On Dec. 3, a life was lost. A troubled soul found a way to deal with his pain. My brother, Joe Spradlin, was a great man. Many people knew of his love of music and drums. I know that I’ll always remember the beat that went on in his head. That constant beat was his rhythm in life. Everyday and everything fit together in a rhythm for him.

His illness never had a beat. It was silence that cost him his life. Friends and family will never forget his wonderful glow. But his last few months he was not himself.

I feel that by sharing a small part of my pain with people will help. All I ask of the people who read this is – remember love given and received and always keep your rhythm in life.

-Ally Spradlin