Derek Peterson & Family

Some of you may know this and some may not… but one of the greatest humans we know and love needs our help! Derek has always gone above and beyond for everyone around him and now it’s our turn to help out him and his family! To know Derek is to love him. He has dedicated so much time and love to our baseball community and it’s our turn to be there for him and his family as he’s been there for us over the years. If you aren’t able to donate, please share or please pray!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

A message from his wife Jennifer on 6/4:

First of all I want to lead this text with Derek is an alcoholic. I am texting people in every aspect of his life so that you can pass this information on to as many people as possible. Once he detoxes he will need support.

Second, Derek went cold Turkey on Monday. He started withdrawal and had the normal shaking and things we expected. Wednesday night we went to dinner with his family and he was much better. He ate dinner and he was having no issues. On Thursday Derek started getting confused. He would think I was someone else and then catch himself. By Saturday he didn’t know who I was and we took him to the ER. He has had a couple of seizures and they have him intubated and sedated. We are in ICU at the moment with tons of wires coming out of him and lots of heavy meds. He has a machine breathing for him and a tube feeding him. Things are pretty bad but I know he will get through this.

Please pray for him. Tonight he has some kind of infection that is causing him to have a fever. He has a long road ahead of him but we will get through this. Alcoholism is a horrible secret that many people carry. I don’t want this to be a secret. Everyone needs to know.

Love you guys.

Updated from today 6/5:

I wanted to send out a quick update. Due to all your prayers, Derek woke up for a couple of minutes this morning. He is currently on

Propofol and fentanyl but they are going to

start transitioning him off of the propofol since he was not fighting the vent tube when he woke up. He is able to move his toes to answer questions which makes me feel better because there was a concern that the major seizure he had in the hospital could have caused brain damage. We really won't know the full extent until he is fully awake and breathing without the

machine. I spoke to the doctor and he told me that alcohol withdrawal is more dangerous than even heavy narcotic withdrawal. He said that alcohol withdrawal can kill you and the morbidity rate once you start having DT's (which is where he was at when we brought him in) is 30%. I have taken lots of pictures even though it is against the rules. When he is awake I am going to let him decide if he wants to share a few. You can decide if you want to share with your kids. I feel like my kids need to

know that this is caused by something that you can get at Albertsons not in the alley behind Albertsons. We make them so aware of drugs but alcohol is scarier to me now because not only can our kids get it but it is encouraged in many situations. As they get into the "try this" years it is important that they realize that some people can handle a beer and some people can’t! Personally I can have a glass of wine and not have another one for months. Derek can't.

But I hope you will talk to your kids so that they know the warning signs that they are one of the ones who can not have a beer. I pray that Derek will be able to say no in the future. I am thinking about getting shirts that say my husbands and alcoholic please don't offer him a beer. Lol. We have a long way to go but letting people know is a big step. Please gossip. Tell everyone including your kids. I always have the picture of an alcoholic as being the old bum sitting by a trash can burning paper to keep warm. Too many cartoons as a kid I guess. But so many people deal with this and are high functioning as he was until recently. I refuse to allow that stigma to control me anymore.

Please pray that he is able to get short term

disability. I know this is going to be a major

stress when he wakes up as he is really the

sole provider for our family. God always

provides so I am not super worried but I know he will be. It is truly one day at a time. Love you all!

Update 6/7 From Jennifer-

He is on oxygen but resting. His o2 dropped when they took it out but with o2 it is back up to normal. He still has pretty bad pneumonia. It has been a long, torturous day having that thing in while he was awake. But it is done! Thank you Jesus!

Update 6/11

Derek is home! Thank you so much for all your prayers. Yesterday we were told that he might go home. So Derek put on his shoes and walked around in his hospital gown waiting for the doctor. We were able to sleep (actually sleep!) in our own bed last night. I am so grateful for all the prayers and generosity from so many. We are in awe. I received so many messages and texts from people I haven’t seen in years but they took the time to check on him. I am amazed at how God works. When we were released they sent us home with all of his blood tests. Everything is within normal range. I was shocked. Our God is a God of second chances and I am praying this one is lived for the Lord.