Stephen’s Story

Site created on February 14, 2019

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.


On Saturday Feburary 9th my dad Stephen Ekre had a massive cardiac arrest in his home. My mother Deb Ekre worked fast to call 911 and start compressions on Dad right away.  Her fast reaction time is what I am certain saved his life. First responders were on the scene in a matter of minutes. They continued CPR and resuscitated him. He was life flighted to Sanford in Fargo. 
He has been breathing with a tube and under sedation in the ICU. They cooled his body temp for 24 hours and started to take him out of sedation to see if he had movements and brain function. He opened his eyes, moved hands and feet but wasn't respoding to commands yet. The doctors decided he was good to go for bypass surgery and he went in Valentine's Day morning. We got the word around 12:15 he made it through bypass surgery and was in recovery. Because he had so much trauma to his body, heart, and brain his recovery is going to be long and slow going. 
Our family asks for your support and prayers during this critical recovery time. We also ask to keep visitors to a minimal for the next few days until we see more progress in his recovery. We will contunue to keep everyone updated on this site the best we can and please feel free to write encouragements and prayers! 


Thank you.

Newest Update

June 25, 2019

Journal entry by Calley Rosado —

Just a quick update on Dad. He has been working with out patient therapy for speech and OT for the last couple months and doing well. He is home full time with Mom and very happy to be home! His memory and speech is still a struggle sometimes but we are still hoping he continues to progress with his memory and communication. Dad was diagnosed with aphasia, which is the loss or capability to understand or express speech. We hope you will continue to have Dad and Mom in your prayers while they continue this journey of recovery. Thank you all for your support!
Read More of the journal titled "June 25, 2019"
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