So today is the 2 year anniversary of my brothers death

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.

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.