The Peterson Family

I mentioned that Brooklyn's sitter was in Florida, I did not get a chance to mention why. Janet is a remarkable woman is so many ways! I wanted to share her story with all of you. I wanted to post the article that was published in our local Newspaper......
The Peterson family: Brady, left, Janet, Kirk and Brent. ANGOLA — A wish is going to come true for a local boy. Brent Peterson, a 5-year-old from Angola, is about to have his wish come true thanks to the Indiana branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Brent, along with his family, is about to depart for a seven-day trip to Disney World. “It’s going to be a big, huge, busy week,” said Kirk Peterson, Brent’s father. Brent was born with kidney failure. They learned that his mother, Janet, was an appropriate match to be a donor. When he was barely a year old, he was considered old enough and underwent a kidney transplant.

However, since the transplant is not a cure for Brent’s liver failure, and he will have to take anti-rejection medicine for the rest of his life, Brent was eligible for the Make-A-Wish program. Though they found out when he was still quite young, the Peterson's decided to wait until he was older to pursue the Make-A-Wish program. It wasn’t until a recent doctor visit that they began looking into granting Brent’s wish to visit Disney World. “I actually kind of forgot about it until the doctor called,” Kirk said.

The ball got rolling soon after, though. June and July were both booked with other wishes, so the Peterson's had to wait until August for their trip. “He’s probably not your normal Make-A-Wish kid,” Kirk said. Looking at Brent, you might never know about his transplant or the medication to keep his body from rejecting his mother’s kidney.

He and his 8-year-old brother, Brady, run around the house, playing and giggling, as though nothing has ever happened. “He’s just your normal 5-year-old boy,” said Janet. “He just has to take medication.” The family is nervous and excited to go on vacation. This will be their first family vacation together, and the boys’ first time flying in an airplane. “I’m scared,” said Brent, who tried to convince his family that he could walk to Florida instead of flying.

They leave today when a limousine picks them up from their home in Angola to take them to Indianapolis. From there, they fly to Florida to stay at the Nickelodeon Hotel. In addition to Disney World, they will visit Sea World and Universal Studios.

Make-A-Wish is providing for the hotel, air fare, limousine transportation, meals, disposable cameras and spending money for Brent and Brady. “It sounds like everything they do they try to make special for the whole family,” Janet said. “It’s something he’ll probably remember the rest of his life.” Anyone interested in helping out with the Make-A-Wish Foundation is encouraged to visit the local Web site, www.makeawishindiana.org. Make-A-Wish is also available by calling (877) 206-9474.