Friends and family sing Happy Birthday to Bob Iritano, center, the day he turned 50. “It’s not like I’m on my deathbed,” said Iritano of his terminal cancer. “I work. I go to my kids’ baseball games.” (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Karen Iritano, left, looks at her husband, Bob, and daughter Katie, 10, and a photo of them. “Just look at him,” Karen said. “Does he look like he’s dying?” (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
Bob Iritano gets a kiss from his son Michael, 7, on his 50th birthday. A few days after Times columnist David Lazarus told the company that he would be writing about Iritano’s situation, Health Net sent Iritano a letter saying he could have the procedure after all. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
