I'm Still On The Green Side Of The Grass

[Erewhon]

G?day all,
Well it?s been a little over twelve months since I joined up and was looking forward to learning from you all this woodworking called Intarsia. Things were looking good,  my new scroll saw arrived and I did manage to get in a little practise before health issues building up over several years finally put a stop to me going near power tools. I?ve kept an eye on the forum enjoying the many projects being done and shared with all. While having all manner of tests for many, many months I was finally told in February of this year that I had Graves Disease. Now Graves Disease I had never known much of and Graves Disease to me was what happened to us all eventually when we stopped breathing and went to our grave.
Some of you may know of it or of some one with it. Its some thing one can?t hide unfortunately and the locals who know of my plight tell of some pretty crazy stories about family or friends who they know with it.  If I had my choice ?I?d love to swap it for something a little less debilitating?.

While I?ve been told it can not be cured I?m lead to believe by my specialist that the medications lined up on our dinning room table will in time allow me to function pretty well with it (when they get the levels right).
I haven?t be idle far from it, while I haven?t played with one single bit of wood for many months I have been adding to my collection of tools that I think I?m going to need. My Dremel collection and attachments are many fold now along with many chisels, files and other equipment that I think will come in handy. My neighbour from the property next door who was helping me with the building of my new work shed two years ago is pushing on without my help on days that he has some spare time. He will get there eventually and hopefully I?ll get to do a little of this Intarsia that you all enjoy so much and that interests me greatly. So everyone, I?m still here on the green side of the grass, take care all.
 

[newfie]

good to know your doing better, take care.
 

[EIEIO]

I'm sorry to hear of your ailments. While the body is troubled I've found that the touch of warm wood and the completion of projects, even small ones, has a healing effect on the soul.

[dunk]

Here is hoping that they get you stabilized real soon and you can begin making sawdust.

[Al W]

Best of Luck to you.  And let us see some of your work when chance allows.

[Marcellarius]

well that's quit a touching story you told there.
what a great neighbor!
hope he will finish the shed real quick so you can enjoy some of that old feeling again!

[mickey357]

My wife has Graves Disease.It took over a year to get her on the right track.She had the R131 radiation treatment.Ater the thyroid dies she went on thyroid replacement pills.Now her blood levels are at the right level and she is doing fine.She works everyday and feels great,BUT you have to take the med's.The other choice is surgery to remove the thyroid,which was our 2nd choice if the R-131 didn't work.Check with your Dr. and get all the facts and don't listen to everyones horror stories.YES-Graves Disease is very serious,but treated with a GOOD Dr.,you will be fine.Good luck and we will keep you in our Prayer that you get the right treatment plan.

[Erewhon]

Thanks all for the good wishes, you all will never know how much better I now feel about myself since finding the courage to let you all know why I suddenly disappeared from the forum. Many times I would came to check out the latest projects, I wouldn?t post any comments because I feared that I might be asked why I hadn?t yet contributed. To be totally honest I guess I just wasn?t ready to try and explain about a disease that I had yet still not learned very much about.

I?m a typical Aussie male, get a headache, running nose and toss in a sneeze or two and my world is coming to an end, tell me to go see the Doctor and I bravely state that it would be a waste of time because there is nothing wrong with me.

Mickey357 ? I thank you for your comments ? I have a little way to go yet before I?ll have to consider a possible operation or radiation treatment. And when that time comes there are a number of pros and cons to consider, so that bridge will be crossed when we come to it.

Once again all thanks for the good wishes, I feel a lot better for having let you all know of my plight. Now its time for you all to get back doing what you do best, Intarsia ? because when I get going, I?m going to be asking many questions and calling on your expertise.
Cheers all.
Kevy.

[wombatie]

G'day Kevy, I'm so sorry to hear that you are not well but very glad that you took that first step in seeing a doctor, (men, why don't they like going to see doctors.  hmmmm) The people here are all friends we don't judge people just because they haven't scrolled in a while, if you just want to tell a joke thats fine by us, we all like to laugh, a few of us more than we should.    LOL  Laughter is a good tonic.  So stick around have some fun and learn a bit on the way.  Good luck with the treatment.

Marg  (((HUGS)))

[Gabby]

 I feel a lot better for having let you all know of my plight. Now its time for you all to get back doing what you do best, Intarsia ? because when I get going, I?m going to be asking many questions and calling on your expertise.
Cheers all.
Kevy.


[/quote]

Kevy I can attest from first hand experience that what this fine family of total strangers are best at is giving of themselves to one another. The sawdust is just the excuse for us all to get together and share life. I'm a little north of 70 and nearly didn't make that number. And everyone here was pulling for me, so enjoy your brothers and sisters from around the world. When folks ask me how I'm doing and whether it's a good day or not I usually say "I'm still vertical and taking nourishment" sure beats looking at the bottom of the grass!
Have a g'day Mate,

Gabby

[Erewhon]

Thanks Gabby - over the least couple of days I've come to realise that after seeing what happened in Boston my problems are so very few. And at my age I have finally come to realise that I know nothing about pain and suffering. My thoughts go out to all who have suffered as I now realise just how lucky I and mine truly are here where I live.