A Bridger Peters Benefit is being held at the Elk Creek Community Hall on Sunday, April 26, to assist Josh and Ashley Peters in paying for medical bills as well as baby supplies. The benefit will start at 11 a.m. In addition to a meal, there will be silent and live auctions.
Anyone wishing to donate any auction items can contact Melissa Werner, Joan Peters, or Jennifer Kunzman.
Bridger Grace Peters was born on December 8, 2025 at the Beatrice Community Hospital. She weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz and was 19.5 inches in length. Her parents are Josh and Ashley Peters of Elk Creek.
Although Bridger is now a very happy girl who is eating better and breathing better, Bridger was born with a single ventricle artery in the womb which can cause malnutrition and risk of still birth but she passed through that and grew normally.
When she was born, she had to stay in the hospital longer because her blood sugar was drastically low. Bridger and her mother were discharged, but Bridger returned the next day and was re-admitted to the hospital for severe jaundice. At Bridger's 1 month follow-up appointment on January 8, 2025, the doctors discovered a heart murmur and fluid building over her lungs. Bridger and Ashley were jet flighted to Children's Hospital in Omaha, that night, where it was revealed through ultrasound that Bridger had one large hole in the lower chambers of her heart, which is called Ventricular Septal Defect, and one hole in the top chambers of her heart, called Atrial Septal Defect. It was also discovered that Bridger's Tricuspid Valve was leaking tremendously, which caused blood to flow into Bridger's lungs instead of her body.
On March 25, Bridger underwent heart surgery at Children's Hospital in Omaha. The surgery took approximately six hours between pre-op and post-op. During the surgery, the valve was fully repaired, but it started leaking again. The doctors planned to fix the leakage using diuretics. It was also discovered that Bridger was malnutritioned.
“I wish for Bridger to live the best life she can and be surrounded with love, compassion, and strength in faith of our God,” said Ashley. “It is a struggle, especially in today's world and economy, but as long as our baby girl is safe and happy we know we will make it. We have had support through God, our faith, our family and friends, the community, and our church.
“Through all the constant emergency visits, doctor visits, and nonstop worry/stress, we find peace in seeing Bridger's smile and hearing her giggles, watching her movements, and cuddles as much as possible. We know she is happy and loved.”
Anyone unable to attend the Bridger Peters Benefit on April 26 and wishing to give a monetary donation may send it to the Bridger Peters Benefit account that has set up at the Bank of Steinauer.
