About JEP.net
As you’ll see, much of this site is about our son John. You’ll find much information about him and photos. But it is really about much more than just John, or even our family.
It is about the work of Christ in our lives, in the lives of those around us, and–even more so–about the work that He has yet to do. While we are still greatly saddenned by our loss of John, we are aware of many blessings that came from his life. And feel called to share them in some form or fashion with others.
So we have put together this web site with all of the entries from our original caringbridge site, and will from time to time offer more for those who care to follow along.
Bill and Kelly Peacock (and William)
About John
John Edward Peacock went home to his Father in heaven on April 26, after having suffered from intractable seizures for 7 months.
He had just finished another of his long periods of seizures Saturday afternoon and was sleeping soundly as he usually did in such cases. Then last evening he started to have a hard time keeping his oxygen levels high. His nurse was watching him at the time, and called John’s pediatrician who came over. We then came home and discussed the situation with everyone. We decided we would continue to monitor John to see how he did. Everyone left about 11 p.m.
Then about 11:30, John’s palliative care doctor came by. John’s condition continued to change, so it wasn’t too long before she told us to prepare for the end. So Kelly held John in her arms for the last minutes of his life, while we prayed and sang over him. After he left us about 12:30 a.m., we woke William up to tell him that John had gone to be with his Father, and wasn’t sick or having seizures anymore. William is sad, but knows that his little brother is in heaven.
Our sorrow runs deep, but we are finding peace knowing John is suffering no more and is rejoicing in heaven with his fellow saints. He was a true and mighty soldier for Christ and we are honored to have been chosen to steward John’s life for the 7 months we were given with him.
John Edward Peacock, little brother of William Thomas Peacock, was born EARLY this morning at 1:11 a.m.. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz., and was 19 inches.
Our beautiful little boy began life experiencing challenges. He is in Neonatal ICU because of seizures, lung/breathing issues, a heart murmur, and a hernia. The tests (such as CT scan, blood work, etc.) came back with good reports. So we were encouraged by these and the covenant promises of God that He had John firmly in His arms as one of His children. Yet we were scared as well, and asked for prayers for our little boy.
On Sept. 17, we met with the cardiologist and neurologist yesterday. The cardiologist told us that John had a poorly shaped aortic valve in his heart. It was functioning well enough at the moment, but would have to surgery at sometime in the next few months.
The news from the nuerologists was much less certain and of much greater concern. The neurologist told us at first that John encountered some kind of stress that likely reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain–this turned out later not to be the case. But whatever the probelm was, his EEG was a cause of concern. But the cause for hope was that John’s behavior did not match the pattern of the EEG—he was much more responsive and alert than the neurologist expected after seeing the EEG.
At that point, we basically began to wait to see how John responded over the coming days, weeks, and months.
It turned out that John had a condition called polymicrogyria, or PMG. “Polymicrogyria is a medical term that refers to a particular abnormality in the way that the surface of the brain developed during pregnancy.” John’s specific type of polymicrogyria was originally labeled bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria. “Bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (also called congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome) affects the regions around the Sylvian fissures on both sides of the brain. Patients with this form typically have problems with motor control of the mouth, such as speaking or swallowing difficulties. Sometimes mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and seizures can also be present.”
The final diagnosis was indeed PMG, but more pervasive on his brain than just on the Sylvian fissures. Ultimately, this meant that John had intractible seizures, i.e., we never could get them under control. So we had to adopt a strategy of minimizing them the best we could, while coming to grips with the fact that this meant John would likely never get betetr, and in fact would likely get worse.
John’s condition meant that he was unable to eat all his food from a bottle. Though he had some challenges with coordination when it came to sucking, his main problems were that he could suck when he was having a seizure or when he was too sedated because of his seizure medication.
So John had surgery to put a G-tube in his stomach through which he wasfed, and had a fundoplication to help releave reflux. Over time, the seizures took their toll on him, and toward the last couple of months he wasn’t able to eat much at all.
There is a lot more to know abut our son John and the wonderful impact he had on our lives and the lives of those around us. Youu can read more in the updates posted on this site.