Paul Callahan Roach was born on April 23, 1987, came to our family as a foster baby on May 15, 1987, and adopted on March 24, 1988. He attended Garfield Elementary, Stuchbery Elementary, Beverly Hills Intermediate,  Dobie High School, and he graduated from Eastland High School.

My Paul

My gentle giant

Not my first-born, but

My first-adopted

Paul likes to be first.

My images of Paul –

Meeting with the doctor at the hospital

He has developmental delays.

At three weeks? How delayed can he be?

He’ll be three weeks behind his peers?

We can deal with that.

I was so naive.

His kitten cry.

His visit with Evelyn. She says she will take him back.

A weekend of tears.

Monday comes. She brings him back to me.

Relief.

He is ours, I tell Tom. Tom knows.

We adopt him.

Physical therapy. Sign language.

Occupational therapy. For what occupation are we training him for work?

Genetics clinic. Metabolic clinic.

I learn so much from Paul.

Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Locks on food. Paul is more clever than locks.

Growing. Growing taller than anybody.

Perseveration. I didn’t even know what the word meant.

Now, Paul never lets me forget.

Ever. Don’t forget. Ever. Don’t forget. Ever. Don’t forget. Ever.

Everywhere we go, people know Paul.

Puzzles present no challenge.

More advanced legoskills than any child I’ve known.

Knows the weather. Knows the time. Knows the scores.

Knows how to get to anyplace he has ever been.

Keeps everybody on schedule.

Always always always – the hunger.

And the laughter.

And the love. 

 May 3, 2003

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