A pair of radio hosts gave a 90-year-old man a birthday surprise he will never forget after he called into their show to wish himself a Happy Birthday because his wife has dementia and could not remember to do so. Howard Saunders called CJLS Y95.5's morning show, Tri-County Mornings, on Friday, November 13, when he explained to presenters Hartley Reed and Courtney Amirault that he was offering himself the gesture on his wife Joyce's behalf "I know she would like to wish me a 90th birthday," Howard, from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, said, with Hartley then responding to wish him a happy birthday on behalf of the show and its listeners. But Hartley could not stop thinking about the moment, given the sincerity, compassion and sadness in Howard's voice. And so, with the help of his listeners, that very same day he and Courtney tracked down the housing complex Howard and Joyce were believed to have recently moved to. The pair first headed to a couple of stores, where they purchased a cake for Howard, a card that was to be signed by everyone at the station, and a helium balloon. But when they arrived at the complex, Hartley and Courtney thought they were out of luck – having knocked on more than 30 doors, no-one knew Howard or had any idea where he lived. Dejected, the pair were about to head home, when they noticed a Meals on Wheels driver knocking on a door with no answer. Hartley asked if this was, in fact, Howard's apartment, to which the driver said it was. The buoyed presenters decided to then wait outside Howard's home, and when they saw the 90-year-old escorting his wife into the apartment, they headed up behind him to surprise Howard with his gifts.
