Visitation & Funeral Details

Visitation:  Wednesday July 31 2-4 & 6-8 pm at Koops Funeral Home Lake Odessa MI

Funeral:  Thursday August 1 11 am Lakewood United Methodist Church  Lake Odessa, MI

With Great Sadness.....

With great sadness, we would like to share that Rod passed away at 5:10 am on 7/28/13.  He is reunited with his parents and many other loved ones.  He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend.  He will be sincerely missed by many.  He is now with our friend Jesus.

Thank you again for all of your continued prayers & support. 

Love,

The Pepper Family

Prayers Needed

Rod was admitted back into the hospital Sunday evening.  To be honest, they aren't real sure what is going on.  His blood counts are not rising like the Dr's would like to see, so they are consulting with some other Dr's to try and get some answers.

Please pray for Rod, Sue, the boys, and the Dr's that are working with Rod.  Pray that they are able to find some answers and get him feeling better.

Home!

Rod made it home last Friday!  Just in time for his birthday Saturday! 

He is retaining water from all of the fluid he was given while in the hospital, so his legs & feet are pretty swollen.  This is making it hard for him to walk around and gain his strength back.  He is able to walk around with his walker and is gaining strength everyday.  He is eating and even got to indulge in ice cream & birthday cake! 

Due to his stay in the hospital last week, chemo was pushed back to this coming Thursday.  Please say a quick prayer that he is able to keep his strength through this treatment!

This Week.....

Well, Rod has been admitted to the hospital again.  He was doing AWESOME last week, had some really great days where he was up and moving around and even walked out to the mailbox!  Friday he was having some really bad back pain and developed a fever.  A trip to the ER was in order and they discovered he had an infection.  He was admitted & given IV antibiotics.   

Dr's words, "He's a mystery".  They can't pin point why he keeps getting infections, but right now staying on top of his pain is a big focus.  Talks are in motion of what the next move is going to be, but until then, please keep Rod & Sue and the boys in your prayers.  They are all so strong, but really need support & prayers during this time.

As always, thank you again for everyone's love and support.  The meals & cards are still pooring in and are such a great help and relief. 

Update

Rod was able to have chemo this week.  We are hoping for another 21 hospital free days until his next chemo treatment.  He has been on strong pain meds still so he is sleeping contiunously, but does still have his sense of humor.  Just when you think he is sleeping and not listening, he comments on your conversation.

He has been having physical therapist come to the house and help try and gain more strength and he has also been put on oxygen.   Continued prayers for strength and healing appreciated.

HOME!

Rod is HOME!  He is on very strong pain meds so he is sleeping pretty much all day.  He is able to get some rest because the pain meds are helping. 

Just wanted to write a quick note so everyone knew he was home.  Hopefully we will see you at the golf outing next Sunday!!! 

Love & prayers always appreciated!

Golf Outing 6/23

Hey all you golfers and lovers of Rod and Sue Pepper! The Woodland Township Fire Dept. is having a benefit golf outing at Centennial Acres, Sunday, June 23rd. Registration starts at 11. If you don't golf, come out to eat and just show your love and support for the Peppers. There are amazing prizes to be given away, such as a big screen T.V., a gas grill and tons more! Rod is fighting the fight of ...his life right now and needs all the prayers and support he can get...so, if you can't join us that day, we ask for your prayers. See any WTFD for a registration form or call Ben Stowell at (616)914-5242 or Chris Tobin at (616)292-3934. Thank you to everyone for loving the Peppers through this difficult time in their lives!

Well......

Rod came home Thursday June 6th after 8 days in the hospital.  He has finally been eating as his throat is healing.  He had a pretty good weekend at home and even ventured outside the house for about an hour.

He was admitted to the hospital again last night.  He has been fighting fevers on and off and the decided the best thing to do would be to admit him and give him IV anti-biotics.  He is still having severe back pain as well, so hopefully they are able to get that somewhat under control.

Please pray for some answers as to if there is an infection, pain relief for his back, and for Sue.  She is so strong for everyone.  They both are.  Both of them are always asking how everyone else is doing.  I love these 2 more than words can say and the best thing we can do for them is ask for your support and prayers.

Update

Wednesday afternoon Rod was admitted to the hosptial.  Due to the radiation, his throat is severly burned and he is unable to swallow anything.  He is on IV fluids to stay hydrated and is being told he will more than likely be in the hosptial through the weekend.   He has received blood transfussions and platelets to help strengthen him as well.

Prayers for his healing and ability to eat & drink are appreciated!  Thank you again for all of your love and support. 

This Past Week

Rod had another round of chemo this past Thursday/Friday.  He is having blood cultures and an MRI on his back done on Tuesday.  Thursday he is having a bone strengthening IV as a follow up with chemo.  Friday he is meeting with the spine specialist to evalute his neck and back.

We all appreciate the love and support of family, friends, and community.  Most of all everyone's continued prayers. 

PRAISE!!

Rod is HOME!!!!  So thankful he is healing from the infection and acting like himself.   So good to have him back after such a scare.

He continued radiation treatments while at the hospital with the exception of last Monday.  His next chemo treatment was supposed to be Thursday the 16th, but the Dr's want his body to heal from the infection, so they pushed it back until the 23rd. 

Thank you again for all of your support.  We are really feeling the prayers and from the bottom of our hearts appreciate everything you have done for us.

Quick Update

Rod is still in the hospital.  They are going to keep him there for the weekend.  He has been up and moving around.  They would like to see him have more of an appetite and gain some strength back before sending him home.  He is also still on IV antibiotics to help with the infection.

Thank you again for all of your thoughts & prayers. 

Monday May 6

Monday May 6 Rod was taken to Spectrum Health ER by ambulance.  He was having a hard time waking up and somewhat unresponsive.

After nurmerous tests, at 8:00 pm Monday evening he was diagnosed with a blood infection.  They started him on strong antibiotics and said he will be at the hospital for at least 48 hours.

Thank you again for all of your thoughts & prayers. 

Diagnosis

As many of you know, Rod was diagnosed with esophagial cancer in April.  While he was waiting to start his chemo treatments, he was having severe neck pain.  At that time, they discovered he had a compression fracture in his neck due to bone cancer. 

He has started chemo and will continue chemo every 21 days.  The duration is still unknown.  He is also doing radiation focussing on his neck every weekday for 3 weeks.   As of today he will have 11 more radiation treatments, and his next round of chemo is May 16th.

He will be seeing an orthopedic spine specialist on May 8th to stabilize & monitor his neck.

We as the family would like to thank everyone for your continued support and all of your loving cards, meals, and prayers.  I will continue to update this when new information is available.