About Luke
Luke with Mom & Dad at the hospital - post surgery
August 29, 2008 began like any other day. However, while playing at a friend’s home, Luke Peters began to have seizures. Within hours, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was flown to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee in the ThedaStar helicopter. Life would never be the same for Luke or his family.
Luke had brain surgery to remove the tumor from his left occipital lobe on September 9, 2008. Surgery ”slowed him down” for awhile, but within weeks, Luke was able to attend Kindergarten and ”rough-house” with his friends and siblings.
Luke going back to school - post surgery
Pathologists around the country have determined that Luke’s tumor is an oligodendroglioma – grade III. Oligodendrogliomas are generally felt to be incurable using current treatments. This type of tumor has a very high rate of recurrence and gradually increases in grade over time. As of today, Luke’s doctors have pursued a course of ”watchful waiting” and are treating Luke symptomatically with the use of anticonvulsants to control seizures. Luke and his parents travel to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee about every six weeks for scheduled MRI or EEG scans and to meet with doctors.
LUKE IS A ONE-YEAR SURVIVOR!!
In the event that Luke’s treatment would include chemotherapy and/or radiation, the best course of action would be “proton therapy.” This type of therapy does the least amount of damage to healthy cells surrounding the tumor tissue, leading to a higher quality-of-life after treatment. It is only administered in six centers across the United States, none of which are in Wisconsin. Proton therapy is very costly (approximately $175,000) and not covered under the Peters’s family health insurance policy.
Luke with the Lawrence University Football Team
Luke will enter 1st Grade this year. He resides in Neenah, WI with his parents (Keith and Sue) and three siblings; Ryan (15), Nicholas (13) and Emily (9). He loves his family and friends, sports, break-dancing, Sponge Bob and the Lawrence University Football Team (the team recently “adopted” him)! He knows that God loves him! 
Peters Children on Make-a-Wish Trip June 09
He has enjoyed an excellent quality of life during the past year! He and his family traveled to Disney World for his Make-A-Wish trip. He piloted a helicopter (with professional supervision, of course) thanks to a good friend. He has a new puppy (“RJ”). He participated in team sports (soccer and baseball). He runs, jumps, swims and plays with friends and family who ALL LOVE HIM DEARLY! And … thanks to Michael Bailey … he has danced on a grand piano! He’s very excited about his “celebration of support” (aka BIG PARTY) that will take place on Sat., April 17th, 2010 at Waverly Beach in Menasha, WI with entertainment by the Vic Ferrari Band!!!
For updates on Luke, please visit CaringBridge.org.
