Waukesha County father shares pain about losing daughter
-
Carole Meekins reports Video by tmj4.com
video
WAUKESHA- There's no greater pain than losing a child.
Now a Waukesha County man is hoping to spare others that fate through his daughters memory.
Paul Radditz of Hartland, talks about the unthinkable -- the loss of his only daughter, Ali Raddatz died at the age of 18 on February 21, 2009.
"She taught Sunday school she was on two scholarships at school academic scholarships...She made friends so easily," reflected Paul Radditz.
But the voice of a beautiful straight-A student was silenced forever.
While attending a party, she took a painkiller with beer, and never woke up.
"This can and does happen to a certain amount of kids that dabble and you just don't know it could be yours.. its just not worth the risk," said Paul Radditz.
On Tuesday, Radditz works to spare other parents his heartbreak.
He is on the parent speaker circuit for Your Choice-Live; he is one of several volunteer parents who give speeches throughout the area, educating families and teens about the dangers of alcohol and drugs and prescription medicines.
"I think as parents we need to do a better job of realizing that drugs an alcohol are so entrenched in our culture...A lot of times we just over look it," noted Paul Radditz.
And now, this father, takes solace in memories of his daughter's beautiful smile and warm laugh, a young coed who won the hearts of everyone she met.
Raddatz hopes his story reminds young people, not to let the wrong choice, become the last choice..
Your Choice-Live is sponsored by the addiction resource council of Waukesha. Click here for more information.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.