Found again!
JOKERD4 (JOKERD4(AT)aol.com)
Wed, 25 Mar 1998 10:47:15 -0800
Hi all,
Have been searching for this list for a few days, and finally found you and
your new format. Some of you remain the same "faces" that I remember from
last year, and many of you are new since then. Glad to know that the list is
growing!
I am posting because of a specific incident that happened, hope to make this
short, but cannot promise!
Yesterday, Deanne Gilmur called me. She had received a call from a man whose
brother was dx'd on Sunday. They live near Kerry and I (in Chicago) so she
thought we could help. I told her of course we would, and in the past have
received calls from others she had hooked us up with. This experience, this
time, really was different, and I have to tell you, it really made me value
what my husband and I have. Some of you may recall my husband was dx'd in
December 1995, he has a mild case of TM and we are ever so greatful for that.
He has had a few minor setbacks, but nothing earth shattering. We read all we
could on TM and found many, many wonderful people through the internet. We
really thought we'd like to do more, but never knew what....until today. A
call did come through from this man's brother, and he was so heartbroken about
his brother's condition. I could very vividly recall the same feelings, as I
am sure all of us can. This man (I am not comfortable saying names without
permission) asked if Kerry and I would possibly visit his brother since Kerry
is living proof that you can "recover" from TM. So, we did just that. We
went to the hospital tonight, met the young (21) man, and hopefully helped him
through this trying, horrible, time, somewhat. He and Kerry had a great talk,
and the family, the brother, his wife and two young children, the mom, step-
dad and dad were all there to listen and gain some knowledge that the doctors
cannot possibly give. This is the knowledge that comes from sufferers, and
their support members.
It was a *wonderful* hour long visit, and we will remain in touch. I cannot
tell you what this has done for me personally. This was our opportunity to
actually tell another person what we went through, the same he and his family
are going through, and assure him that no matter what, they will get through
this because they have eachother.
What I am getting to is that without a support system, whether it be via on
line, personal, phone calls or letters, we all need eachother!
THANK YOU TMA for establishing yourself (Deanne and Sandy you are commended
for all your dedication and hard work). THANK YOU JIM LUBIN for starting this
wonderful page, I have passed this address on a lot!
Thank you all for listening!
Joan