Ron would appreciate your support in this critical time.

Ron (Roland) Cheska has been battling with diabetes and a major heart condition quite severely for the past several years. Ron got admitted to the Sanford Hospital in Fargo on May 10th, 2025. He was transferred to the ICU early morning Saturday, May 17th due to his blood sugars and heart functions that were dropping, causing him to become unresponsive. Doctors have been really struggling to keep him comfortable and stable his first week there. Oxygen levels are declining, his blood pressure was too high, causing his heart to stress more, and his overall functions dropped to a dangerously low 10%! This was VERY scary for all of us. Doctors knew that Ron needed the advanced heart team and the specialists in Abbott FAST! So approximately 2:15 am on Sunday, May 18th, Ron was transported by Sanford MediFlight down to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. With the multiple times Ron has become unresponsive, his oxygen levels dropping to an extreme low, needing a CPAP machine and at times oxygen tubes, as well as being diabetic, he has been facing the challenges of his blood sugars being too low or spiking too high, and the insulin mixed with the multiple heart medications have not been responding as they should. His fluid retention has caused the doctors to drain 6 gallons of fluid so far, with the chances they may need to remove more. Currently, Ron's heart is functioning at 20% and is really struggling to pump the blood. The team of specialists between Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Mayo Clinic have been working hard on a plan to focus on getting Ron healthy and stable enough to be a top candidate for a Ventricular Assist Device implant.

We are making this GoFundMe account for Ron in the hopes to get help covering some of the costs we already have and the many we are yet to endure. We are raising money to be used for the gas to travel (203.3 miles one way), the temporary housing costs due to the hospital's policy of not allowing guests to stay with the patient overnight, but at a hotel that is attached to the hospital that is for family (charging $100 per night, but 2 upcoming days this week they do not have an open room available so arrangements need to be made at a secondary hotel, costing a bit more at our expense). One guest meal at the hospital is allowed per day, so the remaining food and drinks needed are not covered. In the recent daily traveling to Fargo, the traveling has caused Ron's vehicle major mechanical issues, making it unsafe to drive until the issues get fixed, so having to ask for rides or to borrow friends' and family's vehicles has added a recent major stressor as we all try to focus on Ron's well-being.

Ron has always been a hardworking pillar of the community and loves umpiring at Snappy Park. He has always been very involved and one of the biggest Detroit Lakes Lakers fans, never missing a single game of his son Hunter's. Ron has had to miss countless hours of work at his night shift lead position, as well as being able to perform and enjoy the things he loves, such as dragging the fields and umpiring the upcoming softball season. Any donations made and ALL of your prayers and support help, and we appreciate it so very much!! ~Nikki & Steff~