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By Jordan King
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Jordan Peterson’s daughter Mikhaila has issued a tearful update on her father’s health, which she described as a “near-death experience for a long time.”
Mikhaila Peterson revealed her father had been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), an immune system dysfunction, in August.
Newsweek has contacted Jordan Peterson’s team via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
Jordan Peterson is a high-profile public intellectual with a large international audience, and his health has affected his public work in recent years, including postponed tours and canceled events.
His health also shines a spotlight on the ongoing controversy around CIRS, over whether it is a distinct, widely accepted clinical diagnosis.
What To Know
In an update posted to X on Saturday, Mikhaila Peterson said her father had been in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) “suffering from pneumonia and sepsis after dealing with a host of neurological issues this summer that we believe stem from CIRS.”
“We weren't able to communicate with dad really all of September,” she said before adding later that Jordan Peterson has now been moved to a floor for treating patients with less-urgent conditions.
Mikhaila Peterson was tearful as she told how, after her father's month in the ICU “during the end of the pneumonia,” he had speaker critical illness polyneuropathy, a serious neurological complication which affects the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and can occur in patients who are critically ill.
“We’re hoping [it] is critical illness myopathy [a muscle disorder], which is bad enough,” Mikhaila Peterson said.
She described the experience as “heartbreaking and brutal,” but “praised God” as her father has now been moved to a floor for less critical patients.
“We're still in the midst of this, but now we're seeing improvements daily,” she said.
Mikhaila Peterson went on to ask people to pray for her family, adding that the “summer has been exceedingly difficult and terrifying.”
She said she believes there is a “spiritual element at play here,” adding that “dad's condition is complicated by the fact he can't take most medications without suffering from severe paradoxical reactions, which limits treatment options.”
**“**Mom and I in particular really wanted to reach out and ask for prayers to help everyone get through this, especially for my dad and for my mom, but also for the nurses and doctors taking care of him,” Mikhaila Peterson said. “I miss my dad,” she added tearfully. “My brother misses his dad. But mom misses her best friend and husband.”
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What People Are Saying
Mikhaila Peterson said: “Given we think there's a spiritual element at play here, we believe the right way to fight back is to keep going and push harder if anything. Life isn't necessarily supposed to get easier when you're doing the right thing. And I can see God's hand throughout this, but it's a lot to handle.”
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly comment on her post: “Hang in there M—pls send our love.”
Political commentator Konstantin Kisin said: “Your dad and entire family are in my thoughts.”
What Happens Next
Mikhaila Peterson has pledged to keep supporters updated: "Like I said, I'll keep people updated. He has a team of people, including myself, continuing his mission, including Peterson Academy, and we'll be releasing his 'We Who Wrestle with God' tour to everyone on YouTube, which he's wanted to do for a long time."
Jordan Peterson’s broader projects, including the Peterson Academy and the release of archived tour content, are expected to continue with the involvement of his family and team.
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