This email was sent to bets before Tarzan passed
away.
He knew that his time here was short, and he wanted all of his Family Chat
friends
to know how much we've meant to him over the years.
This is an e-mail I am sending to all of my IRC friends. I guess as you
all may know my health has not been very good for the past few years and
I have been in and out of the hospital many many times. The Dr's have removed
all most all of my infected lungs because they collapse a lot. Recently
I got ahold of a bad staff infection that turned into a fungal infection
which is taking over my body. The Dr's talked with me and my wife on Tuesday
and informed us that they have done everything they can passably do surgically
and medically to fix my condition and seems the more they do the worse I
get so basically they are going to have to send me home to let nature take
its course and God to call me to my new home where I can finally rest and
and not have to fight everyday to breath and the best of all be happy. The
Dr's are not giving an exact time frame they just say it could be 6 days
6 months 6 years or 60 years it's all in how my lungs do. After a resent
CT scan it shows that my right lung has stopped working completely and my
left lung which is cut down too less then half is as bad if not worse then
my right lung was. And may collapse at any time. The Dr's will still continue
to care for me as I get worse but they are saying I wont last too much longer
the way I am. I know this is something none of us want to hear but we all
know that God has a better place for us when we leave this earth. I am sending
this email out now so that I know that all my irc family knows I love you
all very dearly and wish I had met you all In person but knowing you all
online was the best thing in the world to me. I AM NOT SAYING GOODBYE I
am just letting everyone know my situation and this way I had to chance
to express my true feelings about all of my IRC friends before that chance
passes me by. I am unable to be online like I used to be because of my condition
and weekness but I will try to be as much as I can as my health allows me
to and I am so glad that God gave me this chance to tell everyone how much
I appreciate all the prayers and love everyone has given to me and the 2nd
family I have will always know that Tarzan was there jungle man and always
care for them with all his heart. So for now we can wish for the best but
also expect the worst. THANKS ALL LOVE TARZAN
- ~ -
Over the many years I have spent in Family Chat, Tarzan was probably one
of the biggest PAINS I've ever met! He and I bickered about everything from
the weather to the webpages. If we had nothing to bicker about, we'd make
something up! To put it briefly... we loved eachother.
No matter how sick Wade was, he always had the time to help me or Sprint
with the Bots. If he thought I was upset over something, my phone would
ring and he'd be right there to comfort me. At the end, he was on a breathing
machine and couldn't really talk. But if the nurse removed it for even 5
minutes, he would call.
He was a special man. Through all of his suffering, he never lost his sense
of humor. The week before he passed on, he phoned me. His voice was raspy
and weak. He told me that I probably wouldn't be speaking to him again.
We were both in tears. We told eachother how much our mutual friendship
had meant, but there was no 'good-bye'. And then he said... just remember
Bets, I ain't leaving ya!! I'll be around to pester you and everybody in
Family Chat!
I know you are still here Tarzan... and you will remain here in the hearts
of many.
Your dumb blonde, Bets
- ~ -
What I will remember most about Tarzan was his spontaneous nature.
He was a straight-talker for sure - there was no 'side' to him, no airs
and graces - he told it as he saw it, and I admire him for that.
Underneath that tough exterior was a heart of gold - if ever he felt (or found out) that something he had said had caused even the mildest degree of hurt or misunderstanding he would be there as fast as he could to put matters right. In channel he loved to chat, loved to make people laugh, loved to meet new people and was proud to keep our channel safe by keeping the bad ones at bay.
Those who knew Tarzan couldn't help but admire him - the way he faced his health battles and fought on to the end was an inspiration.
To show the kind of person he was - I recall a few months back when he truly thought he would not be coming back out of hospital alive. He messaged me and told me he was at peace and prepared to meet his maker, that he had tried to right all his wrongs and written a final goodbye for his friends on Undernet because he didn't want to be one of those who had just 'disappeared' without having had the chance to let everybody know what they meant to him - and that he was going to a better place and happy about it.
Nearly two weeks later he messaged me again - to apologise!
Apologise for what?
He was upset that he had caused me any worry! He actually
apologised because he had held on longer than he had expected and he felt
bad that he had worried me!
That was Tarzan for you - always thinking of others and how his actions might
have unintentionally upset them. Of course I told him in no uncertain terms
that he had nothing to be sorry for and I (and all his friends and family)
couldn't have been happier to see that he had come out of hospital and was
back chatting with us all!
We chatted a few times towards the end and it was his wish
that everyone in FC would know that he loved and cared for them and that he
wished them well in their lives. His thoughts are in the email sent to Bets,
which is printed on this page.
In our chats he just wanted you all to know that you meant so much to him,
that he had made his peace with God and was ready to leave the pain and suffering
behind - that he wanted you to have good lives and not feel sad for him,
because he was headed for better days.
God bless Tarzan, enjoy the rewards you have earned - you made a difference
to more people than you can imagine :-)
Hugs
JJ
