Remembering my Dad, Chris Dwyer on his birthday. - CLL Support

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Remembering my Dad, Chris Dwyer on his birthday.

tara_mann profile image
52 Replies

Hi all, thanks to Paula for encouraging me to post here.

In the days following my dads death I found peace in making a playlist of all his favorite songs. Today, on his birthday, I am listening to a few and smiling through the tears. Happy Birthday Dad ❤️

The Commitments - The Dark End of the Street

Dire Straights - Sultans of Swing

Eric Clapton - Layla (acoustic)

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tara_mann profile image
tara_mann
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52 Replies
PaulaS profile image
PaulaSVolunteer

So glad you found a way to post, Tara! :-)

May you continue to be at peace as you enjoy memories of your Dad,

Paula

Justasheet1 profile image
Justasheet1

Tara,

Your father was a great unselfish man of character. He was a menche ( yiddish version). Thank you for allowing us to celebrate and mourn with you.

I miss his wit and knowledge very much.

Jeff

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

I knew he’d have a brilliant taste in music Tara! I loved his sense of humour 😊

He was a special man your lovely dad and we all miss him too.

Best wishes to you,

Newdawn

cllady01 profile image
cllady01Former Volunteer

Tara, thank you and that music soothes my soul, too. Chris was such a special part of our cite--actual he was a rock and he rocked! He is missed more than can be expressed.

Hoping you are doing well.

HopeME profile image
HopeME

We all miss your father Tara. I’ll never forget how he helped me find a capable and experienced CLL specialist after I received incredibly poor advice from my first oncologist. He truly made a difference in this world. Very few people are able to make a positive out of something as negative as cancer but your father did that in spades. He was one of a kind.

Best

Mark

AdrianUK profile image
AdrianUK

Thanks so much for sharing Tara. Your dad is still very much in our thoughts. I for one can never see a Canadian flag like he had as his icon without thinking of him and I didn’t know him for as many years or as well as many did on here.

We all wish you well and aim to carry on his legacy of patiently helping others.

Peggy4 profile image
Peggy4

We all miss him greatly.

Peggy

WinJ3 profile image
WinJ3

Thanks for sharing. Your dad was very special 🙂

GMa27 profile image
GMa27

💕

Very special

J_88 profile image
J_88

He was such a good person. He would help me feel better every time i was down. He was truly a great person to have on this site. Also we were both Canadian so i feel we bonded even more because of that. He is still here with us all. He will be missed by us all.

Thanks Tara. I so looked forward to his photography. Such an exquisite eye for details. I’ve never met such a brilliant man. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. He found answers for so many of us. I love his taste in music also. Thanks for sharing and you are welcome here anytime. Happy Birthday Chris🎉🎊

Mystic75 profile image
Mystic75

Tara,

Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to let you know how much your father meant to all of us. We miss him a lot. It's not unusual for someone to post just to say how much they miss Chris. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you.

Music is a wonderful way to celebrate your father. He once told me that a favorite song of his was 'Into the Mystic' by Van Morrison. I now call it Chris' song.

All the best to you, Tara, especially on this special day.

💕💕💕

Nathalie99 profile image
Nathalie99

Hi Tara,

My husband and I sent you a card last Spring and you are still very much in our thoughts.

Chris is in our hearts and we often think about him and miss him too.

Sending lots of support and love on this special day....

We will play that music too.

J & N

thompsonellen profile image
thompsonellen

Tara,

My thoughts and virtual support are with you on your Dad's birthday. He was a hero on this forum, and I'm so sorry you need to listen to that music without him.

Ironj profile image
Ironj

Thank you for sharing your dad’s Birthday with all of us. I feel blessed to have known your dad online for about a year. Nice to meet you , John

elkk profile image
elkk

Thoughts are with you on this special day-your dads birthday, may you cherish all the fond memories you have of him on this day and always ❤️ he will forever be missed

with love

elkk au 💕

dmmck profile image
dmmck

Please know that your dad made a difference in many lives.

SheySheySwimmer profile image
SheySheySwimmer

Tara, your father was a special selfless man. I'm forever greatful for the knowledge and information from your fathers posts and messages.

DisneyMom profile image
DisneyMom

I didn't know your dad, I joined this group around the same time of his passing. But I have found great comfort reading his heartfelt responses on so many posts.

I can certainly relate to your loss, My dad passed 3 years ago and I think of him every single day. I actually made a playlist of songs and bands that he liked so I could listen when I'm missing him. I love your dad's taste in music!

Stay strong, there are so many people that loved and respected your dad.

Happy heavenly birthday, Chris.

Carol 🇨🇦

Oleboyredw-uk profile image
Oleboyredw-uk

I knew Chris, only through this forum and only for my second life (my CLL life), however in that seven years he has been inspirational. His absence from posting is very noticeable, he is missed here.

I could not have picked better music, is the list longer?

Thinking of you and of Chris,

best, rob

gingerlovesal profile image
gingerlovesal

Committed to making the world better for all who have this disease—you should be proud of his time on earth. He used it robustly in the service of science and others! Thank you!

Bubnojay profile image
Bubnojay

Sending you a warm hug Tara, with a thank you for sharing your love of Chris with us.

My avatar the little cardinal is my lasting memorial to him as Chris shared him with me, and was going to take a snap of him when he appeared this Spring.

Admiration and huge respect do not begin to convey the love and esteem we hold him in, as despite his own health he had time for us all and our problems.

A little part of his huge heart and mind live on in all here who were privileged to know our cyber friend.

He was so proud of you, rightly so, I hope your life, though missing your Dad is the happy one he wished for you and yours.

Bubnjay1

1ofakind profile image
1ofakind

How appropriate to celebrate his birthday since he was a man who helped so many and his posts with his vast information , and encouraging and supportive advice,

continue to live on after him.

Chris set the example, for many of us ,enabling us to cope with this disease.He always responded quickly , accurately and with a sense of humor..

I know I miss him ,as do so many others.

Take care of yourself,and enjoy

all the good times , and hold on to the lovely memories of your Dad , who left a legacy!

Be Well!

Name-1 profile image
Name-1

Dear Tara,

Your DAD was a special and selfless man.Wonderful friend who helped me a lot.

I will never forget him!

Then you,Tara,for sharing with us the memory on Chris on his birthday.

With love and gratitude!

Olga

TheFlyer profile image
TheFlyer

Always worth reading what your Dad had to say missed by many.

Jules the flyer

JigFettler profile image
JigFettlerVolunteer

Hi Tara!

Thank you, it's a privilege to share this moment with you.

As a relative newbie I personal messaged your father, just to thank him for his posts and responses to posts. On impulse. I was unaware how ill he was. I still had a lovely response from him, just 5 days before he died. What a shock. He is sorely missed.

This amazing Forum, in large part thrives due to the legacy your father has left us all who live with CLL.

I send you heartfelt best wishes.

Jig

BeckyLUSA profile image
BeckyLUSA

Thank your for posting. Great taste in music! He was such a great man and is dearly missed.

BeckyL USA

Wroxham profile image
Wroxham

He was so loved by all on this forum and I'm sure many others too.

Love and miss him still.

Thanks for posting Tara.

Sue

kasren profile image
kasren

May his memory be a blessing to you. He had great taste in music and art, and I, like others here, found wisdom and comfort from his posts. Karen

annmcgowan profile image
annmcgowan

Hi your dad was a very special man. He helped many people repeatedly on this site, including me. May he rest in peace.

You must have many wonderful memories of him.

Thank you for sharing his taste in music with us, excellent, like him.

Ann

Elliot43 profile image
Elliot43

Chris obviously had a great taste in music. All my favourites too.

Vintage oldies... the best...like me and Chris!!

Rock on Chris.

Sheila in Oz

SeymourB profile image
SeymourB

Happy Birthday, Chris! I miss ya, man! Thanks again, Tara! I know it's hard. We love you, too!

Jomary8505 profile image
Jomary8505

Thank you for posting. Wishing you peace and happy memories of your amazing dad. He was brave, knowledgeable , and there to assist anyone who need information. I always knew that should I ever need advice, he would always be there to point me in the right direction. Happy Birthday, Chris!

tekusa profile image
tekusa

Happy Birthday Chris! You were a guiding light for us all! I love your song choices.... Tara my parents are still alive, but my Father in Law touched my heart.... When I hear his favorite performer, George Jones, I reminisce fondly..... Best wishes to you!

Big_Dee profile image
Big_Dee

Hello tara_mann

Your father is greatly missed. He was a beacon of light which drove many of us to seek information on CLL and help ourselves. Your father was younger than me so I am not familiar with his choice of music, but if it inspired him, I will research and listen to same.

noeagaman profile image
noeagaman

Tara,

Thank you so much for helping us remember your wonderful dad in these songs! Your dad was such a selfless man who wanted to help people who were afflicted with the same cancer that he suffered with for so long. He helped us all up until his last days. He was an angle on earth and I am sure that he now looks down on you with love.

Happy angle birthday Chris. May your spirit live on in all of us.

Chris

BettinaB profile image
BettinaB

Hello Tara,

Thank you for reaching out to us. Your message speaks to me as a daughter (of an increasingly frail father) and as a wife (my husband has CLL, but is thankfully still in W &W). I was always looking forward to Chris's photography, to his sage advice, and to his amazingly efficient "hunter-gatherer-mode" (which is the term he used to refer to his uncanny ability to unearth the very latest CLL research, and then explain it in simple terms.) I think of him often. Love and peace to you both. I'm sure he's watching over you.

Bettina (from Germany)

lankisterguy profile image
lankisterguyVolunteer

Dear Tara,

-

Your father and I were friends and kindred spirits online. We met in person a few times, usually at the Niagara Falls CLL conferences.

-

I recall when he told us all that his combination of CLL and lung fungus was untreatable since the only available treatments would make one or the other fatal. I sent him a quote we both exchanged comments about, back and forth:

poets.org/poem/do-not-go-ge...

literarydevices.net/do-not-...

-

He followed that advice and lived the next 2+ years defying the doctors that predicted a much shorter survival, but he did it in his own way- helping hundreds of other CLL patients.

-

He is truly a mensch, and we all should aspire to follow his example.

-

Len

Sojomama13 profile image
Sojomama13

Tara,

Your Dad was so incredibly helpful when I was first diagnosed, I Know that I am not the only one. I was so frightened after my diagnosis. He was an unending source of knowledge. In those early days, he gave me so much information to help guide me to my CLL Specialist, for that I shall be eternally grateful.

The first guitar solo I ever Learned was the Sultan of Swing, not surprised Chris would have such excellent taste in music. (If possible, this makes me love him more!)

Happy Heavenly Birthday Chris! Hugs to you Tara.

Sandy

leilei profile image
leilei

Chris is a hero with wisdom for life, such calmness when he is in critical time for his own, but still helping, comforting others. “Get me through December”, he posted the song, he is strong but soft hearted. Miss him!

JustAGuy profile image
JustAGuy

Hi Tara, most of us didn't know your father personally. We really only knew this one dimension of his life. I am among the hundreds or thousands that he helped by his copious information and wealth of knowledge. I wish I had the depth of understanding of my disease that he had. As someone already posted, he found a way to change a bad situation into something positive. That in itself is somewhat of a life lesson. No matter what bad situation we are in, can we use it to do something good, and help someone else? About a year ago I noticed something he wrote and realized how sick he was. I messaged him privately to thank him for the help he was rendering to others by means of this site. I can only hope that I can touch so many peoples lives as he did. Thank you for sharing him.

Smakwater profile image
Smakwater

Good to hear from you Tara,

I appreciate Chris's gracious contribution to the forum providing credible knowledge, and even more, I am grateful for his invitation to the personal relationship with him that inspired a greater hope living with CLL.

This gave me a smile for all Day! Happy birthday to Chris.

JM

delseyn profile image
delseyn

Your Dad was one in a million Tara, a truly great guy. Big hug to you.

Miller1960 profile image
Miller1960

Thank you for posting and sharing your dads birthday. He helped me make some difficult decisions and become more educated about my disease. He is truly missed by the forum.

Miller1960

Emerfly profile image
Emerfly

Dear Tara , play his music , smile, cry, and focus on the wonderful legacy your dad left behind for you. He was indeed one of a kind and everyone on this site benefitted from his wisdom , compassion and wit. He also had great taste in music . I will remember him now on his birthday xx Emer

sumok profile image
sumok

❤️ 🎶 🎂

thank you Tara!

bayside64 profile image
bayside64

May his memory be for a blessing. So thoughtful of you to share his birthday with us.

edelweiss profile image
edelweiss

Hi Tara

Your Dad continues to loom large in our CLL world and his words of wisdom live on and continue to educate and support so many. I cut out a picture that was in Cure magazine of you and your Dad receiving an award. It’s on my refrigerator and I see it every morning and remember him. It is so obvious in the photo that he loved you alot. Wishing you the best. Thanks for posting.

CC

Davemich profile image
Davemich

Thank you for sharing and keeping his beautiful memories alive ♥️♥️♥️ He was a very special person who is missed immensely ♥️♥️♥️

GrapeGrower1 profile image
GrapeGrower1

I miss him as well. He helped me so much through my adjustment phase. He always had something encouraging to say. Nice hearing from you.

ivy39 profile image
ivy39

Thank you, Tara. I was lucky to have known your Dad personally and benefitted greatly from his advice and encouragement. He left us far too soon.

Ernest2 profile image
Ernest2

Dear Tara,

Great to hear from you.

I was never lucky enough to meet your Dad in person,

but I am totally lost for words in trying to describe the phenomenal help he gave to fellow patients (and probably lots of others I guess).

He always knew just he right way to get people focused on the important issue, and educate and guide them through it all.

The sheer volume and quality of his help is just staggering.

I think he will remain a legend for a very long time.

Thank-you so much for sharing your post.

Best wishes,

Ernest

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