May 26th 2014

Today, 26-May, was a big day. We have finally arrived at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Monroe Caroll Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt hospital sent their LifeFlight aircraft down to Jackson and Sheri and Afton were able to hop on the Beechcraft KingAir 200 and fly directly from Jackson to Nashville. Their total time enroute was less than 2 hours. What a blessing. I drove the van through Birmingham to Nashville and it took about four times longer. I would have preferred to fly.

We made fun connections along the way. The flight nurse grew up in the same neighborhood in Alaska as I did. She went to East High School. Very cool. When Afton and Sheri arrived at the ER, one of the ER nurses tracked them down and said, "I've been looking for you." She is Bob and Sue Athow's daughter who grew up in Vicksburg and has been following along what is happening with Afton. It was very comforting to know that people are watching over us. More fun connection took place when one of the ER doctors saw Sheri's BYU t-shirt and mentioned that he grew up in Utah and then one of the Oncologists who is working on Dr. Holt's staff is also from Utah. We already feel surrounded by people who care about Afton's case.

Afton made the trip ok but when we arrived they started some of the tests immediately. They performed number of X-Rays, blood tests and then ordered an MRI of her back on Tuesday morning. We will also have the PET scan and then an x-ray guided biopsy of the bone. Hopefully they will be able to rapidly identify exactly which cancer Afton has and test the procedure to make sure it will work to cure Afton. I echo Telly Fields prayer that she posted on Afton's regular facebook page in which she asks, "That this cancer responds immediately and favorably to treatment such that the medical personnel are astounded and give You the glory and the credit."

know that we love you all and are very grateful for your love and support.