The First Blow Struck

The treatment officially started at about 11:30 AM. All the chemo is given intravenously. Different solutions are dripped at various times and lengths with one solution dripped continuously for 72 hours. It has all started innocently enough. Peter has been playing and generally having a good day. He finished his haircut and likes to rub his hand over his hair stubs.

Although the negative effects of treatment aren’t yet evident, there are now more restrictions on visiting Peter and family. His immune system is going to be vulnerable and controlling germs will be crucial, so traffic in the hospital has to be reduced somewhat (especially from other children). I’m not sure exactly how we’ll coordinate this, but I’ll try to add some information shortly.

So I’m happy that there isn’t too much to report today. Thanks for all the amazing comments and prayers. The fight is underway!

37 Replies to “The First Blow Struck”

  1. Hi Peter!!! I bet that new hair cut looks great. I’m glad to hear today was a good day. I have the rest of my family in Texas praying for you too. Stay strong Bud!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love Cassie O’Connor

  2. Ty, Peter, and family,
    Just a wish from a Detroit Lakes hockey family that everything goes well for your little Warrior in this tough time. Please know that Peter is in our hearts with hopes for a big victory over his illness.
    Seebold family

  3. Hey little buddy. I cant wait to see your new hair cut. If it’s cool, maybe hunter and I can get one just like it. Maybe you and your dad can cut our hair too, when you start feeling a little better. Hope to see you soon.
    Coach K

  4. I can fall asleep with happiness in my heart! We all prayed for you today, Peter… we prayed that you would take this like a champ – and you did just that, bud! Good for you…. keep it up! We are so relieved to hear that day #1 was a great start to your fight… you are a champion!

    Good night, angel boy. Sweet dreams. We love you with all our heart!
    -Jenni, Ryan, Em, Lil and Parker

  5. This is without a doubt the most moving Web site I have ever visited. Virtually everyone I encounter is talking about Peter. You are not alone in this fight. Brainerd is fighting with and praying for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you every moment. I pray that you beat this.

  6. Hey Pete,
    You’re doing great……….just remember that you have so many family members and friends on your side …we all love you……stay strong.
    Uncle Ed and Aunt roz

  7. Peter and Family,
    We heard about about you through “for a child’s sake golf tourney”. Please know we will be praying both for you and your family. May God put his healing hand upon you. You will win this battle! Stay strong!

    The Bzdelik Family

  8. Oh Peter, I am so glad you did so well today. Keep up the good fight !!
    We are all praying for you and that tomorrow will be as good as today. We bet your new haircut looks pretty awesome too… Take care little guy and have a good sleep while God Watches Over You.!!

    Ty and Erika, Imagine you both are getting emotionally and physically drained but are staying strong and positive for Peter. You are always in our thoughts and wish there was something we could do to help you. But know that we are here for you all and send our prayers and Love to you.
    Hope the girls are doing well and adjusting to the change in their lives too. Tell Ellie ” GUY ” says Hi.
    Uncle Chuck and Aunt Rose

  9. Dear Ty, Erika & Peter,
    As you know, we live a long way from Brainerd now….Lewiston,Id. We just heard about your news and wanted you to know that we are keeping you all in our prayers out here.We knew a very brave little boy out here who battled the same disease as you have.Also, having looked that ugly illness in the face myself, I can relate to your journey ahead. I am now a 2 time breast cancer survivor,YEAH!. So, batten down the hatches, put on your hockey gloves and give it all you got, we will be keeping you in our hearts and our thoughts and prayers daily! Knowing how strong you and Erika are, I am sure that sweet little boy is strong as well!And what a handsome little guy, too!!!!
    We just want you to know that we are all going to be very powerful prayer “warriors” for you from “out west”! We pray that God will give you all the strength,courage,love and peace that you will need.
    We will continue to keep track of all your progress and will drop you a note here and there to cheer you on! You are all”WARRIORS” and that is some strong stuff!!! God be with all of you,
    And God Bless,
    Debbi & Rick, Kinsey & Ben House

  10. Pete-man,
    Sorry I missed you tonight, but it sounds like you needed a little rest. You did fantastic today, so you certainly deserve a good night’s sleep. Uncle Trent told me you gave him a nice haircut tonight. I’ll be down tomorrow night for mine.

    Love,
    Uncle Troy

  11. We are still keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Sound like you had a nice time at the haircutting party. Ruth had a haircutting party too. Her Dan and older brother Thomas shaved their heads. Us girls just cut our hair short. Your a very brave boy. Keep on smiling. If you need to rest make sure you do. Always remember to have fun and laugh a little. It helps. Lots of Aloha, The Mersburgh’s

    P.S. Make sure every one that comes in your room washes their hands with Purell. It really helps keep germs away and its okay to remind people about it. Ruthie keeps a bottle with her where every she goes and makes sure we are all germ free too.

  12. Hi Peter,
    We are very happy to hear the start day of your medicine went well. You sure are a brave little boy!! We are also anxious to see your new hair cut!!! You know, ‘Auntie’ Tara’s new husband has a hair cut just like yours, and Lily likes to rub his head!! I bet when you are better and can be around the kids again, all the kids at daycare will want to rub yours! We hope today and tomorrow go very well for you!! Make sure you try to eat really good – that will help beat those nasty guys up that got into your tummy. Stay strong, Eigners – we are all fighting for you back here!

    Peg and Ron

  13. Hey Peter,
    You don’t know me , but I’v meet your dad a few times. I coach
    Ice MItes in Crosby. I can kind of understand what you are going through, when I was 20 I was blowen up when my bull dozer(BIG ONE)
    I was driving puncherd a gas line (that too was BIG).If it was for all the cards from people I didn’t know it would be a lot harder. Hope this makes your fight easier.
    Peter my family and I are pray warriors. The Bible orders us to pray without stopping. The MIles family is in your corner. God speed Pete.

    God Bless You,
    Karen Miles

    P.S. Peter I like your picture in the paper.

  14. Good Morning Peter, Sorry about your Twins. I cheered real hard but they couldn’t quite get it done.
    I understand you cut Uncle Tito’s hair. Does he look as cute as you? You know Uncle Tito, he thinks he’s cute all the time!! Are you going to cut Uncle Troy’s hair tonight?
    You have a good day and I’ll see you later. Gramma Mary

  15. Peter:

    My buddy Dave Cohen told me you were ill and could use some positive thoughts sent your way. Dave’s son, Jake, who I’m sure you’ve met had the same illness that you have. He has beaten it, and so can you, and so WILL YOU!

    From the looks of the website, you have alot of friends and family to support you. Be thankful for that, what you don’t know is that there are lots of other folks pulling for you as well. Just this weekend, there were 700 supporters at the For A Child’s Sake Golf Tournment. All of them were there to lend their support to you. Denise and I were just two of the supporters, but we want to wish you the best and let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

  16. Peter and Family,
    We heard about your challenges through the “for a child’s sake” golf tournament. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of unfamiliar territory. You will receive more blessings than you expect. Fight hard and stay strong
    Sherwood, Marianne, Jacqueline, Nicholas Owens

  17. Peter, Ty & Erika,
    A bunch of guys were in Duluth over the weekend for hockey and they were talking about you all the time–pretty special guy you are! They talked about you in the car, at the rink and in the hotel we would pull up your website to see how your day had been. God must be amazed how many times a day your name is being lifted to Him! We are all on YOUR team!!!!
    The Petersons Kyle P. and Joe F.

  18. Hello Peter,

    I, too, heard about your illness from Dave Cohen and the For A Child’s Sake golf tournament. I don’t play golf but I was there to lend a hand to all of the wonderful golfers who raised lots of money to help out in the fight against cancer. Dave & Mary’s little boy Jake was running around all weekend playing and having a good time. We will pray that you will be doing the same 5 years from now…better yet 95 years from now!

    I live in Colorado but I am originally from Minnesota (St. Cloud) so I know how fun it is to root for the Twins and the hockey teams! You keep cheering them on…they need you and we will all cheer you on….we need you too!

    May the Lord bless you with his healing!

  19. Hi Peter, Erica and Ty,

    I just wanted to drop you a little note to let you know that we are thinking of you. I am so happy to hear you are having so much fun giving haircuts to your uncles! Gavin would have fun doing that too!! When I talked to your mommy the other day she told me you love for her to read you all the story’s on this site. So I have been telling everyone I talk to, to write you a note. I am so glad to hear your first day of fighting the BIG fight went so well. I will continue to pray you will have good days! Keep that cute smile and remember you have so many of us cheering you on!! If your mommy or daddy need anything you tell them to let me know!! We are praying for you all and hoping you’ll be home soon!! We are looking forward to seeing you soon!! Miss you! Love you all! Our prayers are with you always, LaCoe, Dan, Gavin, and Lucas

  20. My prayers are with you. I am a family friend of Dave Cohen’s and I wish you all the strength in your time of need. You are a brave soul and I know you will stay strong. I look up to you for being so brave!

    Smile, God is on your side.

    Take care,

    Meg Byrne

  21. Hi Peter,
    While I have not met you, please know that there are lots of folks like me who are praying for your speedy recovery. You have lots of friends who participated in the “For a Child’s Sake” golf event who are on your team. God bless.
    David

  22. Well, I sure wish I had that whoppee cushion here at Rosemount High School. I could make some of these new students laugh when they sit down. Or, Walter The Farting Dog book would also be nice to have sitting on the chairs in the waiting room. Peter, could we borrow those items? Everybody at Rosemount High School is thinking of you Peter, and of your family too. We look forward to hearing more news and we hope that the treatments are not keeping you from cruising the halls of Fairview. Keep on keeping on!!! Denise Cochran

  23. Hi Peter,
    We are glad to hear you are doing well! Jason is one of your Ice Mite coaches and Cole is one of your teammates- 4 years old also. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We are hoping for a speedy recovery, so you can join us back on the ice this winter and many more years to come! Hang in there.
    Jason, Melissa, Cole and Paige

  24. Good Morning Peter… and Ty & Erika-
    This time it is Ellie on my lap… she would like to type you a few words :

    kfjkjfdff hkdsriutreldskj I LOVE YOU PETER jfdkljfkldsjfkljlf.

    Just want to say again that we are all so thankful that you had a good start to your treatment yesterday. We are confident that this is just the beginning of more answered prayers! This is just proof that you are strong enough to fight this and win, sweet Pete! It is our prayer today that you have a second great day with Captain Chemo! You and the Capt. are doing great so far! Just think, if you feel real good between treatments, you might be able to some home and sleep in your OWN BED for a while! Wouldn’t that be AWESOME? (especially awesome for you, Ty & Erika!)

    I am looking forward to seeing your shiny head! Maybe you can put tattoos and stickers on your head! Is your daddy going to shave his hair, too?

    Grandma Barb dropped Kate and Ellie off this morning – she’s on her way to see you! I told her to give you a hug and a kiss from me…. so, you be sure she does, ok!?!?!!!

    Stay strong, Eigners. The fight is underway and good things are about to be had!

    Miss you and love you ALL!
    Jenni and family

  25. Hi Peter! I wish you all the best and my family’s thoughts are with you – keep strong!

    A friend from the “For a Child’s Sake Golf Tourney”.

    Patrick, Jeanne, Nicholas & Hailey

  26. Peter,

    It was great visiting with you the other night. Lu and I are so glad that we got a chance to come and see you. Now it sounds like we have to come back down and see your cool new haircut!

    You keep practicing the Toss Across, so that you can beat daddy, mommy, Lu, and myself. When we come back, we’ll be sure to see how you’ve improved!

    Take care little man.

    We can’t wait to see you again.

    Love,

    Carrie, Frank, and Vincent

  27. Hey Peter,
    Did you know there’s a good friend of Jesus’ who has the same name as you? He was a fighter, too! Most people know that Jesus walked on water but did you know Peter did too? Peter means “rock”. Thats what foundations are built of. God has big plans for you, big guy.
    We’re prayin like Warriors,
    The Ring Family

  28. Your uncle tito has been rubbing his head too pete…. stay strong we love you.

    Trent, Melissa,buzz,cole,quinn,and van.

  29. Peter & Family,
    You don’t know us but we do Know the Cohen family really well. Little Jake and his two siters were in our wedding and right before the wedding Jake had suffered the stroke. We have been there with him in all the hard time as well as all the great times.
    Keep a smile on you face because tomorrow in a new day and you never know what God has in store for us!
    Our prayers are with you and please let us know if there is anything that we can do through Dave Cohen otherwise we will say lots of extra prayers for you and your family.
    Lindsay, Nate and Piper Poss

  30. Ty, Erika,and Peter,

    I just wanted to share a funny story with you. When my mom went
    through Chemo a couple years ago, she made it a point to wear
    something crazy for every treatment. Groucho /mustache glasses,
    Billy Bob teeth, crazy hats, etc. The nurses couldn’t wait to see what
    she would come up with each session. She never let them down.
    It not only helped her, but it brought lots of laughs to all who were there getting treatment.

    I truly believe laughter is great medicine!

    Thinking and praying for you all.

    Love Jan

  31. Dear Peter and Family,
    We read about Peter in the Newspaper and were so emotionally moved by the article. My family and I just want to let you know that we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers . We are looking forward to meeting you, probably at the arena, sometime soon. Take care kiddo and stay tough. Bob,Kim,Sophie and Griffin

  32. Peter, Ty and Erika;
    Great Haircut……Much easier to take care of.
    A week has passed since my last message, just want you to know you are in my thoughts daily. Keep the faith.
    Karen Owen

  33. Peter you sure are looking pretty sharp. I am the lady that works with your uncle Steve, I think he should join the rest of the hair cut crew, the only problem is he doesn’t have any hair as it is. You hang in there little guy and know that there are a lot of people out there thinking about you.

  34. Nice doo dude! I know for hockey players the shaggy doo is in, but for the rest of the cool people who don’t have an athletic talent, the shaved look is in!!! I just wanted to tell you I told all my friends to pray for your health and a big church here in Texas is praying for you. That means tons of people are petitioning God to heal your sickness and the more people who pray, the more God listens! You have got many, many people in your corner!
    Much love,
    Rick, Jackie, Ashley, Emily and Levi Kaldahl

  35. Hi Peter,

    We are writing to you from the East Coast…where we don’t know how to play real hockey like you big boys from Minnesota!!! Stay strong! You are in our thoughts and prayers every day. See ya on the ice SOON!

    The Callahan Family

    PS: LOVE THE NEW HAIRCUT!!!

  36. Dear Ty and Family,
    Todd & Laura told us about Peter this past week. Our heartfelt prayers go out to you and your entire family during this time of trial. Having two granddaughters ages 4 & 6 makes our compassion for you all the greater. I can remember some “hockey players” coached by Bob for many years who were always out there to win. You fellows had a lot of ambition and stamina which we as parents could only imagine as we watched you play. We pray that Peter can have that same stamina and ambition to combat his illness. I will keep checking this website to follow his progress. May God wrap his arms around Peter and all of you and keep you safe and strong. Thought it’s been a long time since we’ve seen you please know that love is here for your son and your family.

    Jeanne & Bob Boche (former Rosemount hockey parents)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *