By Brenda Erdahl
Well wishes and words of encouragement are pouring in for Andy Sawatzke through the Caring Bridge site after a medical emergency put the Maple Lake Elementary principal in the St. Cloud Hospital ICU shortly after the first day of school.
Mr. Sawatzke was outside greeting students on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the first day of classes after summer vacation as was his custom. A day later, while at a football game in Monticello, he suffered a stroke. According to his Caring Bridge site, Sawatzke was rushed to the St. Cloud Hospital by ambulance to the Intensive Care Unit. Family reported that many small blood vessels burst in his head causing a brain hemorrhage. His vessels had weakened over a long period of time due to high blood pressure.
As of late last week, he was awake and responding to commands. He was transferred to Regency Hospital in Golden Valley where he will be weaned off breathing support and receive therapy.
“We feel so fortunate for the amazing people who jumped in to assist Andy in his time of need,” the family said on their Caring Bridge site.
So far, the well-liked principal has had more than 14,000 visits to his Caring Bridge site and almost as many comments expressing words of encouragement and hope.
Since it is unknown how long Principal Sawatzke will be away from Maple Lake Elementary, Kris Harlan, former Maple Lake Elementary Principal will be stepping in as an interim principal to handle the day-to-day operations of the elementary school, Supt. Mike Rowe informed school families last week in an email.
Harlan will be monitoring Sawatzke’s email. To contact the building principal, please continue to email sawatzkea@maplelake.k12.mn.us or call the elementary office at 320-963-3024, Supt. Rowe said.
Maple Lake Elementary Principal Andy Sawatzke was outside greeting students on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the first day of classes.