Contributed by Mary Schladweiler

My nephew, Chris Peppers, was diagnosed last July with chronic myelogenous leukemia in the blast phase. He is currently receiving treatment and is doing well. He is scheduled to receive a stem cell transplant some time this month. He has no health insurance and cannot work (doctor’s orders). The family is planning a benefit spaghetti dinner on Sunday, Oct. 10, with two bands and a DJ at Whiskey’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill, 3207 N. Main St.

Peppers, 24, had a videography business before he became ill. He moved back to his parents’ home from Chicago early in May. He had not been feeling well, could not find a job in his field (Columbia College grad, film and video production major), and was going to work for his dad temporarily in the siding industry. While he was there, his parents noticed that something was wrong with his health. He was a marathon runner, seemingly in great condition, but he could no longer run, keep up with the guys putting the siding up, and other strange things began happening. Finally, he went to a walk-in clinic, had blood drawn, and was diagnosed. But when the results came in, the immediate care facility was unable to reach him by phone. They sent a police officer to his house to tell him to call his doctor immediately. This is where the story takes a strange turn.

Officer Brent Phillips rang the doorbell only to hear a woman screaming in back of the house. The officer found Lisa Peppers, my sister, being viciously attacked by a pit bull/bulldog mix. Phillips was able to shoot the dog without hitting her. It took four hollow points to kill the dog. Chris had been inside napping with headphones on and did not hear any of her cries until the shots were fired. If the officer had not arrived at just the right time, this dog would have killed her.

Lisa Peppers has been fostering dogs for the Chicago Bulldog Rescue for several years. “Choco” was brought to her around the 4th of July. She was misinformed as to his temperament. He had already gone after a child’s slippers, with the feet in them, from his first foster home. Lisa  had already decided that the dog needed to be put down, as he had already bitten a neighbor girl and also went after Chris’ girlfriend’s feet. She was not qualified to take care of this type of aggressive dog, and the rescue group knew it.

She needed permission to have the dog euthanized as she was not the legal owner. The group was taking its time in getting her the authorization, and she was stuck with this bad dog. But the permission never came, resulting in a near-tragedy.

Since then, Lisa has undergone two surgeries to repair her arm and will have more to come. The dog bit her on the chest, legs, arms, and was at her neck when the officer killed him. Yet, except for Chris’ leukemia and the need to contact him immediately, the officer would not have been there to save my sister’s life. Strange coincidence, isn’t it?

Everyone is invited to come out to Whiskey’s Roadhouse, about 1 mile south of Riverside. Enjoy the music of Rubik Steel and Brahmastra. Take part in gift auctions, 50/50 raffle, buy some baked goods, and have some great drinks. The festivities begin at 1 p.m.

All proceeds will go to Chris Peppers’ medical expense. He said, “I’m waiting for my transplant and feeling healthy enough to run every day. I think that’s important, to maintain myself physically, to stay sharp physically and mentally.”