Kamloops project manager makes impact after life-threatening illness

June 13, 2022

Peter Renn, project manager with Interior Health Capital Planning & Projects, in front of the new Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.


When Peter Renn woke up from the second coma he had slipped into in two weeks, he was at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, disoriented, scared and, according to his physician, near death.

A Kamloops resident, Peter had cirrhosis of the liver, brought on by a rare, inherited disease. Without a transplant, he was told he would likely die.

It was 2018 and the end of a 10-year journey of visits to various hospitals. By his count, nine times he was close to death. However, this time, everything had gotten worse. Twice he slipped into a coma. Awake in RIH, he was disoriented and fearful for his life - scared of losing his wife and his two young children.

“At that point, I was rock bottom,” he says. “I didn’t know whether I would live or die.”

After he was transferred from the ICU, his care was supported by other Interior Health teams. First, a student nurse calmed his fears with compassion and caring. Like an angel, she asked him what his three wishes would be if he could have them. He replied that he wanted the feeding tube gone, he needed water and he wanted to return to his family.

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