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Bill Hall
I originally joined VR in August 2000 and had my surgery today, seven years ago. So, I was thinking about the forum back when I joined. There was only one forum, so small talk was mixed with serious surgery topics The new posts were listed in a single title line and each reply an indented line beneath. You could select the posting and read its contents, similar to tady. So, you had to skroll up to see previous postings, since there were 50-100 posts/replies each day, even with the much smaller crowd. Hank made many excellent improvements back then. I wrote down the names of the people from back in Sept 2000. They are Janie, Gina, John and Joann, Ben Smith, Bob Gleason, Rain, Francesca, Tammy, Brenda, Alan, Zazzy, Martha, Bill C, Christine, Hank, Alan McFarland, Dick V, Missy, Brad, Rob Thats Me, Bob F, Gail Mann, Dano, Todd W, Rich, Sharon, Jim H, Gerry, Jim M, and Fred. That might be the complete list of members at that time. I am still grateful for the great optimism that I got from this crowd and confidence about the surgery. Now last year, I had a pseudo-aneurysm on the suture line where my aortic valve was replaced with the homograft. I am extremely pleased about the support I got from this newer crowd. I was told by four surgeons that I needed surgery, but ended up with a non-invasive procedure. Rachel Howell was my key supporter, or I would have had that surgery and maybe dead right now. So, I am still planning to go to the reunion this year in Orlando. The first reunion was in San Antonio and I was tempted to go, but it was so soon after my joining. I did attend the second reunion in Scottsdale in April 2001.
Bill
Bill
