Mikey Bjoraker has been transferred to a Post Falls medical facility in stable condition but in a coma and still unresponsive after doctors in critical care at Kootenai Health determined today that his best hope is time, according to close family friend Connie Mier Y Teran, who is going to see Mikey tomorrow and provide an update.
Mikey, 45, was struck by a car while crossing Highway 95 on his way to Liberty Qwik Stop on Bonners Ferry’s South Hill at about 5:48 p.m. Tuesday, November 26. Initial rumors were that Mike was seriously injured but able to talk, and a nurse in the Kootenai Health critical care unit on Wednesday morning said he was allowed visitors, but learned from Connie later that day that Mikey had been unresponsive since the collision and was put on a breathing machine later Wednesday morning.
Mikey has long been a star athlete on the Bonners Ferry Special Olympics team, and Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer, Mikey’s most beloved coach, mentor and friend, today shared video of a January 29, 2021, interview they did with Special Olympics Idaho during their 50th anniversary year.
“It shows the Mikey we all know,” he said.
One of Mikey’s favorite events is coming early this year — folks will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” in support of Idaho Special Olympics from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, December 14, at the Boundary County Waterways Building on Riverside for this years Polar Plunge, and organizers are planning to make sure Mikey is still a big part of it, though it’s likely this will be one of very few Polar Plunges Mikey has had to miss.
“We will definitely be thinking of Mikey every step of the way,,” said Tom Kichenmaster, Boundary Search and Dive Rescue, who is heading up putting this year’s plunge together. He said he’ll be talking to Special Olympics Idaho officials tomorrow to get official sanction to dedicate the 2024 Boundary County Polar Plunge to Mikey Bjoraker.
“I don’t foresee any problems as Mikey has been such a big part of both Special Olympics and the Polar Plunge for so long,” Tom said. “I should know more tomorrow.”
With a balmy daytime high of 29-degrees forecast for December 14, and that a few hours after the plunge ends, folks will definitely be a wee bit chilly before they take a brisk dip in the Kootenai River, and to be allowed to even dress up to do such a silly thing each participant has to raise $100 for Idaho Special Olympics, and there has yet to be a year when people lined up behind shivering, blue-lipped smiles for the opportunity, and this year there’s the added incentive of showing a Bonners Ferry favorite son that this community he loves loves him too much right back.
You don’t have to take the dive to contribute, either, though jumping in is the coolest way\by far … you can donate from right there beside your woodstove just by uncradling that warm cup of cocoa and directing your favorite electronic device to www.specialolympicsidaho.org or, if you want to go straight to the Boundary County page, click here instead.
Prizes will be awarded for the various levels of money raised. Raise your $100 minimum and get your Special Olympics Idaho towel at check in. Raise over $250 and get a Polar Plunge t-shirt. Raise over $500 and get a Polar Plunge crewneck. Stay tuned for the awesome prize for our top fundraiser!
100% of donations go to support the sports and leadership programs offered by Special Olympics Idaho throughout the state.
