This must have been your "calling." To think of how may people you have helped who would otherwise have been in the dark. I know what a tremendous difference in my life this site has made. I'm sure we all appreciate what you have done. We are weary, downtrodden, but have a place to go for relief. There are so many really great people on this site, and I think your energy has attracted them. I am very thankful.
Val said it all. You have made a big difference in my life. Thank you for beeing you and for bringing us this site so that we spouces have a special place to go.
Joan- being able to talk about what happens everyday, and how it feels to watch the steady decline, and express our sadness, anger and frustration: thank you for doing this for all of us who are navigating a very treacherous journey with no happy ending. I agree medal to you, and thanks. Anne
It is so good to have a place to come to. A place to get down and dirty. A place to say-I hate him. Also a place for learning, understanding and sometimes even solutions. Thank you, Joan
My goodness, thank you very much. As I've said many times, the support, information, and help I get from all of you keeps me going. When I think I am alone in my struggles and emotions, I write about it, and I find that all of you are going through, or have gone through, the same. Knowing that I am not alone on this miserable journey is the greatest support I can have.
It's say a lot about how much this website means to all of us when we started naming where we came from. I was so surprised since it felt like we all lived close by with such a sharing and caring going on. It's been a tremendous support to hear my own feelings, concerns, etc. echoed so often and to get the information and empathy from all the people in this group. THANK YOU!!
ditto, ditto, and ditto. I found out about this site from the Alz message board, but most of those folks are talking about their parents. To talk to others dealing as I am,with our spouse. Well, it makes a big difference. and a big thank you to Joan for starting this.
Absolutely! and what is fascinating is that it's relatively NEW. A lot of the older groups have people who've been on forever, but a lot of newer groups just don't get off the ground. The AZ group in the alz.org site is active, but the one in about.com really isn't though there's a good moderator. I've tried to get people involved in an on-line forum on a couple of different venues and they just don't do it. They're not computer people so the technology bothers them (this vanilla-forum is really easy) but just getting them to the site is difficult.
I'd never heard of it before but look at the very pale (vanilla?) type at the top of the page on the left under "bookmark this discussion" and you'll see that vanilla is a product (open source) of Lussimo, so click on it and it's explained. It's a lot less fussy-looking than phpBB which is very popular. And have you noticed? NO SMILIES! Which I'm perfectly willing to use like this ;-) but which for some reason I am phobic about (I think it has to do with either WalMart or the dance recital my daughter was in when she was six and had to wear smilies on her hands).
Someone "scooped" me up off the Alz board & directed me here. I was 1 Gaia on the other site. I don't know who it was, but glad they found me. I've only been back to the other site once & it was of no interest. I didn't know this was a new site.
I echo all that is said, Joan, i visit other alz websites but none that provide the candor, and raw emotions that we can unleash here with regards to spousal caregiving. its like 'drinking from an oasis' when we are bogged down with emotional crisis and have the opportunity to vent with company with folks who are in the know. divvi
Thank you again, Joan! This is my source of comfort, of learning, of relieving stress, of making friends, of finding answers and of looking forward to the cruise and meeting a lot of you!
I must add my appreciation for your vision in beginning this site for spouses and encouraging us to be candid, and honest in our messages to one another as well . You have bravely tackled subjects that other forums do not engage in and I think through our communications with one another that many professionals have gained some insights relating to dementia that they will never obtain through professional journals. I eagerl;y look forward to your blogs, and enjoy the other information contained on the home page.
You are a gem, Joan and I wish you the best as you take care of Sid..... I admire you for your abilities and most of all for your kindnesses.
Yes THANK YOU Joan. This place is a Godsend. And what you have done is wonderful. Now I feel like a have a team of people that I can consult with, vent, support and laugh with at the touch of my fingertips.
Thank you a million times over,Joan. What ever would we all do on those really bad days when we really just need to vent, or learn something from one another, especially from you. God Blless you, Joan, for we are blessed to have you & this site.
Kitty, thank you for starting this thread. I wish I'd known of a place like this the last three years of my father's life with AD before his ticker mercifully knocked him out for good. Things would have gone so much better.
And so, think of a typical ending to a Honey Mooners episode, in my best Jackie Gleason impersonation, "Joan, you're the greatest!"
Yes Joan, thank you from an infrequent "poster" but a very regular "reader". Have been out of internet contact cleaning out my Mom's house. The first thing I did when I got back was catch up on your blog and all of the folks who "post" here. DH came along to help with the house clean-out and his ALZ becomes more prominent. When I came home I opened the mail from the Occupational Therapist indicating that he did not pass his recent driver eval and so we will begin the "driving problem". Feeling very alone with all of this and come to your site for information and reminders that I am not alone with this struggle. Thank you.