Happy Birthday Paul!

This is a picture of Paul (right) and his good friend Ralph Lathrop.  It was taken at our church, Bethany, on December 6th, 2015.  When I saw them standing in the foyer together looking like twins with their bald heads and gray goatees, lol, I just had to take their picture.

This was Ralph's first time in church since his stroke in the beginning of November, 2015.  He went to Brigham and Women's in Boston and then to rehab.

These are the scrapbook pages that I made of this time.

Ralph had been diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2012, and had been doing really well until this stroke three years later.

A few days after he got home from rehab, Ralph's brother flew up from Florida and drove Ralph and Linda down to their condo in South Carolina where they have been spending the winters for quite a few years.

He has had his ups and downs health wise but had been holding his own until this Saturday, May 6th when he had a massive aneurysm and was placed on a breathing tube until his sons could get there on Sunday, May 7th.

What has all this got to do with Paul's birthday?

Unfortunately, the day Ralph passed away was the day before Paul's birthday and the day we had his birthday party with the family.  We all tried to be upbeat for his party but there was an underlying sadness.  I'm sure, every birthday for Paul from now on, he will remember his friend Ralph.  Maybe that's not a bad thing.  Rest in peace Ralph.  The Radtkes love you!