Can't believe it is already 10 years since you left us. Somedays it feels like yesterday and other days it feels like an eternity. I hope you are having fun working in heavens garden with Grandpa Peterson. 
At this 10 year mark we'd like to thank the many people who stopped to help us, to the first responders from Lumsden and Regina.  We had so many family and friends who supported us with endless trips to Regina during Brent's recovery. To the Doctors and staff of Regina General Hospital. THANK YOU!
A litttle update on Brent. He has been working at Great Canadian Oil Change and doing well. 

Last family picture before the accident. 

Picture taken a few years ago. 

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying. 

Its been 5 years and we love u just as much today

Can't believe it is already 5 years since you left us. Someday it feels like yesterday and other days it feels like an eternity. I hope you are having fun riding horses all day.

Our cute little princess. When she was 2 on our way back from Panorama after a Giesbrecht reunion in 1994.

Brent & Katie @  Yoho National Park on our way to Abbotsford in the summer of 2003. 

Katie @ Waskesiu on Thanksgiving 2007.

We miss you & love you today & everyday.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

It's good to be HOME Again

It's good to have Brent HOME, they got home on September 27th. Brent is enjoying seeing all his friends and family. But most of all Brent was happy to see his Dad and cat. Brent has gone to church the last 2 Sundays and to Jr. youth last week. 

Brent still has some pain but each day it gets better. He will have to go back to WinterPeg for a follow up visit November 20th and every 3 months for the next year. Dr. Buchel was very happy with the way everything looked at the last visit before we came home. 
Brent, Carolyn and I would like to sincerely thank Grandpa and Grandma Peterson for all their help while Brent was in Winnipeg. 
We also had a lot of love, support and visits from Carolyn's family and some great friends.
Thank you to all of you for your many prayers. We are so blessed by the support we received.

Brent and his Sis Kiersten

Brent and his Bro Kyle

Brent and his other Moms

Brent and his Minions Thing 1 and Thing 2

Brent, Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Lydia

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Exciting Days

Well its been some exciting last few days. On Sunday the Doctors told Brent that on Monday they would have a "game plan" as to what would be the next move. 
     Monday morning came and went and nothing much was said. Monday afternoon came and one of the Doctors peeked around the curtain and said Brent could be discharged to the hotel that afternoon. Brent was very excited! Brent got all his papers in order and was hotel bound, but by the time he got there he felt like he might have rushed it a bit. Brent and Carolyn had a fair night considering the evening had been so stressful.
     Tuesday he had a very good day. Brent sat up most of the day in the very nice hotel comfy chairs. He also had a pretty good night.  

 Brent with his set of "new wheels".

 Brent with his Si T-shirt.

 

     Wednesday came and Brent was sore and a little worried what the Doctor would say about how Brent was doing.  At  3:30 Brent saw Doctor Bushel and he was very pleased on how well everything was progressing. Dr. Bushel said that some of the staples could come out and 2 out of the 3 drains could also come out.  So that sums it up for the last few days. 

Brent Has his stride back

   In the last 3 days Brent has accomplished standing up, taking steps, and walking as far as the nurses station, and walking to the T.V. sitting area. He is still having a fair amount of pain and nausea. We Praise God for the steps in healing that have been accomplished. On Monday the doctors are going to give us an update on what the game plan is for the rest of the week.

Brent sitting in the chair in the T.V. sitting area


Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying

Hump Wednesday a Good Day

Today was a good day for Brent. He was told that tomorrow he can sit up. He no longer has his PCA (self-induced morphine) he has his pain medication through IV. He is now on a clear fluid diet. He had a good day playing Phase 10 with Grandma Peterson and had a visit with Auntie Eva while we went for supper.

Brent with his new stuffed dog & red headphones (not to mention ALL his electronics).


Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Better Monday & Tuesday

Brent had a better Monday and Tuesday. He is still having trouble with nausea, but hasn't thrown up for 2 days now. PTL!!!! He is still on his back (can only have his bed raised to 15 degrees). He will hopefully be able to get off his back and sit up in the next 2 days . Thanks for your prayers and thoughts.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying. 

Not a good Rider Sunday - yet

Brent had a rough night. He threw up 3x this morning. Now they have to put an NG tube in (Brent hates these). Please pray for strength and ability to cope with the NG tube. He has pain in his chest. The pain is because he has to do breathing exercises to keep his lungs from getting fluid on them. 

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Veins are working well

Brent had a relatively good night. He had to be checked every hour, now it is every 2 hours. The veins are working very well and Doctors are pleased. GO RIDERS!!!

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Surgery #47 went well

Brent is now in recovery. Surgery went well but the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical as his blood vessels need to start working properly. Thank you for your prayers and continued prayers for his recovery. 


Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying. 

Night before the Surgery

Our consultation with the Plastic Surgeon (Dr. Buchel) on Wednesday was informative. Brent will be in surgery for 8+ hours. He has to be at Admitting @ 5:45 and goes into surgery @ approximately 7:30, then he will be in the recovery for a couple of hours. We will update everyone when we have more news. Thanks for your prayers and concerns.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Brent's 47th Surgery - Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Carolyn, Brent and I will be heading to Winnipeg for Brent's 47th surgery. The plastic surgeon is planning on meeting with us for a consultation meeting on Wednesday September 4th. The surgery is scheduled for Friday September 6th @ 7:30 AM. The surgery will be done @ the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. We will be updating the blog on Brent's progress.
Please remember Brent in your prayers.
Thank You. 


Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

First Trip since the accident - Feb 2012

It has been 3 years since the accident and we are finally going on a family vacation. On Feb 27, 2012 we flew to Playa Del Carmen for a 1 week vacation. We climbed an Aztec Temple @ Coba, swam with the dolphins and went to Cozumel. 

 Brent part way up the temple (in purple).

Brent with his friend the Dolphin (Katie loved her Dolphins). This was a MUST when we went to Mexico.

Family photo in Cozumel with Atlantic Ocean in background.

Carolyn & I enjoying our breakfast as we look out at the Atlantic Ocean.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Brent's Grad - June 2012

Brent graduated on June 25.  Here are a few of  the pictures.

 Brent with both Grandparents.

 
 

 Brent with best friend Ben.

Brent doing the "Tebow".
Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Happy 20th Birthday Katie.

Happy Birthday Rosie:

B.C., 1994

Thanksgiving 2004

Waskesiu, Thanksgiving 2007


We miss you Lots,
Always in our hearts, you're always on our minds.

Keep hoping, Keep praying. Keep loving.

Three Years and It Seems Like Just Yesterday

Katie,

They said it would get easier with each passing year . . . it just isn't so! We miss you like it was just yesterday.

Dad misses your favorite phrase "make good choices Dad" which he would reply "blew that, I got out of bed".

Mom misses kissing you all over your beautiful face and telling you how much she loves you.

Brent misses you most on road trips.

Grandpa and Grandma Peterson miss your amazing and always willing hugs along with your smile.

Grandpa and Grandma Neufeld miss your hugs too but they also miss their "Ricochet" and watching old slide shows with you.

Some friends were asked what they missed.

One said she misses you the most when she thinks of the great memories you made together at the Camp Kadesh Youth Retreat.

Another friend said she misses the crazy things the two of you would fight over. She said "we fought like sisters and you were like a sister to her."

Regardless of anyone's memory, one thing holds true, you were there for EVERYONE! You were a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and always had a hug when someone neeed it . . . for anything you were always there. Maybe that is why we miss your presence so much.

Love You Always,
Dad, Mom & Brent
Family & Friends

Thanks to everyone who has read the blog, prayed for our family and kept us in your prayers. We would love to hear your favorite memories of Katie.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Brent and his 1991 Acura Legend - Doesn't he look happy.

James, Shelley & Brent - Aug 27, 2011

Brent at Youth Christmas Formal - Dec 2011

Family Christmas Photo - Dec 2011

Greetings from the Peterson's. We have enjoyed many blessings throughout this last year.

Since Brent was discharged from RUH late July he has enjoyed good health and a lot more freedom. He enjoyed his sleepovers just like he said he would.

In August, Brent was at his cousin James's wedding and we had lots of fun with cousins, Auntie and Uncles, and Grandpa and Grandma Neufeld staying at our house. Brent also enjoyed lots of fun in our pool in the back yard (without having to get out every few minutes because fear of a leaky bag). He invited his friends over one afternoon also to swim with him.

Another highlight this year was getting his license. He had to share a 1991 Acura Legend with his Mom until he was able to buy it for himself which he has done just recently. He had to do a lot of chauffeuring for his Mom since Carolyn's leg was hurting quite a bit and was unable to drive. Brent really hated doing this...NOT!!!! Carolyn and Scot have enjoyed freedom from having to drive Brent to youth and other functions.

Brent was not feeling well just before Christmas and spent a few days in the hospital. We told his nurses he just missed them the most at Christmas. Dr. Bruce was unable to pin point a reason for him not feeling well. Brent has a referral to see a kidney specialist sometime in the new year. Brent has been feeling good since the holidays have begun.

We spent Christmas day to the 27th with the Neufeld's and the 29th till the 1st with Grandpa and Grandma Peterson. We all missed little Phoenix this year! It has been a very wonderful and special Christmas season and feel blessed by God's greatness. Once again we'd like to thanks our blog followers for their continued prayers. May God bless each one of you for your faithfulness to our family.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Home Again ... At Last

Brent was discharged from Royal University hospital on Sunday Aug.21st. He was feeling better and the Doctors and Nurses were not doing anything different from what Dad and Mom could do at home. Carolyn and Scot were grateful that the Doctors kept a watchful eye on Brent for a little longer to make sure he was tolerating a "normal" diet. The Doctors are treating his symptoms as irritated bowel syndrome. Brent is on a reduced fiber diet so his bowels will have time to heal with as little stress as possible. He still feels quite a bit of discomfort in his stomach but we've been told this could be for awhile and is to be expected after his surgery. Brent's bowels have to be retrained to function after "sleeping" for 2 1/2 years.

Our prayer is that Brent will feel perfectly well by the time he returns back to school.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Brent back in hospital - Aug 1

Brent & Carolyn returned home from Regina on Tuesday. Brent felt okay till Wednesday night when Carolyn took Brent back to Emergency at Royal University Hospital. He had some chest xrays done and Brent got home Saturday morning feeling better. We all enjoyed the pool in the afternoon and went to church on Sunday but he started to feel pain in his ribs on his left side and his stomach was distended and hot to the touch.

Car just took Brent to Emergency again at 2:30AM on Monday Aug 1st.

Please pray that they will figure out the chest pain and why he still seems to have so much pain in his stomach.


Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.

Home Sweet Home...Without an Ostomy Bag! YAHOO

Dad and I waiting for them to take me into the Operating room



I had McDonalds last night and it tasted AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Today Brent is getting discharged from Regina General Hospital. He is very excited.

The surgery was a success. He was not allowed to have food from last Wednesday till yesterday (Monday) but supper was very tasty... McDonalds. The nurse was joking around with Brent and Dr. Saczek. Dr Saczek told him he could eat whatever he wanted but to go slow so his nurse said Brent would only have McDonald 3 times per day, he'd hold back...!

Brent would like to thank Dr. Saczek, the wonderful staff on 6A, and the visitors that came.

Brent is feeling great. He is ready to sleep in his own bed. Carolyn is loving not getting the texts or phone calls saying "I'm leaking", Scot is looking forward to have Brent's help without Brent saying "I have to go Dad, my bag is leaking" (not sure what Brent will use as an excuse now to get out of work...).

Thank You everyone for praying. God is always faithful.

Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep praying.