Kathy,
Please don't feel slighted. People come and go here and quite often we don't see people for months or even years. It is unsaid, but I know many are afraid to even think about why someone isn't seen online. When I didn't see my friend Gurleen on MSN or on the group, after many months I emailed her and got no response. A couple weeks later I was contacted by Mr Feroz, who also hasn't been around recently, and he told me that Gurleen has suddenly taken ill and passed away the next day. This happened to be just days after I had emailed her. I know that often I am afraid to ask about someone out of fear that I may hear the worst. Please don't feel so slighted. People vanish for even years and then pop up again. Wax was for the most part invisible for the past two years and just recently joined our new group. Did you know that he was a very active member at our MSN group? I never heard anyone ask for him during the whole time. Ayesha was gone for months and happily she is doing ok. Lyn was gone for a couple years too, and now is back along with her sister. I am always happy to hear from people and find out how they have been, but with this type of group people come and go. Often when we don't hear from someone, it actually means they are doing quite well and haven't felt the need for support or had the time to visit. We can't make assumptions.
Kathy, I hope you will realize that a month is a short time and I did see you on the site from time to time, so I knew you were around. I did ask myself why you hadn't posted lately but I am very reluctant to pry and ask why. That is your business and I feel I'd be intruding to ask why someone hasn't posted lately. I will ask you one thing. If you are seriously ill, please try to let us know. We're not as uncaring as you may think, but we won't know that you're not doing well unless you tell us. When I don't see you on, I may assume you are busy with family and day to day life. I have also been sick with a bad cold for over three weeks, sandwiched between terrible allergies and have not given the group the attention I would like recently. I hope no one feels slighted by that but sometimes the time just isn't there when you have to deal with things in your own life.
I hope you will continue to post. I have always been very interested in your case as it is quite unusual and has proven very difficult to diagnose. I do feel the sickle gene may be causing you more trouble than doctors have acknowledged and hope that eventually you find a doctor that can figure out what the problems stem from and can give you some help dealing with it.
Everyone, please don't feel you're being ignored. Quite honestly, this group is so much better than when it was on MSN and weeks would go by with few posts and a seeming lack of interest from everyone. That made me feel quite sad at times because I knew people were counting on help they weren't getting. Our new home has been so much more active, with a wide range of participation and even though we may not be perfect, we're doing a pretty good job of attending to people's problems. If there are problems please point them out, but also be willing to help us deal with them. This is a group of people who almost universally wish they had no need for a support group, but the reality is different.
Sometimes you may have to be the one to make a little noise and say "I'm still here" but please remember you have made friends here, and as Shilpa has often told me, when it comes to friends you shouldn't have to be told all the time that they appreciate you (even if it does feel pretty good when they do
).