Gelda

[sqad617]

At this moment we are absorbed or otherwise by the death of a pop icon and also a well loved actress of films and TV. Not knowing either of them, my reaction is momentary sadness, but life goes on for me as normal.

However there is one person for whom I do feel true sadness, a woman that I have never met, but someone who has disappeared from the website of AB���.that woman is Gelda.

There is little doubt in my mind that Gelda is dead and I base that on the weeks of absence from Answerbank and two years of posting of her fight with cancer whilst giving advice and hope to other sufferers. I first met Gelda on AB some two and a half years ago when I replied to a questioner who wanted to know the chances of survival of her uncle who had cancer of the lung and secondary deposits in his bone. I replied giving her the 5yr survival rates as issued by the National Cancer Register and I was immediately attacked by this Gelda woman who said that statistics should not be relied upon and that one should always give sufferers hope and not statistics.

A few confrontational posts followed between myself and Gelda, but eventually we became friends and she had been right all along. She suffered with her disease with fortitude and throughout this difficult and painful time of her life,gave reassurance to others through her own experiences.

This shows the frailty and brittleness of the internet when someone can disappear from our screens��illness?, just fed up? or indeed may have died?

I am an Atheist, but Gelda, if you are looking down, you have NOT been forgotten and I am sure that I speak for many on AB when I say���."you have been missed and thank you for all your help to other sufferers"

[MWB]

Nicely said, squad.

Lovely.

[Rosetta]

Spot on Sqad.

Many of us on A&N miss her wise words and her kind thoughts and personality.

She fought bravely and for a long time and was always positive and as cheerful as she could be. She was an example to us all.

[whiskeryron]

squad,nice one mate I agree 100%.

[waterboatman]

Here, here sqad. I miss her too.

[wendilla]

Hello squad I was so touched by your thread.Yes I remember Gelda but never got involved in any of the posts .You can talk to someone for a long time on here and feel you have known them for years. I have talked just general coversation with someone on messenger for nearly 4 years in England here and only 60 miles away but never met .Suddenly 2 weeks ago thats the last I heard and as you say you don't know and will never know what happened to them.That is one thing the internet can't do for you is tell you what happened.

[waterboatman]

Sad, but true wendi.

[Tinkerpuss]

I am fairly new to AB and have previously only looked at the crosswords and puzzles section.
My curiosity brought me to B&S and I think I have already found a bunch of really kind, compassionate people.
Wherever Gelda is, I am sure she would be moved by the concern of people on the 'faceless' internet.
Well done folks!

[waterboatman]

Hello tinkerpuss.
Gelda often posted on the 'Good morning early birds!' thread. She was lovely and an inspiration to us all. We all love her very much.

[sara3]

lovely words sqad, I do hope you're wrong though and perhaps she is having a spell offline or maybe is in hospital. does anyone know her on a more personal level?

[stompe]

Sqad its a very sad day, for lots of us who loved Gelda!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDURv8fj9dk

Her Resolve! Her bravery! in Adversity!

R.I.P Gelda xxx

[bensmum]

I have been hoping that Gelda would pull through this with her usual fortitude and that she would magically reappear one day with tales of her foxes. Sadly I think I have known that this would not be the case and that this was one battle that she couldn't win. I do and will miss her and there are many on here who feel the same way. I have no religion but will say bless you sweetheart - you are still very special

[waterboatman]

Goodbye Gelda. You are very much loved and missed.
Please prove us wrong!

[Tinkerpuss]

Just watched Bette Midler stompe - very appropriate and moving - thanks for the link

[stompe]

Tinkerpuss x, as other people have said! she was a very special Lady, she loved her Foxes, and still went out to feed them when she was very ill!

[yogasun]

Just seen sqad's thread. Tinkerpuss's posting could have been mine...usually on Q & P with some postings on B & S but have seen Gelda's postings on animal related threads and others. Let us hope that she is having a spell in hospital, or whatever is preventing her posting. It's made me feel really sad that she might have indeed died. She was always there to give help to others despite obviously living with a terminal illness. Bless you Gelda wherever you are. x

[bigmamma]

I have noticed gelda hasn't posted since her last hospital admission . I don't know if your feeling is right , I hope not , also If and when gelda is no longer with us , I would hope eventually that a member of her family may let us know , I don't know if she may have asked this of them .

[~Wingnut~]

Very well said sqad, I do hope your wrong tho.
I have been a member for over 4 years now and have seen many of her posts. I shall miss seeing her name on here xx

[Tinkerpuss]

I did not have the privilege of knowing Gelda but if she has gone without saying goodbye, her pain and suffering is over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexNsBjz1r8&fea ture=related

[tamborine]

My sorrows for Gelda too - and hope she didn't suffer.

Am anxious about Ethel.....anyone heard?

[Schutzengel]

Good morning Sqad. I do hope your intuition is not correct. Gelda is such a lovely, brave, and caring lady, who has touched the lives of so many people, as your thread shows. I think the last we heard from her was when she said she was going into hospital on a Wednesday to have her chest drained, so perhaps she is still in hospital. Gelda's posts have been missed, and if as we all suspect this might indeed prove to be permanent, I do hope she has (or will) make arrangements for someone to send a last message. Gelda was so looking forward to her Foxy's cubs arriving, and I'm so glad that she has had the pleasure of seeing the little cubs playing. Wherever Gelda is, whether it's still in hospital, or elsewhere, I'm sure that the thoughts of the special people who have posted on this thread, will reach her in some mysterious way, and she'll know much we all love her.