Ricky

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Ricky

Remembering Ricky Welsh

By Ricky’s brother Ross

A tradition in my family during Christmas dinner is to look ahead to the new year approaching and make a New Year resolution. For years, we all looked to Ricky to come up with the resolution for all of us. One year, Ricky thought for a minute and said that the new years resolution was to "be happy". During the last few weeks, I have come to realize that those words were a guiding light in Ricky’s life. A few weeks back I was really sad when it became apparent that Ricky was not going to be going back to his home for the last 10 years and would be going to a nursing facility. I was really worried how Ricky would take the news. I went into his hospital room, sat down and told him the news. He listened to me and after a brief pause he looked me in the eye and said matter of factly, "I’ll be happy".

I have thought so often of those words the last couple of days. With those simple words, Ricky taught me more than he could possibly have realized. He thought me that when we are confronted by challenges and losses in life, we have a choice. We can be sad, disappointed and hurt or we can choose to make the most of a difficult situation. Ricky’s words have brought comfort to me many times the last few days. When my heart is heavy with sadness and grief over his passing, I think of Ricky as I remember him. I think of his laugh, his love of his friends, and the many, many, good times that we shared.

When I focus on these memories, the sadness and heaviness in my heart begins to fade and is replaced with the happiness and joy that Ricky brought into my life. I will always cherish my memories of Ricky, and I will try to follow his example and fill my heart with hope and happiness as he did.

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The Consumers of EGACT are missing a long time friend. On December 16, 2003 Mr. Ricky Welsh passed away leaving an empty spot in many of his friend’s heart.

Ricky enrolled in EGACT in 1986 and remained with us until his illness no longer allowed him to attend program. EGACT celebrated Ricky’s life with a Memorial Service attended by his closest friends and family. As people spoke about Ricky one of the things that became clear was how much he was loved and admired.

Ricky’s brother Ross and his sister-in-law Lucy shared with us a letter written to Ricky by their Mother on Ricky’s 17th birthday, when Ricky was living at Porterville State Hospital. Ross also shared some of Ricky’s valuable life lessons. Ricky was able to make the most of a difficult situation by seeing life from the "happy side" The staff and consumers of EGACT will always celebrate Ricky’s life and happiness he brought us.

Rebecca Brubaker, EGACT Program Director

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	From Ricky's Mom
July 27, 1966 My dear little boy, This date holds a very special place in my heart for it was 17 years ago today that I gave birth to you, my first-born. I didn’t know then that God in his infinite wisdom had destined you to remain my little boy. He gave to you the gift of eternal childhood. During these years I have asked Him why He gave you this unusual gift. There have been many prayers and many times when the prayer just wouldn’ t come, but I think He has revealed in His good time severa1 reasons for His judgment. When I carried you, your father and I spent many happy hours planning your future. We talked of the college you would attend, the outstanding things you would accomplish and the contribution you would make to your fellow man. Our pride was seriously deflated when we realized that you, my sweet child, would never be able to go to kindergarten? After you came, we spent sleepless nights and restless days trying to make decisions about your future which would be so different from the one we had planned for you. We found a mystical sustaining power during these days. I know now this was due to the faithful prayers of our many friends who understood so much better than we, the necessity of communication with God on behalf of others who, in their sorrow, are unable to find the strength to seek His leading. During this time when we were trying to do something for you, we found that you had been doing something for us. You gave us complete love and affection from an innocent heart. Your eye s did not always convey understanding of the simple things we tried to teach you, but they conveyed this total love unencumbered by the expectancy of something in return. Your trust in all who were around you was complete and in return you gave complete affection. You gave us a new dimension in our understanding of love. This year for the first time there are too many miles between us and we cannot be together on this special day. I write this, not because you will understand a single word of it, but because you have given me the priceless gift of deeper understanding into the wondrous ways in which our Lord works. I am able to comprehend with new insight His "new" commandment that we "love one another"; His words that tell us "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things". On your birthday, I thank you for these precious gifts, my dear Ricky.................. Gratefully, The letter is signed by Ricky’s Mother.