Hello everyone!

Howdy all, glad you can be here.

I know things on the Island are not what they used to be, that is why this place was made. It is only a temporary home till we can find a more permanent place to hang our hats.

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see, be sure and let us know.

Hello, this is my first trial post here. Sorry it took me so long to register and sign in. Over the past month we had a tragedy in our family and I've been on an emotional/stress rollercoaster. Anyway it's nice to be here.

N2IZE wrote:Hello, this is my first trial post here. Sorry it took me so long to register and sign in. Over the past month we had a tragedy in our family and I've been on an emotional/stress rollercoaster.  Anyway it's nice to be here.

I feel for you. I have been on that roller coaster for the last couple years. The last two years have been the hardest of my life, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and things are slowly getting better.

al2n wrote:

N2IZE wrote:Hello, this is my first trial post here. Sorry it took me so long to register and sign in. Over the past month we had a tragedy in our family and I've been on an emotional/stress rollercoaster.  Anyway it's nice to be here.

I feel for you.  I have been on that roller coaster for the last couple years.  The last two years have been the hardest of my life, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and things are slowly getting better.

I can sympathize. June was a very tragic month for me. My 18 year old neice who was due to graduate this past June as who was very close to me and my family. At the beginning of June she became ill with what at first appeared to be a bad flu or possibly Lyme disease or Mononucleosis. Her symptoms got worst and worst. By the time she was diagnosed in the hospital one of her lungs was collapsed, her kidneys and liver were failing and she was immediately airlifted into Columbia Presbyterian Hospital where a team of specialists began working on her in the ICE unit.  The doctors identified her condition as a very rare autoimmune disease called HLH.  Basically what was happening her immune system was compromised by the HLH and her body was not doing anything to fight the infection(s). So the infection had free reign to wreak destruction on her body. At first it looked hopeless and they didn't expect her to make it. Then over the course of the following week she seemed to be responding to treatment. She was able to breathe on her own, they were able to reduce the dosage of fentanyl so she regained consciousness and although very weak, was able to communicate with us. The doctors and all of us were optimistic. They were even getting ready to move her out of ICU. Her condition was upgraded from critical to stable. She would probably have eventually needed a bone marrow transplant but the doctors also felt her lungs, liver and kidneys would recover. Then out of nowhere tragic complications set in.  She developed brain hemorrhaging and went into cardiac arrest. Doctors managed to revive her heart but she was put back under sedation and back on life support. About 3:00 am on Sunday, Fathers Day, I was summoned to the hospital. She was in critical condition, on full life support and her body was no longer responding to any treatment. At that point I knew it was only a matter of time. Maybe minutes, maybe a couple hours...  About an hour later she expired more or less right in front of my eyes. The doctors pronounced her dead in the early dawn hours of Fathers Day.  My brother had an anxiety attack. He just lost his child. My sister -in-law as well. The wounds will never fully heal. It was a severe blow to all of us. Very sad, 18 years old, barely had a chance to taste life or fulfill any of her dreams. All I have are fond memories and my brain still hasn't fully grasped the fact that she is no longer with us.The memories of those last horrible moments in the hospital still brings me chills. The best doctors in the country could not save her.

She is survived by her two sisters, one older than she and one younger.  It seems like just yesterday I remember taking them for walks when they visited with us on Saturday.  My eldest niece set up a web page to collect donations for HLH research in hope that better cures may be found for this very rare immune disease and perhaps the lives of other children can be saved. I can really sympathize with anyone having to go through such a tragic ordeal, to see a loved one who was always healthy pass so suddenly.  18 years old is too young an age for anyone to die.

Sorry to hear about this, John...

I am sorry to read of your loss. Please accept my sympathies.

Sorry to hear about your loss, John!

I would like to see some good old fashioned radio. I remember we used to meet on air too. Wonder if we can do that again?

Thanks for the sympathies. Much appreciated. Finally reset my password so I can log in here again.

Good to see you back here, John.... 'trolls' are welcomed here