From: Rachelle Miller [pcm@teleport.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 12:37 AM

Subject: Peter

As many of you may have heard, my precious husband, Peter, went home to
be with his Lord at 12:05 a.m. October 7, 2002.  Although I have not
seen the official report from the doctor, I can tell you that the
concensus was his liver failed, probably due to parts of it being
obstructed by a tumor.  Surgery was not an option due to the severity of
his prostate cancer.   He was given a transfusion and platelets about 10
days ago, and spent a couple of days in the hosptal.  By Wednesday of
last week, he was very weak and tired.  The doctor sent him to ER to be
given fluids and to be evaluated.  The ER docs diagnosed pneumonia and
anemia and sent admitted him to the hospital for another transfusion.
Labwork showed his liver function was abnormal and that he had an atrial
flutter...a rapid (170 beats/min) heart rate a bit like atrial
fibrulation.  After his tranfusions, he was transferred to the cardiac
unit to be observed.  The cardiologist ordered a echocardiogram with
showed he had a strong, healthy heart that was beating too fast.  He
considered doing a cardioversion to try to put it in its proper rhythm,
and started him on meds to bring the heart rate down.  Peter was getting
progressively weaker.  The docs started nebulizer treatments to help
combat the pneumonia, and medication to help rid his body of the toxins
building up from the liver problem.   Saturday night, he took a turn for
the worse.  His heart rate has climbed up a bit and his breathing was
more labored.  He slept most of the time, and wasn't always totally
conscious when he was awake.  He did eat a little breakfast and a very
small lunch, but after lunch, he slept continuously.  He was very hard
to arouse, if we could at all.  He did recognize that the children came
to pay him a visit, although he did not open his eyes or speak.  Later,
hiis oxygen level dropped and they started him on a mask, but needed to
sedate him a little because he kept pulling the mask off.  His heart
rate and breathing then settled down and became quite regular.  Calvin
had gone home earlier to prepare for school, but Amber, a couple of her
friends, and I stayed with Peter until 11:30pm.  The doctors had told us
that he was fighting his last battle and that the liver problem was
slowly shutting him down, but the medical staff thought it would be best
for us to go home and rest as it looked like we had a wait ahead of us.
At 12 midnight, the heart monitor showed his heart rate was steady as it
had been for hours.  At 12:02am an alarm alerted the nurses that his
heart rate had dropped dangerously low.  The charge nurse rushed to his
room while the nurse assigned to Peter called me.  Then she also rushed
to his room.  By 12:05am, Peter had left us.

A memorial service will be held 11am Saturday, October 12 at Alliance
Bible Church in Hillsboro, OR.  A memorial service in Decatur, IN is
pending.  I'll be sure to let you know the details once we have them.
The kids and I are overwhelmed and tired, but doing as well as we can.
We miss Peter terribly already, but know that he is in God's hands and
God's hand is on us during this awful time.  Please keep us in your
thoughts and prayers

With many hugs and much love,

Rachelle