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This is my HOME!!! Well, my second one really but who's counting...
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If it weren't for this forum being available for me to keep my head somewhat straight, I wouldn't be writing this now... During the multiple hospital vacations I had in the last few years and even shortly after my liver transplant, I came to the forum to sometimes escape from the worrying of how I would be able to pay for all the bills and co-payments for my liver transplant, my multiple hospitalizations over the years following and I always managed to find some way to get them paid even if I had to go back to work part time or even full time until I could no longer do so... These last few bills and co-payments are so overwhelming for me to settle up and it worries me...
I'm going to have to do something because they're piling up too high for me to look @ the screen anymore... I decided to put them somewhere else for the time being until I can figure out what to do... I have been considering fundraising but, I'm going to have to find somebody to help with that because it's too much for me to do alone... However, miracles have happened for me more than once and I know that the Lord will find a way to help me in my time of need as he always has...
This place has become a place of fellowship for me because where else could I find a place to really connect with other folks like myself and discuss, debate, learn, and hopefully share what has been my passion ever since I was Eight years young (Are you reading this Hillbilly?) which will always be my passion until the day I pass on from this world...
Yep, Welding and fabrication technology, metallurgy and anything else related to metal working is what I'm talking about! It's what keeps me sane!
The fellowship I have experienced in this sanctuary I call "Home" has been a life saver for me, it's also been a great place to find humor either from some of the posters, especially from Scotty and others, and in the Off Topic Bar & Grill, to feeling "weldcome" to participate in discussions of all sorts of welding related topics and finding joy in sharing something that might help folks as well as myself and to learn something new or more clearly than I had before!!!
The gratitude I have for the Lord having the wisdom to create this through his grace is indescribable for me as well as the gratitude I have for all of my colleagues I have in this forum, and you all know who you are so, I'm not going to mention anyone specific because I'll never finish my own thoughts about this place I call Home... Having said that, I apologize for not mentioning anyone specific because already by writing this, I'm starting to get distracted from what I'm attempting to elaborate further...
Anywho, We have had some doozies of discussions that ended up heated and creating animosity amongst some in here but after all is said and done, there isn't a person in here that I wouldn't be honored to call them a friend and colleague... There's a sense of community amongst us that's very powerful despite some of the changes that have occurred over the years in here, and each time I have been amazed how passionate we all are to keeping this place from becoming something else and less weldcome to our purpose, to our character, to our personality, to our spirit! And speaking of personalities, There are are many diverse characters besides myself from whom I have learned much from over the years when it comes to socializing as well as welding technology and Inspection since I started participating here many moons ago and I'm honored to know each and every one of you...
As some of you may notice that I don't participate like I used to when I was relatively more healthy and had the strength to do so... There was a time not too long ago when I was led to believe that my time on this earth was coming to a real end and for a moment, I accepted it and submitted to it... I then came to thinking one day that I'm not a quitter, and in changing of the way I looked and reflected back on my life, I started to think positively, and slowly but surely I got my defiance back! And what I mean by that is that through reflection, I remembered how the transplant doctors who initially evaluated me told me point blank that I only had at best, 5 years of life with my new liver...
And they added that I would be lucky if I even got that far! Back then I decided that I was going to defy their expectations of how my recovery would be and I was successful in doing so... At least until these other illnesses sprung up out of nowhere... However, like I said before... I got my DEFIANCE BACK!!! Yeah I know that I'm still in bad shape but, I also know that through prayer and defiance in my spirit towards the doctors expectations I will once again prove them wrong!!!
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So as I keep my pulmonary rehab appointments 3 times a week and my hyperbaric therapy every other day, I am now starting to see and feel some definite improvement in my overall condition... And with the Lords help, I will have excellent news soon from my biopsy results and other diagnostic tests also... And thanks to you folks, I will continue to keep on keeping on from your words of encouragement and your prayers! Now let's all P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens) for me so I can keep contributing to this wonderful repository of experience, knowledge, and wisdom where despite our sometimes whacky behavior - emits some distractions and confusion, we still have one heck of a fellowship going on in here from a very diverse bunch of members that I can say are my friends. Thank you all!
Respectfully, Well - for the most part,
Henry