June 9, 2017

6:30AM - Ian's 20th birthday. No child/person should have to spend his 20th birthday this way. Who knows what it will contain. For many years, we always spent this day in Destin at Jetty East with Keri's family. His first birthday, we were fighting aspiration pneumonia. We had birthday parties with kids from the beach. Beginning in 2013, we were in Africa for his birthday. Keri, Ian and I celebrated his 13th birthday on Jordan's Rock in Namwianga, Zambia with a hot dog cookout with the HIZ-Path group and his friend David Merritt. In recent years, we've spent this day at Camp Rockefeller. Today we spend it at Greystone Health and Rehabilitation one last time with Keri. It will be a hard day, and a birthday he will always remember. 

Alesa is coming home early from the beach and Dave and Lauren spent most of the day. Debbie Ganus came and wants to spend the night here along with Ian. Landon Ganus, his wife and little girl came and brought a birthday cake. They lit the candles and I was afraid it would set the smoke detectors off, but Ian blew them out and shared with all present and the CNAs. Only later did I realize that Keri was using oxygen. It could have been an explosive birthday. It was as festive as it could be. He had his last birthday with his mom.