ICE TEA BECOMES SIGNIFICANT

Hey everyone! Brent is resting and waiting for the swelling to go down. Blood pressure has been a bit of an issue today as well.

Good news - Brent has not thrown up for awhile which is great. Today, Brent went in his chair and went for a little ride on the second floor. He noticed the drink machine. He kept pointing and made it clear that he wanted an iced tea. Brent had some sips of that iced tea. How good it must have felt to have something like iced tea again!

It's the small things in life we all appreciate....

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

DAY 100 @ REGINA GENERAL HOSPITAL ICU

Brently is facing these enormous challenges with great courage. He has endured many surgeries and medications. He is still looking at the same walls in his ICU "Penthouse". Today:

• Brent had his vac dressing done this morning - doctors are generally pleased but want the swelling to go down
• a new trach (which is done monthly) was put in today as well
• "Little man" was able to go in the chair again today - yesterday he wanted so badly to be out of his room, but that didn't happen (so he was a little ticked). So, today, Dad was taking him for a ride in the chair outside the room and Brent decided he didn't want to do that (hmm...teenager moment..). So, Scot ended up taking Brent for a ride around the nurses station etc and Brent enjoyed it!
• Brent is still hoping Mom and Dad are always close by
• Scot and Carolyn (Cary) - incredibly loving, committed and caring parents!
• Nurse Christine - was Brent's nurse on day 100, she was also Brent's nurse for the first three days Brent was in the ICU
• Brent is still in critical condition

A good way to celebrate Brent's perseverance in life. Today, Brently learned that he is getting a new laptop. This laptop will help him download favorite shows, movies etc. Brent will also be able to look at the blog and facebook (note: learning to coordinate the muscles in his fingers and arms will take some time, but at least he can do some things with the laptop). This laptop was made possible by the staff and kids of LBP school). Thank you for your generosity.

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

IT'S DAY 100 AND BRENT IS IN SURGERY 31

Brent is in surgery right now for the vac dressing and hopefully a cleaning up of the area of the abdomen. We're hoping the swelling has decreased so they can close up some of the abdomen.

Thanks for your prayers.

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

(A response was posted under blog entry "address". This response included a challenge to everyone who reads this. Please take time to read that response - thank you)

ADDRESS

Some are requesting an address for the Peterson's in their responses to this blog. If you would like to send something to Brent or his parents, please send it to the following address:

Brent Peterson
C/O Regina General Hospital
MPICU
1440 14 th ave.
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
S4P 0W5

The family greatly appreciates your support and prayers. Thank you!

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

Tomorrow, Saturday June 6, marks day 100 on this journey the Peterson's never expected.......

THE COMFORT FROM THE SUPPORT OF MOM AND DAD

Scot and Carolyn (Cary) are wonderfully supportive parents to Brent. They have been by his side day and night ready to comfort and guide Brently through this journey. Scot and Carolyn (Cary) have also made many friends in the ICU waiting room and with the medical staff. During the trials of what Brent is going through, Carolyn (Cary) found some time and energy to go to a funeral last Monday. An eight month old child (former patient in the ICU) passed away and Carolyn (Cary) attended the funeral last Monday to support the family.

Here's the latest happenings with our "Little Man":

• Brent didn't have a good sleep last night (pray for deep sound sleep)
• the vomiting has eased (pray that it will stop altogether)
• today, he is on less morphine (no longer running through his IV)
• his ankles and knees were bothering him today
• some parts of his body are still swollen (pray for the swelling to go away)
• Brent had surgery number thirty yesterday afternoon - everything went well except they were not able to sew the abdomen a little bit closer due to swelling
• there is an incision on Brent's right leg from the last major surgery - today thirty six staples were taken out from his leg (that's only half of them)

Little miracles are still happening with Brent. Today, Brent was able to go into a special chair. Dad took his son for a little ride in the hallway. Brent, being pushed by his Dad, made a lap around the ICU nursing station. This Father and son time wore Brent out - but he enjoyed it.

Brent is finding comfort in his parents. Brent found out that Scot was planning on coming to Saskatoon this weekend to do some work around the house. Brent communicated that he did not want his Dad to go because he was afraid that Dad would get hurt. Scot has decided to stay this weekend in Regina to ease the worries of his son. The love these parents have for their son is extraordinary.

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

(leaving a response to this blog greatly encourages Scot and Carolyn (Cary). If you write a response, please leave your name and where you are from. Thank you)

ROUGH START TO NEW WEEK

Last Sunday, Brent's cousin Pamela and her boyfriend, Joe came to say a quick hello to Brent. Rob and Lois (Brent's aunt and uncle), the Andreae family came to visit the Peterson's as well. Brent was well enough to see these family and friends for a few moments (please note: visiting for Brent is still being restricted - if you go to visit, please understand if you are not able to see Brent). Starting last Monday, Brent is having a rough beginning to this new week.

Brent is experiencing the following:

• nightmares that are jolting him awake
• vomiting - yesterday (Tuesday) was especially rough as he threw up several times
• Brent doesn't want Mom and Dad to leave
• his healing from the last major surgery ( two weeks ago) is very slow

Good news - there was a special chair brought in for Brent and he was able to sit in it yesterday for almost ninety minutes. Finally, a little bit of variety for Brent.

Thank you for your prayers for this family.

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.

BRENT'S A CHAMPION

The following quote comes from a letter from one of Brent's teachers at Lestor B. Pearson school:

"Consider this:
Your heavenly Father spoke the galaxies into existence.
Your elder brother Jesus defeated the enemy.

Think about some of your natural ancestors:

Moses parted the Red Sea. There's a great faith in your bloodline.

David, a shepherd boy, defeated Goliath with only a few pebbles he picked up from a brook. There is courage in your bloodline.

Samson toppled a building. There's a supernatural strength in your bloodline.

Daniel spent an entire night in a lion's den and wasn't harmed. Divine protection flows through your bloodline.

Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem when all the odds were against him.
Determination and persistence pulsate through your bloodline.

Queen Esther put her life on the line to save God's people. Sacrifice and heroism are in your bloodline.

These are not random names from the Bible; they are part of an unbroken lineage of faith that comes down to your life.

You come from a bloodline of champions. You are not ordinary; you are a thoroughbred. It doesn't matter what your present condition looks like; you need to know that inside you flows the blood of a winner. On the inside of you are seeds of greatness. On the inside of you is champion after champion."

The letter goes on to say: "....you can overcome this adversity, Brent. There's power in your spiritual bloodline. Believe in it. Today, at LBP, we are having a hat and gum day in your honor. I keep wanting to tell the boys to take off their hats! It's just habit for a teacher to do that. The kids love these hat and gum days. Almost every single child has a hat on and is smacking away on gum! Too funny!
...sending positive thoughts and prayer your way daily...

Mrs. Irene Kindrachuk
Teacher Librarian @ LBP

The last couple of days Brent is battling nightmares and blood pressure is fluctuating too much. Pray that these nightmares will go away and for consistent blood pressure. We believe in you, Brent! You're a champion!

Keep hoping.Keep loving.Keep praying.