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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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A thread to thank the Phoenix Rising team of volunteers!

Messages
10,157
As we approach the end of the year, it seems like a great time to thank the Phoenix Rising team of volunteers, who do a huge amount of work to provide us with a safe and well-run forum, and who give so much of their time to make this such a fantastic place.

Thanks @Bob I can't speak for all the volunteers, but I really appreciate this. If it weren't for the members, we wouldn't be the place we are now. :)

I'm very thankful for this forum. I've been here for some years and have seen a few changes. Thanks to the efforts of the board and the moderators, this is a great forum and feels like a very welcoming, open place.

Thanks @Sasha

THANK YOU............THANK YOU .............THANK YOU..................VERY TRULY:thumbsup:

Thanks @Tammy

I am thankful for the Phoenix Rising, for the ideas that have led to better health and functioning! And for the community that it brings together and helps us accomplish things that are not possible on our own!

Thanks @ggingues

A huge thank you from us for the commitment and many hours spent running, moderating and all the other stuff that makes PR great.

Thank you @MEMum

Wow yes, so grateful to the moderators and to everyone else in this community. It feels like a second home.

Thanks @helen1

Best place on the Internet. Thank you PR team!

Thanks @adreno

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this GREAT place to all those who make it possible.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thank you @jerrymcfadyen

I have learnt so much since coming to PR last year. The information here is quite stunning to me. I don't feel all in the dark anymore trying to work my illness out and you have all helped me to start piecing some things together.

Thanks also to fellow members, I really enjoy seeing you all here, even though I don't have the energy to get to know you each a lot better. I really enjoy your posts and thanks so much for your humour as well

@rosie26 The members contribute so much knowledge.

If I have now recovered to a decent level where I am again able to go out or holidaying is also thanks to the information and experiences shared on this board. Big thank you from me.

@xrunner Enjoy your holdidaying :)

Thank you so much for all your efforts. I would feel totally isolated regarding this illness without Phoenix Rising.

@John Mac I remember when I first got sick, the internet was new and I didn't have it. It was totally isolating not to be connected to others :)

Not only have I essentially corrected my physiology, but my heart and mind have been opened by the information and camaraderie. I am more grateful than I can express for all that I've gotten from members and all you who maintain this safe space for us all.

@ahmo Thank you.

Thank you all very much!

@MeSci -- Thank you.

Thanks to all the volunteers.

@Dolphin Thank you for all the research papers you post. It's a great help.

Yes, huge thank you to all who make PR what it is, I'm afraid I would be bereft without it. It's been a great place to discuss the science (and lack of it), meet good people and get organised: I've belonged to three different groups that probably would not have existed if it wasn't for the support and tools from Phoenix Rising. Thanks for posting my blogs too!

@Simon Your contribution in articles has been fabulous and keep them coming.

I was telling someone the other day I could not imagine having CFS/ME without access to the Internet - it would be completely hopeless - and I am very very grateful for this excellent board and all those who make it happen!

@Mary Without the internet, it would be hopeless. I remember when I first got ill, I had no internet support. I remember going to a support group for ME/FM and it was a bunch of old ladies sitting around and talking about constipation and eating roughage. The internet is much better. :):):)



PR = Lifeline

Sanity amidst turmoil

My world turned right side up.

Thank you!!

@GracieJ Great summary :):)
:)

I am deeply thankful to the volunteers and to all members sharing their wisdom here!
I am learning my way to recovery here

Thank you @Gondwanaland

@Bob Thank you for posting this thread and it made my day! Although all I have been doing so far is creating the birthday threads and feel this is a fraction of what Mark and the moderators do so am honored to be included in the same sentence! I wish I was well enough to do more for PR and hope to do so in the upcoming year.

@Gingergrrl It's members like you that add so much. Just the simple act of offering to do one thing has made the forum a better place. If a bunch of members offered to do little things, then everything would get covered. It's such a lovely way to thank us. :hug::hug::hug: I am looking forward to my birthday thread (I hope I have my birthday on my profile, it will make my day, I know it :):):).

Great thread @Bob and I agree, those who keep the forum going do a fantastic job. I think the moderation is a particularly unenvieable job so thanks especially to those involved in that task!

I have to say @snowathlete that on the whole, moderation isn't that bad. I have been called some pretty choice things over the years but not by valued members.

There are also many who are behind the scenes contributing as writers, editors, Word Press adepts and others who offer expertise on an "as-needed" basis.

They do and we thank them for that especially @Simon and @Jody and of course @Firestormm who has chosen a different path.

PR has saved me. It has been a mine of information, that has helped to turn around my slide, and regain some function. Members have been and continue to be an invaluable source of understanding and support. In dark days, this is where I come, and I always feel better for it.

@daisybell Isn't it nice to have your dark days made a little bit lighter. I have had more than a few dark days and can always depend on somebody on this forum to make things just a little more bearable. :):):)

Well done and thanks for a very well organised and productive forum!

Thank you @Aurator

Most people get back to where they live at the end of a day, and then they are home. There they meet with friends and family.

Phoenix Rising is not just a website. Its not just a forum. Its a home, its family.

That is so true @alex3619 You are very much a part of our family.

@SOC (not sure if you are checking the board these days?) but want to thank you for all your help as a moderator and all the former moderators throughout the years who helped make PR what it is today.

Volunteers have come and gone and each contributed something. So to all the past moderators, content team, Board Members, techies -- thank you.:):):)

I mostly lurk, but check in to read what's new almost every day. Everyone who is involved in keeping the site running - THANK YOU! and to all who post such interesting, heartfelt, helpful things - THANK YOU!

Thank you @dancer

Yes, thanks to all. Thanks especially for the civility...

@geraldt52 Thank you.

Thank You Phoenix Rising team!!! I will be making my next contribution to PR to show my appreciation and to help make sure this really critical network for MECFS continues!

Thank you Catly for your participation and your donation :):):)


Thank you to everyone who puts in their time and energy to keep this site running.

@Dreambirdie Thank you.:):):)

I am eternally grateful to you for hosting us, moderating us and giving us more exposure than we could ever have dreamed of outside of Phoenix. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

@vli I don't think anybody will know the time that the Lipkin fundraising group has put into the cause. Your group was amazing. You perservered and kudos to you for all the funds you raised despite... .

thank you <3

Thank you and welcome to the forums @mango

Yes, big thumbs up to the team for all their work here. It's very much appreciated !

Thanks @eafw :):):)

I don't have to imagine life with ME but without the internet and PR - I have 'lived' it. It's hard to describe - would take too many words. There are many others in the same position, who know what it was like.

I am sure that Phoenix Rising has saved lives, and it couldn't do that without the work of the team. You are literally lifesavers!

Thanks @MeSci I hope we have done something positive and after reading all the replies, I know we have. :):thumbsup::hug:


a big thank you to all the volunteers, whether you moderate forums, are board members, write articles, respond to pleas for help, or contribute in some other way.

Thank you @fprefect Much appreciated.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a safe port in the middle of the tempest that is life with ME.
I could not imagine life without PR and all the people who make it a great place for information, thought and advice exchange, understanding and much much more.

Thank you @NK17 I couldn't imagine being without PR either.

I am hugely grateful to all you guys who work on this forum!

Thank you @cigana

I can't imagine the feelings of hopelessness and loneliness I would go through without PR. I learned so much here, and not just about ME, but about being more human; more open to other's feeling. I felt deep compassion, understanding and kindness in lots of messages.

@Cheshire We lack compassion from family and professionals, this is why we need each other.:):):)

I would also like to say thanks, if it wasn't for this forum I would be completely lost in my search for the cause of my illness.

@msf Again members contribute so much information. I think the whole lot of us know more than the specialists in a way. :)
:):)

Hopefully I have not missed anyone in my responses. I really feel so happy that members are appreciating the volunteers. For me, from the bottom of heart, I do appreciate the positive responses. It means a lot to me. It helps get through the difficult times.

I would like to thank a few people here.

@Mark Thank you for your wisdom and guiding me through how to be a moderator.
@Sushi Thank you for all your help over the past months, you have been a life saver and sanity keeper. I appreciate it more than I can say.
@wdb Thank you for helping me out with the CSS and the styles and answering all my questions patiently. I really really appreciate all you have helped me with. :hug:
@Gingergrrl Thank you for volunteering to do the birthday threads -- you will make lots of people feel cared for during hard times.
@SOC Thank you for helping out. I appreciated it.
@Butydoc -- Thank you for volunteering to be on the Board.
@Jonathan Edwards -- Thank you, too, for volunteering to be on the board.
@adin Thank you for all the work you have done in the past for Phoenix Rising -- it mattered. I hope you can be here more in the future.
@Jody Thank you for editing and publishing articles. That's very much an appreciated job that takes some careful work

The biggest thank you to all our volunteers would be if members volunteered to just do small things. Everything counts, whether you can only spend a few minutes a day helping out.

And the biggest thanks goes out to all our members who make the website the place it is today.

Now to the people I will not thank -- that would be the spammers (go away, you won't ever post here) and those who just come here to sow discord -- this is not the place for you.
 

Gingergrrl

Senior Member
Messages
16,171
@Gingergrrl It's members like you that add so much. Just the simple act of offering to do one thing has made the forum a better place. If a bunch of members offered to do little things, then everything would get covered. It's such a lovely way to thank us. :hug::hug::hug: I am looking forward to my birthday thread (I hope I have my birthday on my profile, it will make my day, I know it :):):).

@Kina Thank you for such an amazingly comprehensive post and for everything you said to acknowledge each person! And I checked my list and you did not list your birthday so please add it so you will get a thread!!!

The members who have listed their birthdays are incredibly small and not sure if this is intentional b/c people are being modest and don't want the attention, or if they think the info is automatically there (it isn't), or if they don't remember how to technically make the change? So, please add your birthdays for anyone who hasn't done so and then you will get a thread!
 
Messages
10,157
@Kina Thank you for such an amazingly comprehensive post and for everything you said to acknowledge each person! And I checked my list and you did not list your birthday so please add it so you will get a thread!!!

The members who have listed their birthdays are incredibly small and not sure if this is intentional b/c people are being modest and don't want the attention, or if they think the info is automatically there (it isn't), or if they don't remember how to technically make the change? So, please add your birthdays for anyone who hasn't done so and then you will get a thread!
Can you see it now -- May 31st
 
Messages
3,263
Thanks to all of you. Its not just the regular posters that benefit from PR, but all those others who read the posts and pages, but are too shy or too disabled to contribute themselves.

As long as PR exists, those who google "ME" or "CFS" will find some helpful information to get them started on a more positive journey through MECFS.

I thank you all on their behalf too (I was one of them once!)
 

ahimsa

ahimsa_pdx on twitter
Messages
1,921
Thanks to all of you. Its not just the regular posters that benefit from PR, but all those others who read the posts and pages, but are too shy or too disabled to contribute themselves.
True! I read the forum without joining for a year or two before I decided to join and post messages.

:thumbsup: And now I'll add my thanks to all the others posted here! :thumbsup:
 

Nielk

Senior Member
Messages
6,970
I have gained so much here on PR, whether it is information that I seek and/or emotional support. Thank you to all the volunteers here that enable this site to run so well. All your efforts are greatly appreciated. I am also grateful to each and every member here who have helped me in countless ways.