Thank you to all as this year winds down

[Mark N]

With Christmas just around the corner and people taking trips maybe being away from the board for a few days I though I should say thanks now.

Thank you all for the help and prayers to get me through the year. It has been a very tough year as I continue to decline, I become more isolated, and my wife was on the verge of leaving us. You have helped save my marriage with your wisdom and support. I know I would never leave and I can't control my wife but I know you gave me an outlet so I didn't cut lose and make things worse here at home as I was being hurt.

You have also helped me accept my condition so that each day isn't such a struggle. I know some of you still struggle with this and depression, I hope you find something that works for you. Our pain is a burden enough without adding crushing depression to go with it.

Thanks for keeping me connected to people. Giving me a place to turn where you know what I go through each day. The people around me can't really know what I am going through as you do and I thank you for that. Thank you for letting me be a productive person because you accept my help when you need it.

There are many other things you have given me this year, but I can't list them all. I do know my life would be much sadder if you weren't here for me to turn to each day.

I pray that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with the hope that better days are ahead and thankful for the friends we have here.

[BrokenBladder]

Mark,

How thoughtful of you to start this thread!!

I'm very thankful for you Mark and for this board. There are so many people here that are so kind and wonderful. There's no way that I can truly express how thankful I feel towards everyone here on B/T.

I wish everyone here to have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

[slipnslide]

Mark & Everyone,

Ditto what Lisa said!:D

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Kim

[Kathi49]

Mark,

Your post IS very thoughtful and kind. And you have helped me also. So, thank you...right back at ya! :) And a thank you too to everyone else here.

I hope everyone enjoys their Christmas and has a safe and Happy New Year!

[MamaRider]

Mark,
Since I have just returned here this past few months you have made me feel very welcomed. I haved come and gone from this site for many years, and met many greaateople. I count you as one way at the top.

Merry Christmas to all.Remember folks, Jesus is th Reason For the Season.
Have a Happier and Healthier New Year.

God Bless You all!

MaMaRiDeR
aka
Polly:p

[houghchrst]

Well said Mark. Thank you too. I have been made to feel very welcome by you all though it took me a bit to come out of my shell. I feel a great sense of peace, compassion and relief knowing that you are all here and that I have some place to go when I need it or someplace where I feel that I may be of use.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings in a better year for us all.

[ejskennedy]

As the new kid on the block, I can only say thanks. This board has made a big impact on my life. I think cp can cause a person to doubt their own sanity. You all are a lifeline to me! It also gives me an outlet for my little triumphs, crazy thoughts,worries and all the medical stuff that I never imagined would be a part of my life.

You bless me with your patience, kindness, understanding, wisdom, courage and humor as well as your sadness, fear, lonlyness, and anger at your lot in this life. And of course, there is always the disbelief we all share together....

I am thankful for everyone of you. Many blessings to you all. And thanks for having me.

Erin (previously e. See? I've grown!)

[Mark N]

Erin, I am glad you joined us and that you have been comfortable enough to 'grow':) while here.

[GJZH]

Mark,

It is me that should be thanking you...You have always been here to answer each and every post ....You are always supportive and try to post something positive....I thank you for taking the time to post to this forum...Thanks for helping me through the Reglan problem and always asking how I am doing....I might be facing another surgery in January...cervical this time...and it is good to know that there is a place to come for support and help...Thanks for the time you share with everyone on the board and the help given...May you be blessed with a painfree New Year and the happiest of holidays....God Bless you and your family...

Gloria

[gizmogirl]

Thanks to all and especially to Mark N who always has a reasonable prompt helpful word. Mark, your wife couldn't possibly be so hurtful if she had a clue as to what you are going through. HAve you noticed that it's the good people who don't understand that cause the most harm in life with the ensuing unreasonable expectations and inability to empathize? At least she sounds mostly self centered (I'm not saying selfish) - sometimes that's easier to deal with once you decide you can't have normal expectations of her. You really have to assess how you can make having her in your life the least stress possible, like with a kid who has problems, instead of hoping they can be the shoulder to lean on they thought they could be when they said I do. If you can accept her as is, you can still love her but only if you don't have any expectations of her - familial love. I wish you had someone in your daily life who knows reality like you do and could be there physically just to make it easier not to try to do what's impossible! But, you've got the brains to do whatever needs to be done - you have to have the least stressful life possible if you want to be there for your kids. Just wanting to be alive and being as available as possible to your kids, with your wisdom, is enough to guarantee that you will have the satisfaction of having been a great dad, which is more than most people without pain can say. Thanks for helping me realize that I have ALOT to learn without making me feel stupid. Merry Christmas.
JAne

[Mark N]

Gloria, another surgery, what a way to start off a new year but maybe it will be the one that gets the job done. The best thing about this board is we receive as much as we give to others so although you want to thank me I have gotten just as much from keeping up with your post as I have given.

Good luck with the surgery and keep us up to date with what is going on.

Jane, you are right about my wife as she is self-centered but not selfish. Is is afraid and she looks at everything by how it will impact her. I have learned to accept her for the way she is and it has made things better. This summer when she was ready to decide if she would stay or leave I was surprised that she stayed because I took her at her word she was leaving. Since then things have been much better, not as good as I would like but much better and that is a blessing. Thanks for being around when I was needing the help.

Lisa, Kim, Kathi, Polly, and Christina, I didn't want to overlook any angels on this forum. You have given as much support and help as you have received, you are a blessing to many of us here.

[Diandra]

Hi All,
As Erin said so well, we are a lifeline for each other. So many days I feel so isolated from even those who love and know me well because of the pain and stress, yet, you all know how it is. How privileged I feel to have this wonderful connection to all of you who I rely on more than I can adequately express. To Mark and the rest of the CP forum friends....thanks for always being there for me and if nothing else, offering care and compassion.

A special thank you to my dear friend Shotspine who is in a very bad way right now and cannot get to her computer very often. Friends, please say a prayer for her.

Merry Christmas to all my friends.
(please don't be offended. I am Christian and that is how I celebrate. I appreciate and embrace all other religions and wish you all well as you celebrate in your own way.)

Thanks Friends, Diandra

[Mark N]

Diandra, thanks for the update on shotspine. Saying Merry Christmas doesn't require anyone else to believe what we believe just as someone saying Happy Hanuka doesn't require me to be Jewish. Merry Christmas to all.

[Jo6]

Mark, I can't say it enough, thank you for being here for all of us. I know you have to be in pain too, but you never complain. You are always right here, ready to help those that need help.

Thank you for starting this post. I too want to thank everybody here for their kindness to me. I hope the Holidays will be good ones for all. Although I know everybody here have their cross to bear we can find a ray of sunshine of hope.
I pray 2008 will be better for us all:) my love, Julia

PS: I didn't know about shotspine. My
prayers are with her. ((((ShotSpine))))

[metijo]

Mark, I haven't been about and have only recently returned, so I didn't know about your marital problems, but from what I've seen you write, you have been inspirational to many people here. I hope that things continue to improve for you and your wife.
Victoria

[Mark N]

Jo and metijo, thanks for the kind words. The wonderful thing about the people here is even when we are helping others we are getting help ourselves. Metijo, I feel better about my wife staying with me and even though I want things to be better between us at least things have calmed down and we have many good days. Most of our issues have to do with my wife's insecurity/depression and the struggles with my disability.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[gizmogirl]

Thank you all for your very different but supportive wisdoms. This place has been my first and only bulletin board because here people are really doing good in the world and making a difference. And sometimes having fun, too. It's amazing how to see 'sharing' work like it does here. I always look forward to checking out Braintalk! Of course a special thanks to Mark, who started this thread - you really are a beacon of light. May your days be merry and light!

[GardeniaGirl]

I would like to thank everyone here on BT as well - I really appreciate the support and helpful suggestions I get here from everyone. I have been through some big ups and downs in the time since I have been here and its nice to know there are others who understand - even though I am sad anyone can truly understand what life with CP is like ..

Happy Holidays!
GG

[shotspine]

I also want to Thank Mark and everyone that makes this forum so special. A huge hug and Thanks to my very dear and loving friend, Diandra, for her constant care and prayers. Thank you Jo and any others that feel like they would like to send a prayer up for me also. I can sure use them.

I wish for all of us to find some answers where needed and relief, especially when it just seems impossible to go on another day.

Blessings to all......this forum is truly a savior for those of us lucky enough to be here.

[Mark N]

GG and shotspine, I just wanted to maker sure you know that you are some of the angels on this board. We have such varying diseases that have one unifying feature - constant pain, it takes a variety of us to be able to support one another.

I used to tell my students that when they walked into my classroom they were special people but so was everyone else. They needed to act as if they were special but also treat others as special so that we had a classroom where everyone was treated with respect. That is a long way to say, the thing I like about this forum is we treat each other as special people. For that, I am thankful for all of you.

[sandi1016]

I also want to thank Mark. Without you my friend, I don' t know how I would have made it through this last year. You know that this past year has been one nightmare moment after another and yet, you were always there, to pick up the pieces and help me figure out what to do next. In fact, you went out of your way to check up on me after my surgery in August. It was so nice to know that I mattered to someone outside of my own family. And how wonderful you were to let everyone know how I was doing.
You are a blessing in so many ways to this forum, to the spine forum, to all who have the priviledge of sharing in your wisdom and your friendship.
Thank you Mark......
Sandi

[Mark N]

Sandi, thanks for the kind post but be sure you know that you are a good member that is important to BT. Your experience with spinal surgery hasn't been kind to you but it is a good example for others of what the outcome could be. Your courage to keep hanging in there is a good example for all of us. I hope the new year brings better results for you.

[sandi1016]

Thanks Mark. I am everyone's worst nightmare I think.....LOL at least I'm mine....Have to hang onto my sense of humor. It gets me through those not so great days.
I hope the New Year brings better results for all of us.
We all deserve at least that much.....
Sandi