What a Great guy Aussie Neil is!

[andrewschorr]

I had a great chat on the phone with Aussie Neil the other day. What fun to hear a voice to go with the words here!

[PaulaS Volunteer]

I think lots of us agree with you, Andrew, even though we've never met Neil. Maybe you can record a chat with him, for sharing with us all...

[Kwenda]

Here Here, I'll support that comment..

Perhaps we need a Skype conference with the Australian members to be arranged.?

Dick

[Peggy4]

Agree. We're lucky to have him. I've only been part of the club For 5 weeks but feel I know everyone. I wonder if we all look as we imagine each other!

[Newdawn Administrator]

Oh the Aussie Neil I've come to know will cringe at these comments because he dislikes the limelight and praise. But I've witnessed the value of good admin by seeing the damage bad or non existent admin can do on other sites.

Easy to forget Neil is a CLL'er like the rest of us with his good and very bad days.

Sorry mate, time to take the praise without cringing!

Not sure he'll thank you for this Andrew but we do. We never forget what we have in this site and equal praise to Nick who battles on in the background raising the profile and fighting the fight for us all.

Newdawn

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Nice to chat with you too Andrew and thanks for making the time to give me a call about what we can do for CLL patients the world over, when Australia hosts iWCLL this September and the world's CLL expertise travels Down Under. I of course I know how you sound , but congratulations on understanding my 'Strine'. Perhaps a future HU upgrade will offer us voice/video PMs??

I'll have to admit Newdawn (as always) got it right - I was tempted to use my Admin powers to remove irrelevant content . (Nick could have done it too!) But thanks for your appreciation and that goes for all the other respondents as well.

Seriously, with CLL as you can readily attest, we do have the time to learn about our condition and help others. I'm only one part of this international community and what makes it a rich and rewarding place to visit is the many volunteers that share their life with CLL and help others through the rough patches. Aussies are known for calling a spade a spade, (perhaps supported with a few choice expletives), and I know I can be rather blunt (or to put a better spin on it 'clinical') in my replies. So I really appreciate the balancing input of others that have the gift of both empathy and the skills to use words so to so powerfully identify with members that are hurting so they know that they are not alone. Special mention has to go here to Newdawn, who has empathy 'in spades' and a rare gift of expressing that empathy.

I can only share with some degree of empathy what I've also experienced and with CLL being so heterogeneous, there's a wide range of challenging experiences and different perspectives on how to get through them or come to terms with permanent changes in our health. So a thank you from me for everyone who takes the time to enrich the lives of other community members, even if it is only to click on 'Like' to signify others that have put into words what you'd like to say. I particularly appreciate those that take the time to report questionable posts to Nick and me so that we can keep this community safe for everyone.

This is OUR community that we've ALL worked to make a safe haven in our uncertain world with CLL.

Neil

[wroxham-gb]

You can certainly rely on Neil. Agree with everything that has been said.

Sue

[Bubnojay]

What makes a community like this thrive ? Lets see:

Someone has to start it all up.........Thanks Nick

Excellent and caring administrator............Thanks Neil

Someone with writing skill who displays strong empathy......Thanks Newdawn

People who supply the technical stuff........Thanks Chris especially, and others too numerous to mention.

The regulars (you know who you are) without whom this site would not work..Thank you.

The people who share their lives, their trials and tribulations with us.... A huge thank you.

This is not to take away praise from Neil but to add a little thanks to all the people that make this community the special place that it obviously is.

Bubnjay1

[PE1234 in reply to Bubnojay]

Lovely sentiment my friend .

B

[sun_flower]

I echo all the above this site is my sun on a dull day so a massive thanks to everyone for taking the time to talk, never alone it's a great feeling. X

[prosecco1]

I too have to agree with everything that's being said, I really appreciate all the support I've had from everyone one this site since I've joined.

Elle

[jangreen]

Hi I think we all know that without Neil this site would be very much poorer. Best wishes

[Cammie]

Good on you cobber!

Agree with all that has been said!

It's also good to see how CLLers develop as they gain knowledge going from first diagnosed and the worry and stress this displays through to the knowledgeable and experienced patients who give advice based upon personal experiences.

Whilst non of us wished to join this club it has become a vital service for newly diagnosed and experienced members alike.

Without Neil and everyone who contributes this would be a damp squib not a highly regarded library of opinions that help us all.

Congratulations to us all!

How the Internet has been a positive to the world is reflected in this site and the people who are members.

[PE1234]

I ditto everything that has been written .Before I joined this site I felt very much alone and frightened may ia add .

Thanks to Neil Newdawn Paula and many more I now feel more at ease with the whole situation.

To me the people on this site are like very special friends .

B

[saintjohn]

Top Bloke no need to say more !!!!

[Rex12]

Hi Neil,

Wondering about your comment ....Australia hosts iWCLL.... Is this a conference for the medicos? Tks L

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to Rex12]

Rex12, the iWCLL currently doesn't have any patient related program activities and we're working with them to arrange an associated event close to the Sydney Hilton, most likely on the 6th September. We actually 'booked' a venue in the Hilton for our planned patient education sessions, but someone trumped us before we were able to confirm the date. Stay tuned...

Neil

[Ernest2]

Hear, Hear !

I really don't know how he manages to do it all so well.

And thank you all for all your great posts

Sounds a really good choice of venue for iwCLL. Wouldn't it be great if we could all go?

Best Wishes to All,

Ernest

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

Wish We could all join you down under for IWCLL, are you well enough to attend? you should have loads of news to share ..

Well done mate, you put in so much effort it does not go unnoticed by all of us the like button seems to be working, You make administrating so very easy for when it comes to my time on the clock

Thank you everyone who makes this community what it is. last month we hit two major thresholds: 2000+ members and 100,000+ visited in June to share in the community's information and support

Best wishes.

Nick

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Thanks Nick for your appreciation and to everyone else that has commented or been giving the 'Like' buttons a work out!

I'm well enough to attend the iWCLL patient day we are planning, but the real question is whether I'll be well after attending. I do hope to get there with masks and plenty of alcohol gel hand wash .

I note that we are well on the way to having 2,100 members and interesting posts from many new members continue to spark some very interesting discussions.

Neil

[Quarry]

Agree with all above....Neil you are an endless source of great info and photos!

And I, for once, enjoyed the first Test and am looking forward to the second!

[Ednarose]

I whole heartedly agree with everything that has been said, this site is a lifeline, I read it every day, and have posted just a couple of times, but your kind and caring informative answers to the newly diagnosed, those on W & W, and all the rest of us looking for ongoing answers are greatly appreciated. Well done to all of you.

[DebinOzinLondon]

He sure is!

[aussiejo]

I agree with all that has been said. A big thank you to Aussie Neil and all the other very valued regulars. With my limited knowledge and education this site, the administrators, have really helped to replace fear of the unknown with useful, first hand facts.

[DebLea]

I totally agree with all of the comments above. This site was a godsend to me when I first joined, I was given so much support when I was in a really bad place, and that help made me feel like I had 'come home' to a place where everyone understood how and why I was feeling as I was. In short, this is a wonderful family to be a part of, and I thank all of you, especially all of those abovementioned who keep our family together.

[Peggy4]

Again, completely agree. I also think it's important that us newer members of the site keep sharing our experiences even if we are fortunate enough to travel a 'lucky' road ahead. That helped me to realise that everyone's experience with CLL is different. The help and advice is there when/if we need it but there are some really good stories too that bring some hope at a time when we feel hopeless and frightened. Best wishes. Peggy.

[Hidden]

AussieNeil was nothing but helpful and knowledgeable when I joined this group. Between him, NewDawn and CLLcanada I think they have seen it all.

But but but AussieNeil, you never called me or took my phone calls :)))

Scott USA/Maine