Erika and Ty are understandably nostalgic today. It’s exactly one year since Peter was diagnosed and “Cancer” became a member of our family. They are going to post something a little later today when they have computer access.
In the meantime, Matt has assigned me the daunting task of writing updates over the weekend while he is out of town. I know I’m stepping into some very big shoes.
I thought I’d begin by filling you in on Peter’s sisters, Ellie (3+) and Kate (almost 2). They are doing remarkably well given the circumstances of this past year. Except for Kate’s runny nose, they are healthy and happy. Just this past week they’ve begun playing very nicely with each other. It’s been wonderful!
Peter isn’t the only Eigner to display a resilient spirit. I’ve been waiting for the day when the girls (in their own way) say, “I want to go home. Just take me home.†But so far that hasn’t happened. They were thrilled to see Mommy and Daddy last weekend and spend some time with them, but they said goodbye without a tear.
Ellie has become the little mommy, and Kate is the little Erika (Tilly Tornado II). It’s deja vu for us on a regular basis. They’re both strong (we’ve never seen such climbers) and spirited (“I can do it!”) and unbelievably good singers.
Grandpa and I are blessed to have had the chance to watch the girls grow and change. They’ve become a very precious part of our lives.
Nice to hear from you, Grandma Barb! You know, I think of you and Grandma Mary so often; I cannot begin to imagine how it would feel to have to deal with this as parents – BUT being a Grandma and Grandpa it every bit as devastating! I cherish every minute I have with my 4 Grands (we currently have the 5 month old for the weekend). Kate and Ellie are very lucky to have you! I can speak first handedly – don’t know what Erika was like, but I’ve seen Kate in action! Bet they have really kept you both going over the past year.
I remember the day well last year. Jen had called our house – but didn’t leave a message. When I called her to say I’d seen that she had called, she said ‘Mom, I have really bad news’. It hit us, too, with a blow! I was so choked up, I could hardly convey the news to Ron. A year later, it hurts every bit as bad. But we see the fight in Peter: he will be a winner!
Thinking of you all-
Peg & Ron
i very well remember spending many of my days 20-25 years ago in grandma and grandpa hanson’s home on 139th street west…and i remember equally well being a student in grandma eigner’s classes at RHS…and more vividly yet i remember playing hockey at RHS with Uncle Troy (for 1 year) and Uncle Matt (for 3)..and i remember staying with Uncle Troy in his room at West Point when i was a visiting prosepct (one who, for what its worth, didn’t have the fortitiude to decide that was the right path for me)……….the point is, i can speak from first hand experience, this is a combination of families made up of strong people, GOOD PEOPLE, people you are happy to call your friends and wish/hope you could call your friends for all of your life.
i can only imagine the difficulty of being with and without your whole family for such periods of time Ty and Erika — but i know for sure your girls are in good hands based on what i know from 20-25 years ago with grandparents from both of your families. my girls today are on good old 139th street with my wife and gramma and grandpa jorgenson and we spend some time apart at times, but it is for different and far more tolerable reasons, by our own choice (which doesn’t make it any easier for their selfish dad).
the updates this week have been a huge uplift for our family, and we continue to keep you in our thoughts and in our prayers and in our hearts. i keep saying it, but i think it is worth saying, the lessons peter is teaching so many of us are valuable beyond what might be put into words.
prayers coming to you all daily.
the jorgenson family
Why do I cry so easily?? I am literally sitting here with tears streaming down my face…. perhaps it’s because, I too, can remember that day one year ago all too well. Seeing Erika’s name appear on my caller ID that morning… and then answering and hearing the sounds of choked up crying…. wow. Certainly NOT the way to start out a beautiful summer day. I recall sitting downstairs, where less than 24 hours earlier Peter had been joyously playing along all the other kids, and literally sobbing. Each of my 14 daycare kids have their name’s displayed on my wall… and I seriously could not take my eyes off Peter’s name. I have never had such pain in my heart as I did that day. I have never asked “Why??” as much as I did that day. I don’t think I have ever cried as much as I did that day. I found myself questioning God and trying with all my might to figure out why the heck this was part of Peter’s plan??? It made no sense to me. It still makes no sense to me. I can sit here and say over and over again that God has a plan…. that God knows what He’s doing…. that God wouldn’t give us something that we couldn’t handle….. and I can keep repeating my favorite montra “everything happens for a reason.” Yet, even in all this “strength”, I still don’t really understand why He chose Peter! The answers maybe are deep rather than obvious. Perhaps God wanted to unite all of us who have now become known as “Team Eigner” … or “Peter’s People”. Perhaps He wanted to bring those of us who may have been less close to God a bit closer to Him. It still seems like way too much to put Peter through just so WE could unite. Who knows. I do know one thing for sure…. when He chose Peter as one of His cancer victims, He certainly chose a fighter. Peter has always been such a brave little boy. Erika often tells me that Peter didn’t even cry during childhood immunizations. He is one tough kid… and I have no doubts that he will conquer this battle. Everything about Peter is beautiful …. his eyes, his eyelashes, his smile, his bravery, his courage, his laughter, his smile, his spirit, his love for his sisters, his love for his family, his athletic abilities, his smartness (he is a SMART little boy!!), his passion for friends, sports, animals, family… and life. This is one little boy who has more courage and strength that I ever will in my life. He WILL win this fight…. and Peter John Eigner will be a name that the whole world will recognize someday.
I am so incredibly blessed to know the Eigner family. It was one of those chance phone calls…. somebody looking for daycare who had gotten my name from somebody who knew a friend of mine type thing. Fortunately, I had the opening… and three days later, little Peter entered my life. From day one, I loved that kid! He was adorable, he was so good, he was smart (yes, he did shake my hand and say “Nice to meet you”……. at 16 months old!!) and I could just tell that this sweet blonde baby with gigantic eyes and mile-long lashes was going to be something special. He stole my heart 4 years ago – and he still has it!! I miss him so much. I was without his presence in daycare for almost a year… and it was so incredibly hard on me… and on the daycare kids. It was hard to explain in age-appropriate terms what exactly was going on with Peter. The kids witnessed me crying and they heard me use the word “cancer”…. but I had a hard time telling them things when I couldn’t even figure it all out myself!
Peter was able to return to daycare this summer …. and let me tell you, it was the greatest moment for us to see him hop out of Ty’s Explorer… with his baseball cap and his blue Crocs on … and come bounding in the door with that huge smile and those sparkly eyes that we all know and love! The kids were over-joyed and couldn’t get enough of Peter. He has become a super-hero to them! They fought over who was going to sit be Peter at lunch time… who was going to lay by him at rest-time… and who was going to get the most play time with him. I had no choice but to sit back and watch the interraction of the kids as they got reaquainted with Peter. Looking at Peter’s Hickman and his original surgery scar became quite an awesome thing for the kids. Such curious critters they are! It was a huge feeling of peace and contentment as I watched Peter play, laugh and love. It seemed like FINALLY the good ol’ days were back.
Here we are one year later – and Peter continues to fight for his life. Will he win?? Of course. We have seen him jump hurdles, fly through obstacles, knock down the enemy, skip around the bumps and breeze through the tough times. He isn’t stopping now! My friend Peter has far too much to share with the world as he continues to grow and to make a name for himself. I may not always understand the way God works…. but I do know that He is NOT taking Peter away from us!!
Saying “Happy Anniversary” seems corny. But, yah know what? It is a HAPPY anniversary. Pete’s ALIVE & he’s winning this battle. I can’t think of anything else that could make me happier…. so, as we reflect back on Peter’s journey, I do it with tears in my eyes and a smile in my heart.
Keep Fighting Pete!
With much love and oodles of prayers & lots of smiles and laughter and encouragement from my family and from all the daycare kids!
Have a great weekend… I feel a weekend of huge strides coming your way!
I LOVE ALL OF YOU!
Jenni, Ryan, Emily, Lily & Parker
Dear Gramma Barb,
Thank you for the update and the loving words about your granddaughters. I know the girls are in the best of all possible hands as, like Corey J., I also watched your 3 children grow up, and have wonderful memories of your family and the friendships formed by Jackie with Michelle and Erika and Mike with Matt. Those were beautiful years, weren’t they? We can hope and pray that those innocent, fun childhood years will there for Peter also. I know he has the greatest support group in the world and the most loving parents and grandparents.
Hang in there, all of you. Let us hope this next year will be a year of rebirth and healing.
Love to all,
Bette and Terry
One Year!!!!!! Wow!!! Time sure does fly, but I can only imagine how long and hard this one year has been for all of you. Peter, you and your family are so strong – keep up the fight!!!!!
I remember when you were in my office a little over a year agao when you first weren’t feeling well – I asked you if you wanted a piece of candy and you shook your head no. I said, boy, you must really not feel good…unfortunately I was right:-( I can’t wait to see you back in the office soon – we have so much candy to choose from right now…I’ll save some for you and your mommy!!!!!!
You are in our thoughts and prayers daily – can’t wait to see you all very soon!!!!
Grandma Barb,
Thank you for the update on the girls as well how touching. Its such a wonderful thing to see how loving and supportive you all are in such a unfortunate situation with Peter. We feel so good to be a part of such a amazing family . We all know how strong a little guy he is so how can we not come out the winner in this battle he will no doudt about it.Prayers are sent to you all and thanks again for letting us be a part of this journey.
Hugs ,
Dean, Denise, Blake Bren & Tiffany
Another Milestone for Peter……..
What a wonderful thing it is to have such a fantastic support system.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with you all during this rocky voyage.
Love,
Uncle Ed and Aunt roz
Thanks for the update Grandma Barb
I feel blessed to be part of your family, Barb. Even were we not related by blood, the love and support I see woven for Peter, for your family, causes me to also feel blessed to be part of the human family. I’m being reminded that even in the presence of so much pain, wishing you all could be spared it, there is the gift of love and support, not only from each of us humans, but also from God, that Presence that infuses our lives.
You have support and prayers from many people you will never meet.
Mike, Shelley, Katie Pepera
Baudette, MN
Barb and Brian,
AS I have said before, all of your friends in Apple Valley continue to pray and think of you daily. Barb, thank you for keeping us informed of how your two little granddaughters are doing also. I loved getting to see all three of Ty and Erika’s kids in June at your home. I have the photos of them in the lake on my hutch glass doors. Those two little girls are quite special also. You have an amazing family Barb and Brian and we pray that they will all be back together again very soon.
God Bless Peter and all of you. Ellie and Kate are so lucky to have you taking care of them!
Love to all,
Sandy and Pat
Grandma Barb, you did a phenomenal job – thanks for filling in. I can’t imagine that a parent could be more proud of her children than you must be now. It’s rare to witness a fight against cancer handled with such grace, courage and above all, a healthy dose of optimism.
One thing is for certain: once cancer becomes a member of the family, it never leaves. Despite its ugliness, however, we can in mysterious ways, somehow embrace it. This website is a reflection of just that – a daily journey on how one can learn to accept and battle cancer like a true warrior.
Jenny, I enjoyed your analogy of Aug. 17 being a “happy” anniversary. You are absolutely right. Today Peter is alive, and that alone is nothing shy of a miracle. For that, we thank God.
Love,
Sara
I just got caught up on the good news about Peter’s progress – and no steps backwards so far – wonderful!
As Grandma Barb’s childhood friend – therefore of the same age – I want to say I know what a super effort it has been for her and Brian to step in and take over with the two little girls – we aren’t as young as we used to be and ‘grandparenting’ takes a bit more effort than the first time around. You want to do everything you can for your children and grandchildren, so you DO it – however it affects your own life – and it sounds like they’re doing a great job. There is the plus (as all we grandparents know) that it is very special to know our little ones well. God bless all…….