Dixie Crossroads

Sunday evening Vernon and I met Tina McKinnon, the wife of Vernon's heart donor, for dinner at a well-known local seafood restaurant in Titusville known as Dixie Crossroads. I held the camera to get this close-up picture of us before we went inside.

Then another guest take this photo for us. I like the close-up better, don't you?

This was Tina's first time to eat at Dixie Crossroads even though she's known of it all her life. She grew up in the area and remembers it was one of her mother's favorite places. She knew to order broiled rock shrimp and this photo shows her ready to enjoy them. Tina liked the idea of her first time to eat there was with us.

We enjoyed our server, Katrina, and she took this photo for us. Of course, we told her the significance of our being together, that Vernon received a heart transplant nearly 3 years ago and Tina's husband was the donor. Katrina said she hopes to be a radiologist and she seemed to appreciate what we shared with her.

Saturday afternoon Vernon and I visited his donor's parents, Bob & Esther McKinnon, in their home. We had a good visit with them, too, and I took this picture as Esther and Vernon shared a good-bye hug.

Three years ago today, (Feb.3) the McKinnon family gathered at ORMC in shock and grief over the sudden death of son/brother/husband, Steven. Because they made the choice to donate Steven’s organs, Vernon and I received a phone call at Shands 3 years ago tonight informing us that it looked possible that a good match had been found for him and he’d go to heart transplant surgery the following morning. Vernon is one of five patients who benefited from that family’s decision to share what they could in the midst of their grief. So we are celebrating 3 years since he received the heart transplant and that is why we chose to spend time with Steven’s parents and wife this past weekend. God has blessed us with a good relationship with them and I believe they are comforted somewhat in their loss. Please pray for their continued comfort and praise God with us for His continued good work in all our lives.