A Sequim teacher is recovering from head trauma in Harborview Medical Center after falling from a ladder at his home.

Family and friends said Jon Eekhoff, a Sequim High School literature teacher, fell on March 17 and was airlifted to Seattle and treated in the intensive care unit.

His wife Cheryl Eekhoff — a 10th-grade English teacher at Sequim High — said in a telephone interview that Jon was more than 20 feet up on a ladder attempting to pull moss off their high-pitched roof when he fell.

She said he sustained injuries on both sides of his body and bleeding on the left side of his brain that’s affected his speech.

“Communication is limited but what he can do is so amazing — telling nurses to ‘go away’ or ‘I just want to go,’” she said.

Last weekend, Cheryl said Jon recognized their daughter Emma, which was encouraging.

After six days in the ICU, doctors saw so much progress in Jon’s verbal abilities and movement in his limbs and toes that he was moved to acute care.

Cheryl said Jon isn’t able to walk yet and his timeline for recovery is undetermined.

“He could spend several more weeks in acute care,” she said.

“The goal is for him to do three hours of physical therapy each day.”

She and Jon are done teaching for the school year, she said, and they’ll stay in Seattle for his recovery and physical rehabilitation.

“We’ll go from there and see what’s next,” Cheryl said.

Jon has an aversion to moss, which led him to climb the ladder to remove it, she said.

“He doesn’t like moss,” Cheryl said. “(The roof) looks awesome, amazing! I wish he preferred pulling weeds.”

Community support

The Eekhoffs moved to Sequim 10 years ago, with Jon teaching in Port Angeles High School for three years before taking a job at Sequim High.

His two children, Dylan and Emma are both Sequim High graduates. Dylan was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2015. Community members came together to support his cancer treatment expenses as well.

Melee Vander Velde, a Sequim High counselor, helped start an account — the Jon Eekhoff Medical Fund — at all First Federal branches to help the Eekhoffs with Jon’s medical expenses. Funds can be dropped off at any First Federal or mailed to: First Federal, 333 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim WA, 98382.

Vander Velde said students and staff have shown an overwhelming amount of concern for the family.

“Jon was incredibly active in our community,” she said. “(Cheryl) is equally beloved. The students are definitely missing them.”

Along with teaching, Jon is active as the Sequim Education Association teacher’s union as its chief negotiator and grievance chair. He’s also an author who is active with several different writing groups and participates in the Fourth Friday readings at The Lodge, Vander Velde said.

Shenna Younger, branch manager at First Federal on Sequim Avenue and a friend of the Eekhoffs, helped Vander Velde set up the account for the family, saying, “Jon is an incredible teacher who cares deeply about his students.”

“He gets to know each of his students and spends hours of his own time advocating for teachers,” she said. “(Cheryl) is also an incredible teacher and I know Sequim High is struggling right now in their absence.”

Cheryl said she knows Jon would love cards from the community and it’s something that “helps activate those past connections.”

Jon will also be wearing a helmet for physical therapy and she welcomes people sending stickers for him to put on it.

Any cards, stickers or other gifts can be sent to: Harborview Medical Center, Patient Jonathan Eekhoff, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle WA, 98104.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Sequim High literature teacher Jon Eekhoff began teaching here seven years ago after three years at Port Angeles High School. He’s active with the teacher’s union, and local writing groups. Photo courtesy of Jim Heintz