Last time Larry communicated with me which was a couple of years ago, he was buying a house, getting married, and moving on with his life. He seemed positive about his future. I think that in the long run that is the goal of most i.e., trying to find a return to some normalcy and put distance between this very scary event in their lives and their future. While I have chosen to stay involved on a daily basis in this disease, certainly I am an anomaly. With the exception of one of the people in the patient stories who we lost to this disease, the rest are alive and well. Some keep in touch, some want this in their rearview mirror.

I am thankful that not everyone feels that way, because it is those who remain to give back to those on the path behind them that make this message board, an in many ways, this foundation a viable entity. Some give back in other ways and at least once a year OCF gets a check...often without a note or anything from them. Others, (one in particular comes to mind) that I have helped with numerous personal phone calls, arranging meetings with doctors at hospitals, and who had 600+ communications with people on this board while they were going through treatment - have never even said thanks, never sent a cent, just disappeared.

Patients and survivors are as variable as any other group in the world. Some need help, some offer it, some give, and some take.