available for purchase until Sunday, June 15.
“The T-shirts are going to be a great way to fundraise, but also a way for people to show visual support,” said Sarah Miller, a family friend who helped put together the T-shirt sales. “And also just show that they’re really with
the Meier family and thinking of them.”
The items are gray with “Bo Knows” “Philippians 4:13” printed on the front. On the back, an outline of Boden delivering a pitch is behind a quote from singer Bob Marley.
“You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,” the quote reads.
The quote was chosen after Karin found it browsing a traumatic brain injury awareness website.
Kari Sornsin, Boden’s aunt and godmother, said the idea for the sales came from an athletic trainer at Shanley. It was furthered influenced by the Deacons students wanting to rally behind the family.
“The T-shirt isn’t really so much about raising funds,” Sornsin said. “The thought of getting that reminder out into the community, so that people can show their support. Or maybe somebody would ask about the shirt, ‘Who is Bo?’
”
Fargo Post 2’s Boden Meier pitches to Farmington, MN during their American Legion Baseball Central Plains Regional Tournament game on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Young Field in West Fargo.
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Boden was a multi-sport standout at Shanley, including football, hockey and baseball. He was also a member of Post 2's American Legion World Series team in 2024 and played collegiate baseball at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs,
Iowa.
Sornsin had the privilege to teach him in government class at Shanley. She described him as a fun-loving soul with a passion to win.
“Bo is fun and he is incredibly energetic, and at the same time is very chill, very laid back,” Sornsin said. “Bo always has a smile on his face, doesn’t take things too seriously, but at the same time is a fierce competitor.
… That fierce competitive nature is going to serve him well as continues to fight.”
Boden, and his fight, have attracted a multitude of donors from around the community. Over $70,000 has been raised for him and his family on his Lend A Hand Up page .
“We knew that people wanted to help,” Sornsin said. “I’m just glad that there are avenues for them to do that and to show the family just how much they care.”
“I think the Meier family has touched a lot of lives in the Fargo-Moorhead area,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of people that have been recipients of kindness from them and are doing a kindness back.”