We climbed Citlaltépetl for Donald!
Donald Howell — Solving Life’s Toughest Case
For much of his life, Donald Howell made a career out of uncovering the truth and standing up for justice. As a former police officer and detective in Ohio and Michigan — including time in Detroit and Columbus — Donald faced danger head-on, working undercover and handling some of the toughest assignments in law enforcement. After decades of service, he transitioned into the private sector, continuing his investigative work as a Special Agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
But in 2017, Donald found himself confronted with a mystery even he couldn’t solve — one that hit much closer to home.
A Troubling Sign
Donald first noticed blood in his urine, a symptom that immediately raised concern, especially given his history of prostate cancer in 2002. He scheduled an appointment at the University of Michigan Urology Center, where imaging revealed both a large kidney stone in his left kidney and a suspicious growth in his right kidney.
“I thought maybe the blood was related to my prostate cancer,” Donald recalls. “But after the CT scan, I learned I had a possible cancerous growth in my right kidney — and that changed everything.”
Before doctors could address the tumor, they needed to remove the obstructive kidney stone. In February 2017, Dr. Michael Borofsky performed a Laser Holmium Lithotripsy to clear the blockage and place a stent. Once Donald recovered, a biopsy confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
The Operation That Changed Everything
On May 2, 2017, Dr. Christopher Weight performed a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy at the University of Michigan — a delicate procedure that removed the tumor while preserving as much kidney function as possible.
Donald’s recovery was steady, and his follow-up scans have continued to show no evidence of disease. His experience left him deeply appreciative of his medical team and the people who stood by his side.
“I couldn’t have done this without Dr. Borofsky, Dr. Weight, and my family,” he says. “My wife, two sons, and my daughter — who flew in from Australia to care for me — were my rock.”
Facing Fear With Courage
Throughout his 74 years, Donald had stared down danger in countless forms — riots, armed confrontations, and undercover operations. Yet he admits nothing compared to hearing the words “you have kidney cancer.”
“I’ve been shot at, kicked, hit, and threatened — but none of that scared me like cancer did. When I heard the diagnosis, my head was spinning. I had always been in control, and now I wasn’t.”
What helped him regain that control was knowledge and trust.
“Dr. Weight took the time to explain everything and answer every question. He took away my anxiety and replaced it with confidence.”
A Life Well Lived
Now in remission, Donald focuses on the things he loves most — working outdoors, tending his lawn and garden, cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes, and expanding his extensive collection of police badges and memorabilia, which includes rare first-issue badges from the 1800s.
Though occasional worries still cross his mind, he keeps them in perspective:
“Sometimes I wonder, what if it comes back? But I’m not letting that control my life. I’m happy to be above ground — and I’m going to make the best of it.”
Words of Advice
Donald’s advice to others newly diagnosed with kidney cancer reflects both his detective’s diligence and his survivor’s heart:
“Do your research. Learn as much as you can about your cancer. Get a second opinion if you need to. And seek care from a trusted, experienced doctor — like Dr. Weight and the University of Michigan team.”