This is probably one of the most difficult tributes that I have ever written. It is to one who dedicated his life to the children of Limestone County as principal at Johnson Elementary and assistant principal and teacher at East Limestone. He got to teach that infamous photography class. He is one of the strongest men I know and gives credit for all that he has been blessed with to the Lord. It is to show that this man lived the best that he could during his life and never gave up the fight. This tribute is to Richard Phillipps who was given a new life in 2003. That year he received the heart of a 17-year-old Guntersville High School Boy. Richard was 67 at the time and had retired to become a peach farmer and tend to his herd of Angus cattle. His first heart attack came in00. After several heart attacks, his wife Judy, and sons persuaded him to get a heart transplant. They got the call after the boys death for Richard to come to Birmingham for the transplant. The doctor got the heart started and five weeks later Richard was walking five miles a day. A sweet meeting was arranged with the donors family and Richard was introduced to thundering applause from Codys (the donor) classmates. One by one the students cam to hear Codys heart beat in Richards chest. Many students signed up to be an organ donor that day. Richard and Judy became even closer after that and besides Judy had beat breast cancer. Richard had his nine and one-half year checkup for his heart and it was very good. It had been a good ten years for them. Richard came to see us in 13 and said the only problem he was having was his ears and surgery on them was improving his hearing. Two months later he was diagnosed with multi. lymphoma. After all his rounds of chemo, Richard felt he had a good chance to beat it. You see Richard had a lot of faith and still does. He is thankful for all his blessings because when this cancer invaded his body, the doctor asked Judy to call in his sons. Richard beat that cancer with thanks to Dr. Barodi and the good Lord. In April he again had surgery on a blockage in which was a tumor that the chemo had missed. He had a six-seven week stay in the hospital and was to start chemo and possibly radiation. Today, Richard posted this: Thanks for all the good memories. I have fond and special memories of all of you, but the doctor told me I have three to six months. Not what I wanted to hear. My lymphoma has returned with vengeance. Thanks for your friendship. I have had a good life and I hope the only enemy I have left behind is the Old Devil. Hope to see each on the better day. Richard Richard, I have written this through tears. You and Paul sure have some special memories. I have never known anyone to ever say a bad word about you so I guess the Old Devil is the only enemy you have. A braver, nicer, man, husband and father I have never known. We send our love and prayers to all of you. Will contact you soon. Paul and Jeanette
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 01:35:59 +0000
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