Ya Did Good, Mich!

mmhere - Thank you so much for letting us know about Mich's passing. My thoughts are with you and I hope, somehow, you are able to find a way to at least partically fill the empty spot in your heart that was reserved for one of the nicest people I've ever 'virtually' met. Mich will be sorely missed.

Warmly,
Marganne

iluvanimals - Gerard,
Ditto.

Love,
Susan

honeybear - To Gerard, I am so sorry to hear of Mich's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope with time the pain will ease, although I know in my own experience there are always days where the pain just lingers.

take care

Jennylee

jocemaju - Gerard,
Thank you for having let us know. Mich was surely one of the most appreciated "voices" among us ostomates, I was always waiting for his answers on the board and looking for his name in the chatroom. It must be very hard for you who were close to him. It's a great loss for everybody. I take part in your grief.
Jo.

melissa - Gerard,

I'm really sorry to hear about Mich passing away, you and the family will be in my prayers.

maggienicoll - Gerald, you are in our thoughts and prayers very much at this time.
God bless you
Love from Maggie
xxxxxxx

handbikes - indead mich will be missed,may you find peace with God,inyour time of need.

reresunshine - It is surely with a very heavy heart also that I am deeply saddened to hear of this news of Mich's passing....
He was one of those "virtual" friends who was always there when you needed him, always had a kind word for all of us here, and was a wealth of information for those who needed help the most. He will always be missed by all of us here, and most importantly by Gerard, my heart goes out to you, and all of Mich's family and friends.
May God's blessings and prayer help you through these sad days and bring peace to your heart in knowing that he is without pain and resting in the hands of the Lord....

Sincerely,
Annmarie

Stephh1 - Gerard,
I knew Mich mainly through the chatroom and by reading the archives here. He helped reassure and set my mind at ease about my upcoming surgery. Once he saw me in the chatroom he always asked how I was doing and seemed to genuinely care. I wish that I had been around here longer so that I could have gotten to know Mich better but am still deeply saddened by his passing. My condolences go out to you.

Steph

kevinm - Gerard,

Thankyou for sharing the information about Mich. I was not here long enough to know him well, but I was blessed to have been able to chat with him a few times on the Saturday chats. He always seemed like a very genuine and caring person! He will be missed, and I will keep you in my prayers.

kevinm
Seattle,Washington

Kajyann - To Gerard
Thank you so much for thinking of us,here, in what must be such a dreadful time for you.
I too lost a partner to cancer, and all I can say is if you want to talk in the days weeks months ahead, get in touch.
Mich has helped me so many times - if I can help you now I would be pleased to do so.
Thinking of you
Karen
~~~XXX~~~

HEY MY BUDDY

autodraw - Dear Mich,

Hey Bud -- well, I guess you pulled a fast one on me; I thought I was going to get to pester you a little while longer. (You sure you can't get email up there?) I know you had to go and I wish I could have been with you but that's one trip we all have to make by ourselves one day. I just wish your day hadn't had to come so soon. You were dealt a bad hand but you made the best of it and in doing so, taught me a lot about how to play the game.

Where ever you are I wish you your heart's delight, free from worry and free of bags, caps and irrie kits at last. We'll muddle along down here as best we can but it won't be the same. You save me a seat and I'll get to meet you one day -- not too soon, mind you, lol.

Mich -- I knew you less than a year but I'll remember you a lifetime. You'll always have a place in my thoughts and deep in my heart.

Love Always,
Debra

cribbie - I was so lucky to have met mich twice, i don't think theres much i can add, because you have all said it so beautiful.

TEACHER, MENTOR, CRITIC AND FRIEND

NY Sandy - I am one of those privileged people who only knew Mich within the confines of the "Ostomy" websites and chatrooms. Our common conditions and relatable experiences allowed a sense of intimacy only shared with others who were similarly challenged.

Mich was a constant source of invaluable information. His compassion was never sugar coated or patronizing, but always sincere. He shunned the "RaRa or BooHoo" that sometimes clutters the rooms and boards. He was a mentor to the newbies, especially those who's cancer added a new dimension of fear to dealing with their redirected plumbing. His humor and intelligence was occasionally lost by some, but those of us who had appreciated it for the last 3 or 4yrs, often looked forward to his fresh spin on the sometimes, repeated inquiries of the new members of our "secret society". Questions of intimacy, secrecy and equality, were answered for a member of any age.... 19 to 90!! For a while he was one of our only men, but his comments and responses encouraged others to come out of the "Ostomy Closet"!

He appeared confident and secure in the knowledge that his life was worth living, despite the cards he was dealt. Only those who shared his life really knew him. We were able to get a glimpse of a man who's life, although all too brief, inspired so many during a time when we may have questioned the continuation of our own.

Those of us who live with "holes" not shared by many, now share the hole left in our lives by Mich's absence. A hole that like our ostomies, is both a blessing and an irreplaceable loss. My prayers and blessings to Gerard, his life partner, and all those who shared his life.

He's irreplaceable, and this board will not be the same without him!!

Crip41 - Hear Hear !

hurkaru - Thank you Sandy, you said it so well.

reresunshine - No words are truer spoken.....rest in peace, my friend.....go with the Lord now...and watch over us all down here on earth.....we will surely miss you immensely.....

May the Lord be with you always,
Annmarie

JayBeeR17 - I just now read about Mich and I write this literally with tears in my eyes, grieving for myself and Mich's partner, men I never knew nor ever saw, but felt the strongest bond with for many reasons. Mich, whom I called my faraway friend, you are now far away from us indeed and yet will always be close for I will never forget you and what you meant to me. I speak here only for myself Others have, and will, speak eloquently and movingly. I leave them to it with a heavy heart. Jean.

marie709 - Sandy,very well said. Elaine

sfloodcogecoca - Goodnight, sweet prince

maggienicoll - Thank you Sandy.Your words reflect all our feelings and thoughts.
love from
Maggie

Phyll08 - Dear Sandy,

You have expressed so beautifully what so many of us feel.

Thank you!

Phyllis

Alice - Mich,
I will miss you, my friend. My cat will be wet from my tears shed over you that land on her.

The others said it all too well. Rest in peace! My two cats in Heaven will look after you.

My love and coldolences to your partner.

brodieal - Despite having talked to Mich a few times only, i remember how supportive he was before and after my surgery. I ended up not having an ostomy in the end but that made no difference to the support i got from him, and all of you.
I remember clearly his sense of humour when the chat collapsed one night and we all tried to talk on the microphones on yahoo and Mich kept saying 'It's Meeeeeeeeesh' - it was really funny.
For those of you who knew him better - i send my love and a verse of comfort that i was given when a family member died.

'God saw you getting weary when a cure was not to be so he put his arms around you and whispered 'come to me.'

Cheers Mich xxxx

MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU

Dawnie28 - My thought and prayers so out to his family and friends in this most difficult time. Know that he is in a happier and better place. And that one day you will all get to see him again....

A POEM

Shawnee - There will be a little sun,
After the rain.
Just a bit of light-
to ease the pain.
It's hard when it's time to let go
Of that smiling face we were priviledged to know.
Oh, the way he made us laugh back then!
Will there ever be laughter like that again?
Helpful, kind, supportive and fair-
This was a man who really did care.
He's resting gently now--and feels no pain.
And, we'll all smile with him,
After the rain.

--Shawnee

I adapted this poem in memory of Mich. I originally wrote it as remembrance for a dear friend I lost years ago. To me, it seemed to fit Mich.

Thank you, Mich--for giving us your time and yourself.

What a guy....

kickerrn - Shawnee
That is a beautiful poem! It brought tears to my eyes but a smile to my lips. I love how it acknowledges the sorrow of losing someone while looking forward to enjoying the memory of the person. You are a very talented person to be able to write like that.
Take Care
Barb

jocemaju - Thank you Shawnee. It's a beautiful poem.
Jo

honeybear - Shawnee, that is beautiful, I wish I had the knack of putting pen to paper and making it sound how I feel.

Shawnee - thanks...I had good inspiration

Phyll08 - Just beautiful, Shawnee...thank you!!

Phyllis

zcntrygal - Shawnee....

totally beautiful poem!! Thank you for sharing!

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