Kiera’s birthday celebration was a success today and we all had a lot of fun. We decorated the camp with balloons and streamers, and everybody wore a silly party hats during the main festivities. The theme of Kiera’s presents this year centered on preparations for college. She got sheets, a sewing kit, storage containers, and many other assorted dorm supplies. One of Kiera’s other presents is a float plane ride over the South Channel and around Parry Island, which weather permitting she is planning on talking tomorrow. For Kiera’s birthday dinner we all took a boat ride out to Henry’s Famous Fish Restaurant at Sans Souci, where we pigged out on fresh battered and pan fried pickerel, French fries, and “The World’s Best Caesars”. The fish at Henry’s is delicious, but we suspect it’s the gallons of grease that makes it soooo irresistible! We are winding down the night with carrot cake and enjoying the good company of our old friend Pete Hodge from Kineras Bay. Pete went to dinner with us and stopped by afterwards to have a bite of cake and make us chuckle with his “Tales from the Pete-side”. Pete is always hilarious and is a sure fire way to lighten things up!

I spoke with Mom and Johanna in Rochester tonight and they reported that things overall are not going well with Pop. He is extremely critical again and continues to be very unstable. His blood pressure and low blood oxygen saturation episodes are becoming more frequent and harder to control, due to numerous complications. Each time Pop takes a scary dip on the roller coaster; it drains his precious energy and makes him weaker and more susceptible to the next problem that comes along. Mom and Jay had productive meetings with Dr. Shelley, the infectious disease specialist overseeing Pop’s case, and Dr. Pirello, the chief doctor responsible for the entire ICU. Both Dr. Pirello and Dr. Shelley were very helpful and patient, and answered many, many questions. Unfortunately, neither of them painted a rosy picture and they conveyed the message that Pop’s overall prognosis is fairly poor. We are all in the process of absorbing this news and are taking a minute-by-minute approach as to Pop’s current condition and what the future may hold. We ask your prayers for Channel Man Stan and our entire family in this difficult time.