John ’s Story

Site created on April 25, 2023

Welcome to John's Caringbridge site. We so appreciate your prayers and support. 


Starting at the end of March, John was not feeling well. Thinking it was a UTI, the doctors tried a couple of medications, but John continued to get sicker. On April 14, John was admitted to the Brainerd Hospital with pneumonia, sepsis, and several other infections that were complicated by his ongoing MS.  He was intubated and given a whole assortment of medications with his son, Mason, sisters Heidi & myself, brother-in-law Sherman, and his mom, Dee taking turns at his side.  On April 21st, thinking that John could breathe on his own, John was extubated, but his respite from the respirator did not last. He was again intubated on April 23rd with talk of a tracheotomy coming soon. As of the 24th, they recognized that his kidneys were failing and decided to evaluate him further for possible dialysis. They flew John to the Essentia Hospital in Duluth, with Heidi and Dee following behind.


Again, we appreciate your prayer and support. We will post to Caringbridge as often as we are led, to help relieve the burden of individually updating everyone.      

Michelle Westvig (Little sis #1)

Newest Update

June 3, 2023

Journal entry by Michelle Westvig —

We want to thank you for all your support for our family in the past few weeks.  We so appreciate it.  
I just wanted to give you a reminder about John's memorial service, which is next weekend.
When:  Saturday, June 10th at 11:00 am
Where:  Dee Hoffman's House, 15880 Blue Heron Drive, Brainerd, MN 
Questions:  Call Michelle Westvig at 605-863-2091 or email mwestvig@aol.com
Read More of the journal titled "June 3, 2023"
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