It's a bittersweet anniversary for Southland's Melissa Vining.
Today would have been the 40th birthday of her husband and cancer care campaigner, Blair Vining.
But there was also a positive milestone - news their charity hospital project is ready to take its first patients.
Lockdown's been tough for Melissa and daughters Lilly and Della-May, highlighting what's missing in their lives since Blair lost his battle with cancer last October.
"You know we're here, surrounded by all his memories. And it's certainly a lot quieter without his big loud happy voice in the house," she tells Newshub.
Today would have been Blair's 40th birthday - but it came with a gift: the detailed plans for the future Southland Charity Hospital.
"Which is just so exciting, because it brings that project to life, that we can all see what the hospital's going to look like," Melissa says.
The multi-purpose facility will include a full-scale operating theatre and a dental suite.
The charity hospital is free for patients in Otago and Southland and was one of Blair's dying wishes. It's for patients who face life-threatening delays for procedures like colonoscopies.
Oncologist Chris Jackson warns politicians that 400 Kiwis could lose their lives due to the lack of testing during the recent lockdown.
"We know for every month delay in the diagnosis and management of colon cancer, survival reduces by 5 percent," he says.
Building will start later this year, but the hospital is already taking its first patients - in a partnership deal with a private hospital.
"So our volunteers will be performing those procedures immediately, thanks to the help of that private hospital providing us with the facility," Melissa says.
A bittersweet day for the Vinings - Blair's hospital dream one step closer.
