County icon needs community's prayers

January 8, 2017

Rockey Burkholder being cared for at Boundary Community Hospital with the loving attention of his mother, Valdie (left) and sister, Teresa Becker.

Update: As of noon Monday, January 9, staff at Kootenai Health tell family that Rockey is awake, lucid and able to speak, though he's not quite as garrulous as usual just yet. While multiple tests have been done, the family has not yet been told what befell Rockey, though a stroke still appears likely. Rockey is in room 351, and his family sends thanks for the outpouring of love and prayers. Rockey (left) and brother-in-law Marty Becker. At about 11 a.m. today, Rockey Burkholder, 68, was found on the floor of his Bonners Ferry home, unconscious and in dire condition, but breathing, by his sister and brother-in-law, Teresa and Dr. Marty Becker. While Marty took steps to stabilize Rockey, Teresa called 911, and Boundary Ambulance EMTs arrived quickly and transported Rockey to Boundary Community Hospital, where Dr. Yost led his ER team in providing life-saving care. Once stabilized, Rockey was transported to Kootenai Health, Coeur d'Alene, where he was able to respond to simple questions. Rockey has been admitted at Kootenai Health, where multiple tests have been administered to determine what happened. At present, most indications are that he suffered a stroke. While he cannot yet see the visitors his family knows he would love to see, Rockey's family asks that all who know and love him keep him in their thoughts and prayers as he fights to be able to once again smile and laugh with us.