Chuck Morken

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


Chuck was brought to St. Marys ER Tuesday night by Zumbrota Ambulance due to having a lot of difficulty breathing.  He had a breathing tube placed and was sedated while they tried to figure out what was wrong.  Ultimately, he had a lot of fluid on his lungs (flash pulmonary edema), which caused the breathing difficulties.  His kidneys weren't functioning well, which meant his medications were building up in his system (serotonin syndrome), and he has been on dialysis (CRRT) for a few days while in the hospital, in order to do the work his kidneys have been unable to do. Because of his unstable blood pressures and heart rates, he had a minor heart attack and suffered a right brain stroke, which has affected his ability to move his left side very much.  The breathing tube was removed Friday evening, to his great relief, and he continues to be monitored closely in the ICU as his blood pressures and heart rates have been inconsistent.  He hasn't lost his sense of humor at all.  He says he "feels better than nothing," and asked for a Bud Light Friday night.  He really enjoys visits from his Fritzy. 


There have been many ups and downs and we appreciate all of the concern and support that has been shown!  There will be many co-authors who will contribute to Chuck's journal as the days go on so that we can do a good job of keeping everyone updated.