Cruz Krause

Co-organized

Jessica Charon and Kelcey Lee are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Cody Krause.

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Hello and Thank you for letting me share our story.
It was just like any other day for our family of 4. I was off work, my husband was out working and my 5
year old son Cruz had gone to school. My youngest and I had just finished giving the dog a bath when at
09:47 on April 11th started a chain of events I would never have believed. The teacher was very worried
and hoped I could come to the school to check on Cruz. He was pale, not feeling well and stated he was
dizzy. We had been doctoring for dizziness for about a month and a half but we chalked it up after
nothing was found to an overactive imagination. When I arrived at the preschool, here was my busy
little guy, sleeping on the table. I remember thinking well this is odd. I called his name and there was no
answer. Finally, I picked him up, like a limp sack of potatoes and whispered what was wrong. He didn’t
answer right away. As I held him in my arms and asked again he stated my head hurts I am dizzy and my
stomach hurts. As a nurse, my mind told me to take him home and let him ride it out. The problem was
I continued to look at my child who could not even sit up straight in a car seat and was as pale as ghost.
We went to public health to take a temp and he was 96. My child runs hot and this didn’t sit well with
me. I took another look at the puddle that resembles my child and thought I should call the clinic.

As I talked to the receptionist, asking for a clinic appointment, the staff directed me to the ER. I called
my husband and relayed what was going on. He was going to finish up his stops for the day and come
see how he was doing in a bit. I was not alarmed and didn’t think it was urgent. My busy little guy laid
in the ER and received fluids and lab tests. He barely fought us and was in a pattern of waking up and
going to sleep. It was then Brad Hoff a Physician’s Assistant made a life-changing decision to complete a
CAT SCAN. That decision saved Cruz’s life. The CT scan had caught the attention of the radiologist who
wanted Cruz there right away. The next steps were a blur between Carrington coordinating with
Sanford and life flight.

We landed in Fargo and I remember the Paramedic telling me that they were calling a stroke code to get
everyone together to help but not to be scared. Once we got there, it was like a flood of people. Cruz
was getting hooked up and we met the Sanford stroke team. We were taken to the MRI, where we
could find some answers. I remember looking through the wildlife picture scene to see the doctors
pointing. It took 9 long minutes. It took 9 minutes to give me the diagnosis that as a nurse, I did not
want to hear, let alone for my 5-year-old. We needed emergency surgery now and it could not wait. As
they rambled off my options, I told them lets get it done, no matter the outcome. He was taken to
surgery and during this time was told that he most likely will not make it. After 12 minutes, he was out
of surgery but not out of the woods. We stayed in the hospital for 6 days!

As we reflect back on that day everything had to fall into place to save my child. The CT Results, to the
air team, the stroke code and the accessibility to an MRI right away saved my child. Without these
services, Cruz would not be here today. The quick response Carrington took to get my child to Sanford,
the wonderful air med crew, and everyone at Sanford helped make this a positive outcome for my
family and we are grateful for everything.

After many tests, Cruz has been diagnosed with a rare clotting disorder and a patent foramen ovale. He will be on lifelong treatment for his clotting disorder and he is currently awaiting surgery to close the hole in his heart. We know that we have a long journey ahead of us, but all prayers and support are greatly appreciated.