So today is the 2 year anniversary of my brothers death

Heineken Helen

thanks for telling us about Joe you had me in tears too... I miss him and I never even met the guy :oops: . Seems he left a fantastic legacy and I'm sure he lives on in some way through everybody he's touched.

pretext

That was beautiful, as I'm sure your brother was, and those of you who still go on are. Thanks for taking the time out to share your lives.

petrocs

I'm glad you all had a chance to read about Joe. Thank you for sharing your feelings about my story.

Lots of Love

Micahel

Who Princess

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your brother. He sounds as if he was a very fine man. You are paying tribute to his life in a great way by telling his story and by spreading the word about organ donations.

Your family's experience has inspired me to talk with my husband about being organ donors and I hope it's helped other people to consider it who may never have even thought about that possibility.

pjfan31

What an awful story and I am terribly sorry for your loss.

This is why I ticked all the boxes when I recently renewed my license. But I must say, I don't like the idea of my skin and eyes going. But as someone quite rightly pointed out, that I won't need them where I'm going but someone here does.

Take care mate.

ZiggyStar

My drivers licence says I'm an organ donor but in Australia (not sure about other countries), that doesn't mean shit as your next of kin has the final say --- and I've never really talked to them about it properly. I used to think "do I really want to be cut up when I die?" What a selfish fucking thought after reading your posts! In hindsight, I honestly can't believe that fucking thought went through my head.

Thanks -- You just made a decision for me. I'm now an organ donor....and I'm sitting down with my family tomorrow to let them know.

Fifthelement

petrocs wrote:

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

Petrocs, want to tell us about your brother?

Joe was a great brother, son, and an amazing father and husband. He was the person who most influenced and shaped my life as it is today. Joe was ten years older than me. I was born in 1974 and from an early age I can remember my brother sitting me on the bed in his room and him playing me songs from the Beatles, Stones, Queen, Cheap Trick, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Zep, etc. We grew up 10 years apart but we were the best of friends in every way.
He was always the first to pick me up when I fell and always the last one to leave me when I was done crying. He was...my angel. Joe never yelled at me, he never told me I couldnt do anything, he never discouraged me from being me. Joe loved me for who I was.
Joe loved life. He was the town father to all the kids. We called him Griswold because he had the most lights on the block during Christmas and during Halloween he was the one who had the most decorations..he loved making people smile. No matter HIS mood..as long as you were smiling he was happy. Joe loved his children above all. Megan is now 14 and Joey is now 16. Both are growing up to be spitting images of their father...God I see Joe in Joey more and more every day. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Joe and I spent most of the last 25 years going to concerts. We saw U2 in 87 at JFK when Bono asked, "Does anyone want to play my guitar? Bruce Spingsteen..do you wanna play me guitar?" before breaking into Stand By Me (A moment that still gives me chills), We saw the Amnesty Internation concert, where Joe stuffed me full of beers to sneak in cause..they would never search a 10 year old..right Joe? and many more that are too many to mention.
Then it was my turn to turn Joe on to music...Pearl Jam, Oasis, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Black Crowes to name a few...it was almost like a rebirth for Joe musically...Pearl Jam most of all. We would spend the next 15 years touring around the country seeing the boys from Seattle. We never missed a tour. Joe always paid.
Fast forward to 2004. Joe is diagnosed with Hepatits C. Joes liver is growing worse everyday. Prognosis is that he will need a liver trasnplant at some point. The family starts to research, we visit different hospitals, doctors, anyone who would talk to us. We knew it was going to be tough. We knew it was going to test our wills...and it did. Joe always stayed positive and made everyone feel that no matter what everything would be the way he wanted it..always the positive one.
Financially Joe and Dianne were taking a hit. Joe couldnt work because of his condition, social security wasnt enough, Dianne had to work, take care of Joe and take care of the kids..the family pitched it. I could see the whole thing taking a toll on Joe. I knew what to do. I bought tickets for the U2's Vertigo tour at the Meadowlands in NJ..Joe was sick that day, like everyday anymore, but he wanted to go. Once the lights went down the light in Joes eyes came to life..the emotion of the moment got the best of him and he started to cry. He turned to me and said he loved me.
Over the next year I wanted to repay him for all the shows he had taken me to. We went to see all the bands he loved..Bob Dylan, Coldplay, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead. Then came Oasis at MSG. I drove down to pick Joey and Joe up to go. I got there and Joe was in bed. He was too weak to go. To see him this way broke me. I said none of us would go. He got angry. He sat up and told me,"You take my son and you get out of here..go!" I left with Joey and we went to the show. We left the empty seat open.
Joe began to get worse..the trip to the hosptial went from a day to a week. We all would wait..pray..that Joe would be added to the donors list, get to the top, get a liver and be better. Through it all Joe would try and stay himself..making the nurses laugh, keeping his family in check, all the while knowing what he was facing. Night after night one of us would sleep in that hospital..next to Joe. Waiting for an answer. Time after time Joe would get better to be discharged and we would take him home.
In the spring of 2006 I got a call from Joe, "Bro..PJ..Camden..we're there!" I said, "absolutely..and its on me" fast forward to night 2..encore 1..Black followed by Crazy Mary followed by Alive..my brother hands raised to the sky singing every beautiful word..then..out of nowhere...I heard him say, "Thank you Eddie" I knew right then that Joe knew he would never see them again. On February 11th, 2007 after waiting almost 3 years and finally making it to the top of the donor list, Joe passed away waiting for a donor to be found. The world that day became a whole lot darker. But we carry on..in memory of Joe..to make a difference like he did. So we fight and we educate people about organ donation and we remember..we remember Joe..and I know..Joes up there watching..and he's at every concert..and he doesnt have to pay...so I say to him now.."Can you see me now/I am myself/Like you somehow/I'll ride the wave/Where it takes me/I'll hold the pain/Release Me" RIP my dear sweet brother.

Thank you Michael for sharing your story. I too had a good cry and played Release for both of you. As others have said in this thread: give blood/plasma, sing up to be a bone marrow and/or an organ donor --- the gift of life is priceless.

petrocs

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

Stone Is God

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

Your brother would be proud. The pain will always be there but taking it and doing something good will help you heal faster.

Heineken Helen

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

$10,000??????????? :shock: :shock: :shock: WOW, that's absolutely fantastic. I really love how you're honouring him... fantastic job. By the way, you wrote really nicely and I was wondering if you ever thought about writing a book about him?

chime

Thanks for sharing a little about Joe with us ... and congrats on the fund raising.

petrocs

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

$10,000??????????? :shock: :shock: :shock: WOW, that's absolutely fantastic. I really love how you're honouring him... fantastic job. By the way, you wrote really nicely and I was wondering if you ever thought about writing a book about him?

Thanks...I never thought about it!..not sure if anyone would much care to read a story about us but it is something I would do if the interest was there...Joe is a unique person...I'm sure I could come up with a lot of stories

Fighting Hellfish

tough day, for sure. hang in there

Heineken Helen

petrocs wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

$10,000??????????? :shock: :shock: :shock: WOW, that's absolutely fantastic. I really love how you're honouring him... fantastic job. By the way, you wrote really nicely and I was wondering if you ever thought about writing a book about him?

Thanks...I never thought about it!..not sure if anyone would much care to read a story about us but it is something I would do if the interest was there...Joe is a unique person...I'm sure I could come up with a lot of stories

I'd read it I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, and I'm certainly not sentimental but you did make me cry. Why don't ya just start by writing a few of the stories and then see if you can get them to gel together or make anything of it... at the very least it might do YOU some good just writing about all the great memories you have of him

chime

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

$10,000??????????? :shock: :shock: :shock: WOW, that's absolutely fantastic. I really love how you're honouring him... fantastic job. By the way, you wrote really nicely and I was wondering if you ever thought about writing a book about him?

Thanks...I never thought about it!..not sure if anyone would much care to read a story about us but it is something I would do if the interest was there...Joe is a unique person...I'm sure I could come up with a lot of stories

I'd read it I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, and I'm certainly not sentimental but you did make me cry. Why don't ya just start by writing a few of the stories and then see if you can get them to gel together or make anything of it... at the very least it might do YOU some good just writing about all the great memories you have of him

... and would be a wonderful gift to give his kids

Heineken Helen

Chime wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

Thanks...I never thought about it!..not sure if anyone would much care to read a story about us but it is something I would do if the interest was there...Joe is a unique person...I'm sure I could come up with a lot of stories

I'd read it I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, and I'm certainly not sentimental but you did make me cry. Why don't ya just start by writing a few of the stories and then see if you can get them to gel together or make anything of it... at the very least it might do YOU some good just writing about all the great memories you have of him

... and would be a wonderful gift to give his kids

Ooohh absolutely and a book could be around forever

Phantom Pain

Damn dude....tryin to make a brotha cry :(

Awesome story about your brother

I am heading to the bar tonight..I will play RELEASE in his honor

petrocs

Heineken Helen wrote:

Chime wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

I'd read it I really enjoyed reading what you wrote, and I'm certainly not sentimental but you did make me cry. Why don't ya just start by writing a few of the stories and then see if you can get them to gel together or make anything of it... at the very least it might do YOU some good just writing about all the great memories you have of him

... and would be a wonderful gift to give his kids

Ooohh absolutely and a book could be around forever

OK..I'll do it..25 years of stories could make a good book...I'll give you all an advanced copy

Heineken Helen

petrocs wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

Chime wrote:

... and would be a wonderful gift to give his kids

Ooohh absolutely and a book could be around forever

OK..I'll do it..25 years of stories could make a good book...I'll give you all an advanced copy

YAY... EXCELLENT! How about I PAY for the copy and the proceeds go into the fundraising?

fuckin hell, I'm FULL of ideas today

FoxyMop

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

Thank you for sharing your stories about Joe, I read through twice in tears. Again, what an honor you give to your brother. Like someone (Helen, I think?) posted.. I miss him and I didn't even know him.

Regarding the fundraising, sending you a PM

petrocs

FoxyMop wrote:

petrocs wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know my family and I held a benefit in Joes honor last Sunday to help build the Gift of Life Family Home (http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/) and we raised $10,000! We will be having further benefits in the future and hopefully if anyone from Wishlist or Ten Club reads this we would love to get the band involved.

Thank you for sharing your stories about Joe, I read through twice in tears. Again, what an honor you give to your brother. Like someone (Helen, I think?) posted.. I miss him and I didn't even know him.

Regarding the fundraising, sending you a PM

Yay! Thank you Foxy!

Also...anyone on facebook? add me as a friend! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=896720312&ref=profile

Gift of Life has a cause page http://apps.facebook.com/causes/110023/76581

Helen...I thought you were already my friend on facebook?

Heineken Helen

petrocs wrote:

Yay! Thank you Foxy!

Also...anyone on facebook? add me as a friend! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=896720312&ref=profile

Gift of Life has a cause page http://apps.facebook.com/causes/110023/76581

Helen...I thought you were already my friend on facebook?

:oops: so did I... but I never delete friends so I dunno how we're no longer friends :?:

sent ya a request anyway.

petrocs

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

Yay! Thank you Foxy!

Also...anyone on facebook? add me as a friend! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=896720312&ref=profile

Gift of Life has a cause page http://apps.facebook.com/causes/110023/76581

Helen...I thought you were already my friend on facebook?

:oops: so did I... but I never delete friends so I dunno how we're no longer friends :?:

sent ya a request anyway.

Well i certainly didnt delete you...weird!

Lizard

Meant to post yesterday but I did play Release at your request.

Take care...

petrocs

Lizard wrote:

Meant to post yesterday but I did play Release at your request.

Take care...

Thanks

Heineken Helen

petrocs wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

petrocs wrote:

Yay! Thank you Foxy!

Also...anyone on facebook? add me as a friend! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=896720312&ref=profile

Gift of Life has a cause page http://apps.facebook.com/causes/110023/76581

Helen...I thought you were already my friend on facebook?

:oops: so did I... but I never delete friends so I dunno how we're no longer friends :?:

sent ya a request anyway.

Well i certainly didnt delete you...weird!

that's happened me before where I somehow 'dropped' friends and then got all wondering why they deleted me. So maybe they didn't :shock:

petrocs

[/quote]"Heineken Helen"
that's happened me before where I somehow 'dropped' friends and then got all wondering why they deleted me. So maybe they didn't :shock:[/quote]

Its a conspiracy! Facebook is trying to TELL you who to be friends with

PureandEasy

that's awesome about the money raised for that charity. That's about 4 blocks from where I am right now.

I think it's nice that you are keeping your brother's memory so alive and honoring him so well.

Yesterday was the date my friend Marty died, 22 years ago, I never forget and I never will. Love ya, Marty!