Thanks, friends.  It's good to hear from you all.  This seemed so long ago but it was big at the time!

What I do here is really what everyone else does here.  We keep it going.  We lend support to those who are coming and going, and to those who stick around.  it's an honest love fest.

Iris, how are you feeling these days?

Thanks for all you do Cheddy, much appreciated 

Happy SVR 12x3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

blessed anniversary, Iris

Thats awesome Cheddy!! I am gratified that victory is yours! Hooray!

Well, I missed this message, my bad, Cheddo! I remember your journey very well and it was a tough ride. Ribavirin, while very useful at the time, was also a vicious addition to treatment. I still remain amazed that you had the strength to handle a rafting trip down the Colorado. To me, it showed your inner strength and desire for life’s greatest offerings.

Your continued support and positive message is invaluable! My friend and fellow Warrior!

thank you cheddy

i look forward to adding a donation at the end of the week when my Qual comes back UND AT ONE YEAR.

Happy SVR 12 CHEDDY!!! Yes, I'm doing the happy dance with you,,and Canuck! Woohoo!! A trip on the Colorado River,,,life doesn't get much better than that!

I second that accolade, shout out to Canuck, always helpful, informative with a bit of humour in the mix. C has been what I needed many times, whether it was a post to me or someone else, always nuggets to glean there. (and I said nuggets, not stones!)

ps

Thanks, Canuck.  It's been so nice to have you along.  Your curiosity and research have been invaluable to sooo many!

A nice thread. Nice thoughts, sentiments, intentions, and nice Cheddy  : ) C. 

I am going to share in your happy dance soon, by posting a happy dance I like, somewhere around here! Maybe sometime right after I use that donate link.

Greetings friends,

I thought I would revive this thread from 3 years ago as part of my SVR 12 anniversary celebration. My doctor had suggested that I plan a celebration and some of the details of that are in this thread.  I had a tough 12 weeks on Ribaviron and Sovaldi. This forum was my lifeline.  I got my late lab results online while waiting at the airport to go on my celebration, 7 days of boating down Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.  It was magical and absolutely rejuvenating.

Today I am celebrating by thanking everybody here, not just for the help I needed then, but for the ongoing generosity of this ever changing forum.  It's quite remarkable.  I am also marking this anniversary by donating to the forum to cover the costs of maintaining this site.  If you care to join me, there is a link at the bottom of the page.  Any amount says thank you loud and clear.

Extra shout outs to Tig, our valiant administrator and a wonderful friend.

Anybody care to do a happy dance? It's good for the soul.

Love,

Cheddy

Yep, Pablito.  That's my little nurse, Cheddar.  He was my most attentive consultant and companion when I caved into treatment, always accepting and happy to hang in there.  That's not to say that there weren't others, but I slept like a cat, only grumpier.

How are you doing?

I've only just twigged the link between your avatar and your user name!!!!

Thanks, friends.  No worries.  The party is still going.  Thanks for stopping by.

Oh, congratulations to you Cheddy!! 

I`m a bit late to the party, but very pleased to see your excellent news, well done!!   What a thrill to read that letter, and I agree with Wendy... it should be framed!! 

Enjoy your wonderful new life, free from Hep C!! 

That letter deserves a frame! Hall of fame stuff there

Very happy for you.  

You guys are the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strong lady. You VERY much won!

Your fierce wars cries, roaring in the fight, fierce enough to instill fear into your foe, leading him to weaken, struggle less, and submit, is also your celebratory cry echoing loudly off mountaintop and canyon - "I WON"!!!!!! - uplifting all warriors who follow.

Barratis! - Ancient Roman soldiers typically marched in silence. Once encountering the enemy, they would let out a unified war cry to intimidate their foes, a martial growl as marked by a harsh tone and hoarse murmur. Soldiers would put their shields before their mouths, to make the voice swell fuller and deeper as it echoed back. The goal, to kindle courage in the soldiers hearts, while striking fear into those of the enemy.

Other war cries:

Hokahey! - Lakota Sioux - "Let's roll"!

Ei! Ei! / Oh! - Samurai - cried out just before hell was unleashed on the foe.

Tyr! - Viking - yelling name of the god of war.

Haakaa Paalle! -  Finnish - "Cut them down"!

Desperta Fero! -  Spain -  "Awaken Iron"!

Bole So NiHai! / Sat Sri Aka! - Sikh - Literally a shout of victory, triumph, exultation.

Here's is my chant for your well-done strong victory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdhrUKRdKM8

Congrats on your great news.  These are the best posts.

I also had my EOT+24 lab work done around 4 weeks ago and I am so confident, I did not even call my specialist based on what I saw online for y LFT's. I will see him in 1 1/2 weeks from now and get those results. He of course would have had them for at least 2 weeks.

I am confident I will join you with the celebrations very shortly. Once again, great news.

SF

Big congrats!

Congrats my dear Cheddy!! That's the $64,000 dollar letter right there! I couldn't be happier to hear your excellent news. It's hard to believe how quickly you went from zero to a hundred %. You had your struggles, but handle them you did and now look at things, impressive indeed. A true "Grand Canyon" miracle!!

SVR24 BABY, WOOT!!!

Yay Cheddy!!!!!! Great news.  Celebration tonight for sure!  

WOW Cheddy,   

CONGRATULATIONS, shout it from the rooftops, shout it wherever you can. So very very happy for you. Cherish every second of your new life.

Love and Light,

Greg 

THIS JUST IN FROM MY HEP SPECIALIST:

Hi Cheddy!

Not sure if we have ever spoke, but I wanted to stop in and give you my congratulations!!!!!

Hip hip Huzzah!

Wonderful news indeed, say...did your avatar used to have a fish on a bike?

blessings, Iris

Thanks, Wendy.  I think I'll add that to my signature line.  

Yeah, Tig.  It was a moment to remember.  Sigh.

Cheddy - I think my favorite part is the update in your biography.. I WON. 

The first thought that came to mind was "Wonderful". I can hear your echoed voice of success. That would make anyone cry out loud! Very cool indeed!

So happy you had such a good time. I hope we get to see a picture or two of that natural beauty. Thanks for sharing your journey (all of them) with us 

Greetings my Friends!

I am overwhelmed by the sincerity and your kind responses - in addition to all of your help along the way. THANK YOU.

The celebration trip was a complete success! It held me so much in the present that I forgot altogether that I had been so sick. Midway, after a steep hike to a spectacular panorama I called out, "I'm FREE!".  The echo spoke back, and yep, I cried aloud.

As for the Canyon and the River,  it was continuously spectacular.  I highly recommend giving up lattes, Blizzards, etc, to scrape together the many pennies that add up to this experience. It was one of the best of my life.  I am my old self.

Again, I thank you all.

Cheddy

Wow, this is fantastic news and what a way to celebrate.  I am so happy for you and I am inspired.  
The Grand Canyon - what a wonderful thank you to the Universe .

I am one month EOT and plan a big hike next spring in Spain - a pilgrimage.....hard to imagine when it is difficult to go around the block without stopping several times during RIBA.

Awesome news

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Another dragon enters the wall of fame!

Happy recovery and a long and colourful Hep C free life! :D

Way to go Cheddy!!! So happy for you and what a great way to top it off, your Grand Canyon adventure sounds amazing.

Hopefully there will be some photos for us next week.

Syd

Hi Cheddy. Big congrats on SVR 12!!   Looks like there will be plenty of room on your river raft  W/O that darn dragon tagging along. Have fun on your float- looking forward to trip pics when you get back.   RC

Hi Cheddy,

A HUGE Congrats to you for making it to SVR!

You did so in style and actually made it look easy (no small task, especially when Ribavirin is involved).

Thanks for all you do here in welcoming others, do enjoy the vacation.

Dave

Way to go Cheddy. Welcome to life without that nagging dragon on your back. Job very well done!!!

File this one under...

BEST NEWS OF THE DAY!

Congrats!

JimmyK

Wonderful news and I did not realize you were so close to me.

It's great you will celebrate with a trip you have always wanted. Have a great time and be safe.

Another dragon slayed. This is a good week.

Be well and keep in touch when your trip is done.

SF

Congratz and enjoy

Cheddy, so happy for your success and what a wonderful celebration trip.   Enjoy your freedom in SVR.  Chris

Awesome news. So happy for you Cheddy.

Tig reminded you about hydration and I will add do not forget the sunscreen as the riba leaves your system. Enjoy that trip you and your hubby deserve it.  

Wow, Cheddy... congratulations on your SVR!!!! 

It`s a great feeling when you finally realise you`re there, the Dragon is dead and you`re free to live your life without the burden of Hep C!! 

Great advice from your hepatologist, your energy will return as the effect of the riba wears off, and a wonderful trip like this is the perfect way to celebrate your achievement!

I`m very happy for you and your hubby (he really does sound like a saint!)... relax and enjoy every moment!!! 

aaaaw Cheddy ... (that's what I said), out loud, while a smile came across my face instantly, and spread right across and throughout my body - it was a one long prolonged very big smiley feeling, inside and out, before I had even got past the title and read your whole post! So happy for you, and so happy for the way you are feeling, and for how you have dealt with all SO well! I admire you. Aren't we lucky! Did you cry??!! You are a nice person so deserving of the reward of feeling this way. 100 lb. weight loss!... well no wonder you were "drag-on" yer ass around before!!! hee-hee Please take is easy on your celebratory journey, but have fun. So nice. Just wish you had not had to do the sof/rib to get here, only thing better would have been if it had been some other combo. The end result really is gold tho. Nice, nice, nice. I like how you call your partner Saint Husband, capitalized no less - your so funny! It's a good day today!.  C.

Fantastic Cheddy!

enjoy your well deserved and HCV FRee trip!

Alison

Hey Happy Cheddy,

Congratulations and celebrating is the theme for tomorrow!! I'm so happy for you and realize what a relief it is to finally see those three letters behind your name - SVR. You did it and should be thrilled, I certainly am!

Enjoy your rafting trip. I'm quite envious of you. That is something I've always wanted to do. Take some photos of all that beauty, we'll be waiting for a pictoral guided tour when you return. Stay safe and continue to stay well hydrated. It's even more important while you are expending that kind of energy. Have fun, we'll be here when you get back! 

Greetings my friends.  

It's official.  I HAVE REACHED SVR 12!!!!!!!!

Whew! It's just not real until you get those labs.   I just lost about a hundred emotional pounds.

3 months ago, I told my hepatologist that I was afraid to plan anything because I wasn't sure I could count on anything but fatigue.  She said that I should plan a celebration and assured me I would get better as the ribavirin wore off.  

By a fluke, a friend who is a river guide contacted me to tell me that there was an opening on raft trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.  Saint Husband and I have wanted to do this for a long time so I booked our reward.  We leave in the morning-HCV free.  I've been feeling so good and getting fit - lest we melt.  It's hot but the river is 50 degrees and the scenery is, well, grand.

I'm so stoked right now!!!!!!!

I didn't want to let a moment go by without  thanking the many people on this forum for being so supportive.  The posts that go out to all members help all of us.  I am touched by the knowledge and advice, but mostly for the generosity.  We really are stronger together.

I'll be off grid for a week once we reach the canyon so will go silent for a while.  I will be thinking of all those I am grateful for.

All the best,

Happy Cheddy