Kathy and Walter Rhoden

In this week's post Barbara Hastings-Asatourian pays tribute to Kathy and Walter Rhoden.

This is so sad, dedicated to Kathy and Walter, who both died suddenly in Florida on 30th March whilst out on their Harley. It's only now that I appreciate just what an impact they have had on so many of our lives. Family and friends have been posting condolences and memories on http://www.kathyandwalterrhoden.info for over a week now, and there are hundreds, everyone touched in a lovely way by Kathy and Walter's uniqueness.

Kathy worked as a GP in Wath on Dearne, and I met her as part of the extended Siam Care team. We both spoke at the conferences in Thailand in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and visited Siam Care in Mukdahan togejavascript:void(0)
Publish Postther. Kathy was great fun to be around and laughed such a lot. She was committed to understanding young people, and improving young people's sexual health. I remember the BITE project in 2003/4, touch screen technology, then I remember our plans to work together, and the engaging sessions working with adolescents and understanding the needs of young people. She was really passionate about her work.

In January 2008 I met Walter, Jamie, Emily and Olivia in Thailand, first we spent a week in Bangkok, and then another in Mukdahan with our sponsor children. Walter presented a session on sex and the heart at the conference in Bangkok, and I really liked his dry humour. I have a particularly clear memory of him holding a stack of our passports, and systematically taunting us about the state of our passport photos.

Jamie, Emily and Olivia you are such a credit to your mum and dad, and I am thinking about you all the time. I hope that we can help you somehow, and that the love of your family and friends will help even in a little way to help you get through.