CAYMAN NET NEWS - LETTER TO THE EDITOR - TUESDAY 20 JULY 2004

Letter to the Editor
A very sad loss to Cayman
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Dear Sir,
The shock and sadness to our collective community was realised on Saturday, July 3, 2004 when we received the news about losing our beloved Dr Leroy Raphael, 45.
My first reaction was to pray for his family. Dr Raphael’s many roles as husband, father, minister and doctor will be sorely missed in the Orlando community.
Dr Raphael was an OB/GYN and worked with the medical team at Physicians Associates.
On March 4, 1989, my doctor, Dr Bischoff’s work shift was completed at 8:00 am. Dr Raphael took over the work shift about a few minutes after 8 o clock and delivered my son at 8:05 am.
Dr Raphael married a lovely girl, Mona, from Cayman Brac. Mona and I grew up on the same island and went to the same school on Cayman Brac.
On one of our family visits from Orlando to Cayman Brac, someone from the immigration department needed to see my son’s travel papers.
It was pointed out to me at that time that at the bottom of my son’s birth certificate was the indelible, hand-written signature of Dr Leroy Raphael.
Now just what are the odds that the coincidences and vicissitudes of this life would have two girls that grew up on the same small island in the Caribbean living in the same overseas city of Orlando, Florida? Further, what are the odds that my friend’s husband, Dr. Raphael, would have been the person responsible for the safe delivery of my only son?
I look forward to seeing Dr Raphael and his family, one day living next door to me when we arrive on the other side of heaven.
I believe that Dr Raphael was a believer in the gospel as put forth in Saint John, Chapter 1.
We, the community of Orlando, wrap our arms around Dr Raphael’s family at this time.
We pledge to continue to pray for, and seek ways to care for them as we continue the journey of this transient and temporary life.
Helen Mae-Lazzari Lerner
Orlando, Florida and North East Bay, Cayman Brac