Happy Birthday, Steven!

Vernon and I celebrated Steven's birthday today by meeting Tina where she works at noon. (He would have been 45.) She'd invited us to meet her there to see the two large photo collages she made of the fun times they shared. The two Wednesday appointments I mentioned in the previous entry had been moved by the doctor to this afternoon at 1 and 2 and she works just 10 minutes from MD Anderson/ORMC, so it worked out well to meet her first. Here's a picture of Tina and Vernon flanked by the two collages.
Then we followed her to ORMC (Orlando Regional Medical Center, to which MD Anderson is attached) and had a quick lunch in the cafeteria. Tina said she wanted to make a positive memory in the place where she'd said goodbye to Steven and that is what we did. It was so good to be with Tina again. When we parted, she went to see Steven's parents.

During our 1 PM appointment, nurse Helen gave us a booklet to read and also a DVD to view to help us know what to expect during and after radiation, the possible side effects and how to minimize them. One surprising thing is Vernon should not take vitamins or antioxidant supplements because they interfere with radiation causing it not to work as well. We don't need that!

While we waited for Vernon to be called for the mask to be made, Dr. Jenkins walked by and saw us. So he took us to an office where he could tell us that radiation won't start on Monday because they are waiting to hear back from the MD Anderson doctors in Houston, who have been sent slides of the cancer for review. So we are waiting for a phone call that will tell us when it starts.
We still have an appointment Monday morning with Dr. Tseng to learn the results of the MRI and CT scans done on Vernon late this afternoon.

Tonight we spent several hours at Esther and Robert McKinnon's home. Her sister, Barbara, and her husband, Vernon, were visiting from S.C. and we enjoyed getting acquainted. Seldom is Vernon in a room with another Vernon! Scott, his wife and daughter stopped by after the daughter's softball game. So we met two more of the family and it was good to see Scott again. Barbara wanted to listen to Steven's heart, too.

We lost track of time and it was nearly 11 PM when we left the McKinnon home. I think we all had enjoyed being together, with lots of laughter and hugs. Esther said two of Steven's brothers had gone fishing because it was one of his favorite things to do. So that is how they wanted to spend some time on his birthday. She showed us her wedding photo album. She was a beautiful bride and Robert a handsome groom. I think she said they've been married 58 years.

Thank you, Lord, for Steven's life and how he loved the people around him. Thank you, too, for giving his great heart to Vernon and blessing us with knowing his family.