DETROIT LAKES HIGH SCHOOL

Surgeons thought they removed a kidney from a Vergas teen, only to discover they didn't

Barbie Porter — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:25:14 GMT

VERGAS — Shortly after Addi DeBord woke up from a 15 1/2-hour surgery, the Vergas teenager received news that shocked even her surgeon.

The 15-year-old daughter of Cassie and Allen DeBord learned months ago she has stage 4 cancer. She underwent surgery to remove a massive tumor that was wrapped around her heart and had tentacle-like fingers stretching to her stomach.

The day following the surgery, she woke after hearing her father's voice. After getting her bearings, her mother told her some bad news.

"I told her they had to remove one of her kidneys, so her diet may have to change," Cassie said, noting her daughter has a penchant for a particular fizzy soda. "I told her she may only get to have one Dr. Pepper a week, maybe."

A short time later, a surgeon walked in with news that dropped jaws and sent Addi's eyes wide open. It turned out they had not removed a kidney. There was a tumor shaped like a kidney, and in the location where a kidney was supposed to be.

"Her other kidney was so displaced from the tumor it had been pushed down into her pelvis," Cassie said. "When she heard she had both kidneys she shot up and said, 'So, what I'm hearing is I can have my Dr. Pepper.'"

Addi's aunt, Rachel Rhines explained her niece has always been an inspiration, finding a way to share a smile and joy in any situation.

"She only looks at the positive outcomes of things and always has a smile on her face," Rhines said.

In addition to a disposition wise beyond her years, her mother noted her daughter is also a source of strength in an uncertain storm.

"When we learned about the diagnosis, I was worried she wouldn't be ready," Cassie said. "I learned it was me that wasn't ready. She was most definitely ready to put her britches on and go to work."

Now, the family is asking for the community's help. A family friend arranged a fundraiser in Vergas on Friday, May 2, from 5-9 p.m. at the Vergas Event Center. There will be horse races, a silent auction, raffles and "walking tacos" will be served along with drinks from a cash bar. There is also an opportunity to provide donations online at give.lendahandup.org/fundraisers/addison.

The DeBord family plans to attend and expressed gratitude for the Perry family (who owns Billy's Bar) for helping arrange the benefit on their behalf.

The DeBords have been on the generous end of a caring community. When news broke about her daughter's diagnosis, the region rallied with a fundraiser, as Cassie is self-employed and co-owns C & G Hair Envy in Detroit Lakes. That means she cannot benefit from the Family Medical Leave Act, she said.

"My husband is still working (at Outlet Recreation)," Cassie noted, adding there are still financial struggles going from two to one incomes with three children. Addi has an older brother, Carter, and a younger brother, Linkin. "I've been with her (Addi) for every hospital stay, every clinic appointment — everything. So, the help we received helped tremendously."

While Cassie admires Addi's strength, Addi may have learned it from her parents. Some say it takes a great deal of strength to ask for and accept help when it is needed most.

Outdoor work uncovers Vergas teen's illness

Addi had endured months of pain that shifted from her legs to her shoulders. Doctors suggested it had to do with growth spurts or injuries relating to her favorite sport of softball.

While a friend noticed what seemed like an oddly placed rib, it didn't hurt; it was suggested it was just her rib. Being a person who tries to walk off the pain and move on with life, Addi did her best to take it all in stride.

The day her health ailments were properly diagnosed began with walking outside to help her family with chores. Addi explained that she often prefers baggier shirts, but that day she put on a form fitting one.

Her mom noticed a lump protruding in her stomach area. She called her daughter over and placed a hand on the lump.

"Then I called my husband over to feel it," Cassie said.

They agreed it wasn't a rib. Doctors in Fargo confirmed it, performed a biopsy and sent the family to the Mayo Clinic.

As Addi's grandmother and aunt, who live in Florida, boarded a plane to Minnesota, her mom explained the staff at Mayo Clinic helped prevent panic from setting in. In detail, they let the family know what to expect and arranged several appointments for the next day.

The next morning, while sitting with a social worker, an oncologist they had seen earlier in the day popped his head in the room and said the biopsy results were in.

"At which point we were all like, okay, well, this meeting's over," Cassie said.

With all ears tuned into the oncologist, the DeBord family learned Addi has stage-four high-risk neuroblastoma.

"Neuroblastoma is Adrenal cancer," Cassie explained, noting it is typically found in children five years of age and younger.

Addi began induction chemotherapy, but five rounds of it had adverse effects — the tumor was growing.

"The team at Mayo has been phenomenal," Cassie said. "They're not afraid to think outside the box, especially with her diagnosis being so rare."

Outside the box was the idea of treating Addi with immunotherapy, a version of chemotherapy that boosts the immune system to fight the cancer on its own, Cassie explained. "The other thing that it does is ... it finds the hiding cancer cells, pulls them out of hiding and essentially puts a beacon on it. So when the chemo goes in, it knows exactly what to target and kills it."

While the change in treatment helped shrink the tumor, it came with great pain to Addi. Still, she endured and allowed her body to heal until she could undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Her mom noted about 90% of the mass was removed, with other parts remaining due to their proximity to vital organs.

Through it all, Addi has tried her best to keep up with grades and stay in touch with friends.

"I have to say that it's a little more tricky now because I'm not there all the time," the Detroit Lakes High �� sophomore said. "I miss things I need to learn, and then I usually come back on a test day, so I'm not sure what to do."

"My best friend will help me with the class I'm struggling with, and my counselor will try and make everything easier for me," she continued, noting that extra effort means a lot to her.

]]>

Detroit Lakes authorities respond to bomb threat at high school

Robb Jeffries — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 23:57:35 GMT

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — The principal of Detroit Lakes High �� says students and faculty are safe after local authorities responded to a bomb threat on Thursday afternoon, March 17.

In a message to families, Principal Joshua Omang said the school instituted a "code yellow" after the Detroit Lakes Police Department received a threat from an unknown caller. The caller alleged a bomb was in a backpack in a specific classroom at the school.

Omang said normal activities resumed at the school after what he called an extensive search of the school grounds.

"The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority," Omang wrote. "We take threats of any kind very seriously and are very thankful for the cooperation and professionalism of our law enforcement agencies."

WDAY News called the Detroit Lakes Police Department for comment Thursday evening, but a representative declined to comment.

]]>

Their idea is 'da bomb': Three high school seniors are building bath bomb business in their parents' basement

Kaysey Price — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 00:30:40 GMT

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. - How many times have you thought of a great idea, the next best invention, and said, "I should make that" but then just let it fall by the wayside and never got around to it?

Well, three Detroit Lakes High �� seniors didn't let their brainchild go - they had an idea, and they made the leap - no fears of failure - just an idea they thought would be fun.

It started with a need for a gift. One of the high schoolers, Isaac Eggebraaten, was trying to decide what to get his girlfriend for Christmas, and bath bombs came to mind.

On the way to the store with two of his closest friends, Gabe Anderson and Jacob Hanson, the guys realized bath bombs wouldn't be so difficult to make themselves, so they started spitballing.

"I just kind of started thinking maybe this would be a good idea to sell, and we just kind of built off each other," said Anderson. "In the end, we decided to start a business."

After getting the word out that they were thinking about making bath bombs, Hanson says a lot of their fellow classmates sounded interested: "Some of the girls in school, when we told them we were doing it, they're like, 'Wow-I'd love to buy those.'

With the buyers at the ready, they made the time, putting an emphasis on really creating a good product.

"We're not some company that manufactures thousands of these a day," said Hanson. "We make a handful a day, so we like to make them personal and have meaning behind it other than just buying our product."

The guys went to the drawing board, testing out different bath bomb recipes and perfecting their very own concoction.

"Our feet are eternally soft now," said Anderson, laughing about how many recipes they tested.

More than just the product, they also wanted to focus on the presentation, making their packaging as aesthetically pleasing as possible and even going the extra mile, adding positive messages inside the boxes.

"We spent a lot of time on packaging," said Anderson.

With a bomb product, it wasn't hard for their business to take off. Eggebraaten says they've sold about 200 since getting up and running in early Dec. - and now they're even an official business in the eyes of the Secretary of State.

It's safe to say these bombs have exploded.

"We've slowly taken over Isaac's basement with this," said Anderson with a laugh. "So there's a small operation there."

"Yeah, small operation," joked Eggebraaten. "My entire basement smells like lavender."

But no one seems to mind-basements have smelled worse.

"My mom loves it," said Eggebraaten. "That's the only reason she lets us do it."

But, while it's a business, and it has taken off thanks to their twitter handle, @YOUDABOMBBATH and word of mouth at the high school, the guys still think of it as something "fun."

They're busy high school seniors with jobs and extracurriculars, so they think of the bath bomb business as a great way for them to spend time together before going their separate ways after graduation.

"We can all go hang out and work at the same time," said Anderson.

"It's kind of a fun task that we're doing, too," added Hanson. "It's something that we enjoy doing."

Being that they have seen such success, Eggebraaten, Hanson, and Anderson, will be presenting their business at the Economic Summit at M State on Friday, March 3.

"We present in the morning. It's a pretty big deal," said Eggebraaten, excited to have not only the school's support but the support of the community and business owners therein. "It should be a good experience for us."

Their idea is 'da bomb': Three high school seniors are building bath bomb business in their parents' basement

The guys say they really wanted to focus on their presentation and make sure they are making quality products. Submitted Photo

Inside each package is a bath bomb and a little note of encouragement, part of their mission to create a positive vibe with their product. Submitted Photo

]]>

Detroit Lakes, Minn., parents 'livid' over photo of school-sanctioned game

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 20:41:14 GMT

DETROIT LAKES, Minn.-A photo being shared around the Detroit Lakes area has some parents and community members angry and even calling for "somebody to be fired over at the high school".

The photo, taken Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the Detroit Lakes High �� gymnasium during a student-led game as part of Snoball week, depicts high school students playing a game of musical chairs while blindfolded with plastic grocery bags. The bags were not tied and laid loose over the students' heads, but the photo has some area parents wondering where the judgement was from adults who were present.

The Detroit Lakes �� District released a statement apologizing for the situation.

"The District understands the concern and it apologizes for the way the event was conducted," the statement from Detroit Lakes Superintendent Doug Froke read. "The District will evaluate the matter, including conversations with our students and staff and make adjustments for future events as warranted. Our goal was to celebrate school spirit and we'll continue to enjoy the activities of Snoball week."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the photo had been shared by hundreds of people from around the community, some stating their outrage over safety concerns and "lack of common sense," others commenting about the fact that they believed the situation was being "blown way out of proportion."

]]>

Former Detroit Lakes High �� principal resigns under fire in Shakopee after credit card purchases

Nathan Bowe — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 21:11:22 GMT

Former Detroit Lakes High �� Principal Rod Thompson, who left Detroit Lakes under a cloud about 16 years ago, allegedly after an affair with a subordinate, has resigned under fire from his position as superintendent of the Shakopee �� District.

According to the Star Tribune newspaper, his resignation came after a police investigation and a search warrant issued on Thompson's property. The search warrant affidavit refers to purchases of more than $3,500 that Thompson made, including a TV and a trip to Nashville with his wife. The affidavit stated Thompson said he reimbursed the district for purchases he made with his district credit card. Thompson stated that the charges were "unintentional."

The police investigation stemmed from an investigation undertaken by members of the community, a Facebook group called Concerned Citizens of Shakopee, and the Shakopee Valley News newspaper.

Some Shakopee residents, population 40,000, had been upset about Thompson and lack of information from the school district after Thompson e-mailed staff in March that a human error had led to a more than $4.5 million budget shortfall.

Thompson left Detroit Lakes to become principal and then superintendent at Greenway �� District, and some Shakopee residents were upset at news reports that showed Thompson had also discovered a $700,000 budget shortfall while he was at Greenway, where he was hired in 2002.

Thompson explained in a Shakopee Valley News newspaper story that he had been principal in Greenway at the time, not superintendent, that Greenway had had budget problems since 1996, years before he joined the district, and that his multi-year budget plan had left the district in the black.

He left Greenway to become superintendent of the St. Anthony-New Brighton school district in 2006. During his five years there, the district four times won a Finance Award from the state; one of its high schools was repeatedly named by Newsweek as one of the best in the nation, and the district invested over $21 million into its buildings.

After he left the district, Thompson was named in a union grievance, which accused him of getting a school district employee fired. The man was a friend of Thompson's who had applied for a building and grounds position at Thompson's suggestion.

"The Grievant and the Union argued repeatedly at the hearing that ex-school superintendent Rod Thompson's personal falling out with the Grievant was the reason for the discharge," wrote arbitrator Andrea Mitau Kircher. "The Grievant and his wife ... testified that Mr. Thompson had sent her sexual text messages. They believed that Mr. Thompson did not want the �� District or the community to find out about this, and therefore, Mr. Thompson somehow caused the Grievant's discharge to occur. Superintendent Thompson had resigned before the July incidents giving rise to this grievance, and regardless of his personal view, the District established by a preponderance of the evidence that the Grievant's pattern of misconduct justified discharge."

Kircher ruled in favor of the school district in a 20-page finding, noting there was a preponderance of evidence that the man's dismissal was well justified.

Thompson left St. Anthony-New Brighton to join Shakopee Public ��s in 2011.

]]>

DETROIT LAKES HIGH SCHOOL

Surgeons thought they removed a kidney from a Vergas teen, only to discover they didn't

Detroit Lakes authorities respond to bomb threat at high school

Their idea is 'da bomb': Three high school seniors are building bath bomb business in their parents' basement

Detroit Lakes, Minn., parents 'livid' over photo of school-sanctioned game

Former Detroit Lakes High �������� principal resigns under fire in Shakopee after credit card purchases

Former Detroit Lakes High �� principal resigns under fire in Shakopee after credit card purchases