Hi Gang. I regret having to tell everyone,that Charlie Bradley our Dear lymie friend passed away this morning at 6 AM.
I will forever remember his smile,humor,and witt.
From the time I first met Charlie and Jenny at Seneca Rocks W.V they were family to me.
MADDOG
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Oh, no! I am stunned! Charlie and his sense of humor will always be remembered, as well as his dedication to other Lymies.
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
This is so upsetting!!!! Charlie was such a wonderful person. I enjoyed chatting with him on chat. He will be missed dearly. Posted by creativeguy (Member # 15046) on :
This is very sad news indeed. Charlie was a wonderful guy and loved by all. God bless him and his family.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
OMG, no.....I love Charlie....noooo!!! He was one of my closest Lyme friends.....I am devastated!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i didn't know him but it's always sad to hear of these things.
i'm sorry for his family and i'm sure he will be missed by all.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
I'm so sorry to hear this. Charlie's family and friends are in my prayers. Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Wow. Charlie's been very close with a lot of people here. This is a great loss.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Oh My!!
Rest in Peace Dear Charlie.
I just saw him 3 weeks ago.
I just talked to him Saturday night.
He said he was getting better.
It sounded as if he was getting weaker.
I was making plans to go help him and Jenny get thru this bad time.
I was going to go stay and help care for him for a long while right after the first of the year.
This news IS such a shock!!
I am beyond sad.
Funeral time and place??
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Hi Don I didn't ask about the funeral.
I think maybe Charlie didn't belive in funerals.
I will Email Jenny and ask.
MADDOG
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
My heart breaks to hear the sad sad news.
We will all miss him dearly, as will the love of his life, his dear Jenny.
Charlie (who I called Muffinhead) gave me permission to put his picture in the "Tribute to Lyme Friends" slide show.
You'll see him here in happier times enjoying a picnic along the Buffalo River after we had all been canoeing and site seeing. He is in the campground shot, on the left of the picnic table. He has on a blue shirt and sunglasses.
Good bye my friend....
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Maddog, can you tell us what happened? Those of us who were his close friends on Lyme Chat, where he visited pretty much every night, are all devastated and full of questions.
Feel free to email me at my personal email as well. I am so, so sad.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
How sad!
I just can't believe it. He was so loving and so kind to everyone. A real friend. He will be greatly missed.
We will miss you, charlie! I'm sorry I never got to meet you in person, but hopefully I'll see you on the other side.
Posted by AmandaM (Member # 17466) on :
This is terribly sad. Charlie has been there for me since the beginning of my illness in chat. He will be missed so much.
Such a wonderful soul. Definitely won't be forgotten.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I agree, Amanda.
Would someone please let Jenny know how much we will miss him, and what an impact he has made? I hope that will be comforting to her, to know how much we appreciated him.
Posted by sizzled (Member # 1357) on :
I am so sad. Charlie was so very kind to me and so many others here.
He asked me to come join on Lyme Chat as well.
I will miss you, Charlie! I will miss you and remember how great your humor helped me through the days.
Rest in peace, friend.
It has been an honor to have known you.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
So sorry for the loss of Charlie.
Prayers for all his friends and family.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I am so sad about Charlie. I loved his humor. Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I am so upset. Charlie was close with many of us. He was so funny and kind. I miss him already.
hope he has all the corona he wants now...
RIP friend
melissa
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Ouch
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Thanks for posting the video TC. Hopefully, we will have more pics of him.
Address?
I would like to send Jenny a card.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I didn't know him, but sorry to hear of it.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Heard from Jenny this morning.
I mentioned many in the Lyme community were saddened to hear about Charlie and were also concerned for her.
If/when there is news to share publicly, one of us will post it here.
In the meantime, I hope she gets some rest and can feel some peace in her heart at this sad time.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Our dear Buzzard Breath and Bat Pancreas. I never met him or spoke to him in person. We only communicated through words.
We had a special Arizona connection. He once lived in a little desert town, an old mining town in the Black Canyon mountain range. There were some saloons in that area we both enjoyed visiting. In different times.
He was a straight shooter, a gentle soul, and someone you could call friend from the first conversation.
We are BLESSED to have people like Charlie come through our lives.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
So sad! When is the truth going to happen with this illness? Praying it's soon.
Pam
Posted by luvdogs (Member # 9507) on :
I don't know what to say except that Charlie was the warmest and most inviting person from the moment I "met" him online. Ity was instantaneous friendship and I always was happy when he was online with us.
I feel very sad about this. I just don't know what to say.
Jenny, you are in my thoughts and just remember what a wonderful man Charlie was and how much he is loved by so many people!
He always made me laugh and smile and feel like the world was a better place.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
Oh gosh, yet another one of us! My condolences to his wife and family. Charlie will be missed a great deal by so many of us; he was a veteran of Lymenet!
No more pain, Charlie... No more...
Much love and respect, ping
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
if anyone has Mo's info-i've lsot her number- please let her know the news.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
This is very sad news! My condolences to the family.
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
This makes me very sad that an old friend has left us, he to me was the very heart and soul of LymeNet. His humor would brighten the darkest thoughts and lighten many an onboard fight.
When I was a Newbie in 1998 to LN, Charlie was the first to Welcome me, when I had questions Charlie was the first to help me.
We compared notes on buying abx in Mexico, prices, what to expect. We shared words in e-mails like he did with so many, because he was always there to help.
Labrat, Maddog and Just Don, you were the closest ones to him, I wish you peace through this also.
Jenny, if you read this, I hope you know that we loved him very much and our hearts go out to you and your families.
Rest in Peace Dear Charlie, you will be so missed.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
OMG... I'm so shocked and sad. Charlie was a great guy.
I was always planning to stop by to see them when in Texas. They live in a small town where my parents were raised.
Charlie.. the ole Buzzard... will be sorely missed here.
I miss him.
Posted by johnnylight (Member # 18518) on :
Sorry Charlie R.I.P. Prayers going up for the family.
Posted by Karen Mc (Member # 23354) on :
I am basically new to LN and did not have the pleasure of knowing Charlie. From all I've read it certainly is my loss not knowing him.
My prayers are with his family and I am so sorry I didn't have the chance to meet him
God bless and be with you at this time,
Karen
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I have not been able to get out of bed all day due to my despair....Charlie was the light of Lyme chat, the 25th member of Lymenet...we shared many a phone conversation where he corrected me when I said he has a "southern drawl" and informed me it was in fact a "Texas Twang."
During Hurricane Gustav, many of us on chat stayed up all night with him, so he wouldn't be alone, chastising him every time he went outside to "check on things." He was scared, and admitted it.
Once he lost power and we lost him on chat I immediately got him on the phone to make sure he was okay. I think it was five a.m. before we all finally signed off....but he had done similar things for other members having a tough time, and we weren't going to leave him.
It's hard to explain to those of you how close we become in a chat room (which by the way, any of you are welcome to join in at any time.) Charlie was a long time regular there, he carried us all, he never engaged in any conflict, he was the wittiest, smartest, most humorous of anyone there, the most caring person anyone would ever want to come across.
I am having severe difficulty imagining life without Charlie. I loved him dearly....one dark and rainy night I was going to pick up a fellow Lymie from the airport to attend a Lyme conference and he kept me on the phone the entire time. I hadn't driven in months, and he talked to me the whole way to the airport.
He always cared. He was always the first one to send money to help pay for chat, last year to help pay for shipping when I was well enough to send gifts to several families at Christmas. He always told me if I didn't raise enough to cover the costs of Lyme chat and Lyme Friends just to let him know and he would pay the rest.
Charlie was loved by EVERYONE. There are few people in the Lyme community that no one would EVER say a negative word about, and Charlie was most definitely one of them. My heart is just broken. Though I never met him in person, it doesn't feel that way. I know I am not alone in saying that.
I don't even know how to begin to say goodbye. I dont' want to say goodbye. I just want this aching pain to go away. I want to crawl into a corner and cry. I wish we all lived closer so we could all be together and cry together and comfort one another.
I am simply in shock. Agonizing shock. I can't even begin to imagine how Jenny feels right now. My heart simply breaks for her.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
There are more pictures of Charlie on his LymeFriends page, KAM, and anyone else who would like to see them, on www.lymefriends.com.
I also have his address if anyone wants to email me for it.
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Thanks. Hoping this link works. I knew I had seen pics somewhere but couldn't recall where.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Charley, Greatcod, Joe Ham, Lesley and a host of others.
When will we get some justice in this disease? When will the criminal incompetence in the IDSA, CDC, NIH be punished? It just makes me crazy that good people are suffering and dying.
Posted by johnnylight (Member # 18518) on :
Yes thanks for the pictures now my Lyme brain remembers. So sad i never really talked to him personally but i have seen him around the net.
Thanks again
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
How do you get to the pics??
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Very sad to have lost another member. I shed some tears even tho I didn't know him personaly. Just made me sad to think that this awful disease has won.
Tracy9,
So sorry for the pain you are going through. Sounds like he was a really good friend and a kind and loving guy.
RIP Charlie,
Gael
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Kam's link will take you to Charlie's page on Lyme Friends.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by lymednva: Kam's link will take you to Charlie's page on Lyme Friends. [/QB]
??? it's just a sign in page ???
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
I've just been so upset all day about this, it's so wrong on all counts. No one should die from this stinking disease, yet they do.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
How sad to hear of another Lyme death. My condolances to all of Charlie's family & friends.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Hugs all around. This is very sad. I remember him from the old Saturday night chats and his many posts on here.
Thoughts and prayers for all of Charlie's family and friends.
Posted by MusicMan (Member # 11966) on :
Bye Charlie
He was a member of LymeLand and our Mac PC Guru in the Pc Tips Tricks Group.
He was also a musicians and us musicians kinda have a special bond and we did a few PM's about music. See ya buddy, Godspeed.
Steve
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Lymetoo, you do have to be a member to see the pics. If you have a problem with that just email me and I'll help you out.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
It is very easy to become a member, just answer a couple questions on the main page and you are a member.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Charlie was a sweet man..
This is horrible sad news..
I hope he is resting in peace ....
Blessing to the family....
Such a loss to this earth.. I can not help but wonder and assume that he is in maybe a better place.. filled with peace and no pain or health issues..
To you..
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
...having a Tullemore Dew or Margarita, his favorites
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Oh, OK Tracy. I am actually a member but have trouble navigating the site. I'll see if I can figure out what to do when I get there!
Meg..
PS.. found the bit on charlie.. couldn't do more than that..
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Just click on Members at the top and type in Charlie and you will see his face, the first one, click on it and you will be on his page.
People are also leaving him tribute messages there.
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Oh, no, no, no! I'm in shock.
Charlie has been on my mind for weeks....... I hadn't seen Charlie post in Medical Questions for ages, since his ER visit last summer..... was planning to ask about him after Christmas was over.....
It's uplifting to read all the wonderful comments and stories about him. Like Great Cod and Joe Ham, he could be very derisive in certain topic discussions. But I was fortunate to see a glimpse of that side of Charlie that many here knew and loved. I'm grateful for that and for a chance to hear how he touched so many lives with his generous spirit.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences.
God be with you always, Charlie.
Posted by jenny76 (Member # 18205) on :
I am simply speechless. God bless you Charlie and my thoughts and prayers are with you Jenny.
So, so tragic.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
did not see this until now....simply stunned! Esp since charlie was in remission until that neighbor sprayed his crops last summer and it blew Charlies's way....
I guess that he never recovered from this?
Charlie helped me with a lot of computer problems and helped me to log on to Chat....also enjoyed his humor and love of a cold Corona...
RIP Charlie and strength to you jennie.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
That was beautiful, Dilly. I know firsthand you meant the WORLD to him.
Posted by Gahagan (Member # 21194) on :
I am very new here. I don't think I know/knew Charlie....and judging by all the wonderful comments, I am poorer for it.
I am happy for you all to have had such a wonderful person in your lives. My condolences to all of you.
Posted by Gahagan (Member # 21194) on :
What was Charlie's screen name?
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gahagan: What was Charlie's screen name?
"charlie"
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
Member number 25
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
No. Don't tell me Charlie was impersonating himself.
Dilly, that was beautiful.
I echo Gahagan's sentiments - I never met Charlie - it looks like all of you who did are the better for it.
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Dilly, that so eloquently summarized who Charlie was. Thanks for expressing it so well and posting it here for all of us to see.
((((Hugs)))
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Well said Dilly.
I'm just seeing this now, and deeply saddened. Jenny and family and friends, please accept my deepest condolences. He truly will be missed here.
Posted by MagicAcorn (Member # 8786) on :
Charlie was my oldest friend here on Lymenet - going way back to the old board more than 10 years ago. I have changed my user name a few times here for good reasons, so my real original member number is also in the low 20's.
I'm so glad I got to speak to Charlie about three weeks ago.
I am beyond devastated.
Posted by johnnylight (Member # 18518) on :
Wow Magic sorry, i remember when i got sick in 1999 there wasn't much in the way of support groups on the net, thanks to good people like Charlie and Tracy and others things are very different now.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
This is very upsetting indeed.
He will be truly missed. He really was a great guy. Always there when he was needed & often with a clever joke.
This is so sad for all of us who were touched by him here, but I guess at least he is no longer suffering, struggling & fighting with Lyme. He is free & at peace.
I will really miss the way he was able to turn peoples' attitudes around with his witty humor & good-natured kidding around.
Jenny will be in my thoughts & prayers. Though I didn't really get to know her, I imagine she must be a very special person.
It always seemed to me that she was the light of Charlie's life. I could tell from the way he spoke of her that he loved her with all his heart & he certainly had a great big heart.
I would have to imagine this must be even harder for those of you who have known him for many, many years. You have my sympathy as well.
Charlie - rest in peace, dear friend. You are already missed.
hugs & prayers, so upset Ali
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Sad Sad day. Charlie was such a great person, one of the best. I am really going to miss talking to him and laughing. So many memories over the years, all good ones.
Bless Charlie and his family. You will always be with us old friend.
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
To everyone--
I heard from Jenny this morning.
She wanted me to tell you all that she has read the messages here about Charlie, and very much appreciates them, and everyone's support.
Understandably, the huge number of heart-felt sympathies being expressed to her right now feels overwhelming and overwhelmingly sad.
Jenny said that she and a bunch of Charlie's friends gathered together and shared stories about him that made them all laugh.
Sounds like the kind of tribute Charlie would have most appreciated.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
"WE" were "Touched by an angel!!"
Posted by jenny76 (Member # 18205) on :
quote:Originally posted by just don: "WE" were "Touched by an angel!!"
Amen to that. So true!
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Charlie hated snow.
So I allways E Mailed him pictures of snow caped mountains,the north pole,my samurai sitting in a snow drift,the house covered in snow,I would lay in the snow and make snow angles and send him a picture ,ect..
His reactions just tickled me to no end.
I never could get him to go to the Snowy range in Wyoming?
MADDOG
Posted by MissyBW (Member # 23740) on :
Hello Everyone,
I am Charlie's daughter...Missy. Just wanted to thank you all for the kind words and thoughts being posted here. And to let you know that Jenny has been reading them as well as my brother and I. Jenny will reply to you all at some point, she just can't reply yet. I told her I was going to write you all a note and she wanted me to be sure you know that Charlie used to tell her that their marriage was a "Whirlwind of Ecstasy". I have no doubt you all knew how much he adored her. Thanks again for memorializing him here. We will all miss him so much.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Missy, He talked about you too, and was thrilled that he had gotten you to join Lyme Friends. He loved you so dearly, your brother, and his grandchildren as well as Jenny.
I cannot even imagine going into the holidays without him. I know I am having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other; I can't begin to imagine how it is for you.
Charlie was one of the most beloved members here and on Lyme Friends. Personally I felt very close to him, as others did....I am still reeling in shock and feeling desperately grief stricken.
I wish I could find the words to convey how sad I am for you all....it must be unbearably painful. I wish there was a way we could help to shoulder your pain along with our own.
Your Dad was a true one of a kind, the best of the best. I'm heartbroken.
Love, Tracy Will
Posted by MagicAcorn (Member # 8786) on :
Missy,
I must say I truly feel like I know you because Charlie and I talked many times about our children. He adored you, and was very proud of you and your brother.
Please tell Jenny that Acorn says...that if your marriage was a "whirlwind of ecstasy" that explains why he made the old chat and the new chat a "funnel cloud of fun".
He was a true friend.
Acorn
Posted by FuzzySlippers (Member # 13658) on :
The Measure Of A Man
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Charlie was the genuine article and we adored him for it. I feel honored to have known him and to call him, Friend.
Rest in peace, our much-loved bat_pancreas. We miss you so very much.
Jenny and Missy, please know that we are here for you if ever you need us. Charlie loved you so very much. There wasn't a conversation that went by without him mentioning "my Jenny" or "my family."
With loving memories of our delightful Friend, Fuzzy
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I often talked with Charlie in chat, after everyone else had gone.
I could tell that he wasn't well, even as he was insisting that he was getting better.
About a month ago, I asked him if there was anything I could do, and he said, "Just be there."
When I read Maddog's post, about fifteen minutes after he wrote it, I cried.
Carol
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by MADDOG: [QB] Charlie hated snow.
So I allways E Mailed him pictures of snow caped mountains,the north pole,my samurai sitting in a snow drift,the house covered in snow,I would lay in the snow and make snow angles and send him a picture ,ect..
His reactions just tickled me to no end.
I never could get him to go to the Snowy range in Wyoming?
MADDOG
That's so funny, MADDOG! I can just imagine his reaction!!
Don... you are so right.. we were touched by an angel!
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Carol, Your post made me cry. It shows so clearly what a special relationship you and Charlie had. For him to say "just be there" is a lot coming from him. He was always there for everyone else. I never heard him ask for anyone to be there for him. Wow.
I'm so, so glad you were there for him. I miss so terribly I've literally had an aching heart since he died. It physically aches. I don't even think the shock has set in yet.
It really hasn't....thank God we have each other. This is a huge, huge loss to all of us. I still just can't imagine our world without Charlie in it.
It's Christmas Eve and all I want to do is go in a corner somewhere and wail my heart out....I've just been holding it in because of the kids, the holidays, but it has to come out soon.
Damn you, Charlie, for leaving us....then there's that part, too.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Missy - thanks for coming on here to say hi to everyone. We are all thinking of you and your family.
Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :
Oh no! I can't believe it!
I'm so, so sorry that Charlie has passed on.
Jenny, Missy and the rest of the family, please accept my heart felt condolences.
Jenny, I met you and Charlie in Kentucky at one of the Lymefloats.
Wish that we could have spent more time together.
I remember just this July that Charlie had offered some help for me as I traveled down there to San Antonio for some medical treatment.
He offered me a place to stay.
Now, even though I'm almost 50, I don't know too many folks who would open their homes to someone needing medical treatment.
Charlie was one though.
In fact almost any contact I did have with you guys was always uplifting.
I'm truly honored to have known Charlie.
My prayers are with all Charlie's family and friends.
Joann
Posted by brianbradley (Member # 23751) on :
All,
I'm Charlie's son Brian.
This is difficult to type, but I feel I need to do it.
It's Christmas Eve and my Father has passed on.
The depth of my sorrow is immeasurable.
I'm sitting here trying not to feel sorry for myself.
I worry about Jenny, she was the love of my father's life.
I worry about my sister, she didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
Selfishly, I worry about myself. Will I take the best from him and embrace it, embody it and live it, and will I take the lesser of him and learn from it? I hope so - I owe it to my family and I owe it to him.
I got to his house on Sunday afternoon and sat with him through the afternoon and evening. I told Jenny to get some sleep and I would stay up with him as she had been caring for him for months and it was taking a toll on her.
My Dad and I talked for a long time. Some of our conversation was deep, some of it was levitious. Most of it was substantive and personal. We tried watching the Big Lebowski, but it irritated the **** out of him. It turned him off. I turned it off. I held his hand. I scratched his back. I listened to him. He listened to me. He told me he was proud of me, he told me he loved me, he told me he loved my sister and he told me he was going to fight this because he couldn't leave Jenny, my sister and I behind.
I'm not ready to share some of the things we talked about - hopefully I'll be able to share them with you in the future. You all were his 2nd family and I appreciate the love and fellowship that you gave him.
He had a difficult fight and never gave up. He was courageous through the end.
He didn't die alone - I was with him - and he was loved by so many and knew it.
Maddog, you we're the one I knew I had to call and you would get the word out. I thank you for your friendship with my parents - you mean/meant an awful lot to them. You were the only one I had ever had a conversation with so you were the chosen one to share the news. I'm sorry it had to be you, but you rose to the occasion.
The rest of you, I thank you for being there for my Dad and letting him be there for you.
If anyone here want's to trade anecdotes about my Dad, feel free to email me. My email is [email protected].
Thank you all for the forum that you gave my father. By letting him help you - you were all helping him.
Brian
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Brian, I am so glad you had a chance to say good bye to your dad. Some of us don't get that chance, as with your sister, and it's tough.
Keeping his memory alive will help though, so do that in whatever ways you can and you will honor him in that way.
Sending hugs to all your family at this difficult time.
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Brian. Thank you for coming on here and sharing his last days with us. I didn't know he was that ill.
A year or two ago, he mentioned he was going to travel to meet a few of us to the West. He was going to see Joe Ham in New Mexico, then swing by and see me in AZ.
Joe Ham is no longer with us, then Charlie got sick.
I just wanted to take him back to Black Canyon city and eat some pie in the Rock Springs Cafe.
Later. I would like to email you.
Sorry this Christmas is painful. I have had losses around Christmas time, and you walk through it numb, or you forget it all together.
Don't forget it. He wouldn't want you to. He knew you all loved him. I could tell by who he was that he felt loved.
Kelmo
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Missy and Brian,
Thank you for coming on here. I'm so sorry for your loss. If I could give you a big hug right now, I would.
I'm glad Charlie was surrounded by such a loving family. That is a true blessing. He was very fortunate to have so many that loved him, especially the love of those closest to him, you.
You guys will be in my thoughts. I have no doubt your father's legacy lives on through the people here that he was able to help, and the people here who were lucky to know him as a person.
I remember the first night I met him on Lymechat, he gave me SO much information. He was someone who had obviously made a lot of progress, and he stayed very late, answering many of my questions.
At that point I had already been treating Lyme for years, but was still pretty ill. I had never heard of Bactrim, and so I was feverishly taking notes on everything he said.
I was very inspired. Not only by his improvement, but by how he had taken matters into his own hands, to get better. Based on his recommendation, I pushed really hard to get Bactrim, because it wasn't a favorite of my doctor. I'm SO glad I did. It was one of the most effective antibiotics I've ever taken. It cleared up my very foggy brain to the point that I now feel like I'm living in my own head again. This is all because of your father.
I have no doubt that if I would have never met him, I would have never tried that drug, and I would still be VERY frustrated. This just gives you an idea of the small ways one person can change someone's life, just after one meeting. My family is overjoyed to see how much progress I've made cognitively.
There are people that have improved with treatment that don't care to take the time to help others, and then there are people like your father.
But saying all that about how helpful/inspiring he was seems to diminish the most important thing your father had to offer, which was his friendship. Little did I suspect the first night I spoke with him about Bactrim, that he would become one of my favorite online friends. Honestly, I think Charlie must have been EVERYONE'S favorite.
There were nights that I would literally be sitting at the computer, laughing out loud, despite having a very rough day. The things he would come up with! Just the most witty responses to things. And such a warm spirit.
Just wanted to thank you for sharing him with us....I'm sure we were able to make him smile, but I think we were the lucky ones, for having him there with us. I'm sure he knew how much we appreciated him, because it wasn't often that he would log on without a chorus of people shouting, "CHARLIEEEEE!!!!! How are you????"
Everyone was always glad to see him. And he seemed to be a very happy, content person. A lot of us tend to be moody or grouchy from the illness (myself included), but Charlie always seemed to radiate sunshine. So I know you guys must have made him happy, because it would be hard to be that happy without a good home life.
Thought you might want to check out his Lyme Friends page at some point if you haven't already. You will need to register to see it, I think, unless Tracy can work something of her magic.
To find charlie's profile, click "Members" and type in "charlie".)
You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Devin
[ 01-03-2010, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: Hoosiers51 ]
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Jenny,
thinking of you this morning.
and Missy and Brian (sorry, didn't see the post from you Brian until today)
[ 12-26-2009, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: kam ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thank you Brian. You will do fine following in your Dad's footsteps! I can tell!!
Hugs and love to your family.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Missy and Brian, thank you for your words. Your father was so much fun to chat with online, and you can see he meant a lot to many of us. He always had a positive attitude and humor to share with everyone.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
it sounds like he was a very nice man. i wish i could have known him.
i'm sure he's deeply missed.
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Missy and Brian Thanks for posting it is good to hear from you two. Brian thanks for the call to let me know.
MADDOG
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
Maddog- just sent you a PM
Posted by db (Member # 733) on :
I grew up in the same town where Charlie lived. When I came to Lymenet in '01 Charlie made me feel right at home. Those first months of searching for an answer and then going through the abx treatment, the herxing, made it essential to have a place like Lymenet to come. Someone like Charlie made things lighter and kept me sane. We talked on the phone a couple of times. Thank you, Charlie, for your kindness and your support. To Charlie's family I send my deepest condolences. He was a good man and will be missed. I lost my Mom two years ago. Healing from a loss like this takes time. Please know I keep you all in my prayers. ~db
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
Charlie was a great, funny guy. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Although I did not know Charlie personally, I want to add my prayers for the family. I always enjoyed reading his posts.
Bea Seibert
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Wasn't it Charlie who called coffee enimas "reverse lattes"? He was so funny.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Hee hee, I think so.
And I remember he also used to say that for him, "Salt/C" was a Margarita with salt on the rim. (the lime was the Vit C)
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Iam so sorry Carol geez. This brings tears to my eyes. God bless and keep him. And Comfort his Family Carol.
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
I am just reading this for the first time and am very, very saddened.... and shocked. Charlie was one of my Lyme Chat buddies but I haven't been there in a very long time. He was so funny on chat and ALWAYS made me laugh... hard.... out loud. My husband would have to come downstairs sometimes to see what was so funny and it made him smile to know that at least my lyme friends could make me laugh, and that they 'got it' unlike other people.
I will miss him and he and my other chat friends have a special place in my heart.
Charlie, may you rest in peace.
Jenny, Missy, Brian - my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you.
Posted by LymeLearned (Member # 20565) on :
I'm so sorry everyone! A little out of the loop, I can't say I had connected with him because I was dipping in and out of here too much. I regret this now.
I'm so sorry for his wife and family, and for each of us who has lost another dear one.
My heartfelt condolences.
Suz Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
This is such sad news. I had the priviledge of spending a week with Charlie, Jenny and Maddog a few years ago. We had such a good time together.
All I can say is he was such a great guy. Once you met him it was like he was an old friend and I can say the same about Jenny and of course, Maddog.
He will be greatly missed. Jenny and family, my sincere condolences. My heart goes out to you. Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Connie
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
quote:Originally posted by imanurse: I will miss him and he and my other chat friends have a special place in my heart.
Ima, he really enjoyed talking to you. Especially when you had a hot flash.
Carol
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Just wanted to let everyone know that the Lyme Friends web address has changed, and you can now reach it by using:
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