[Just Jacquie]

I don't know if you guys here remember me or not, but I was happy and surprised to find all the familiar names here that used to be on the BT forums! It's been a real long time since I have communicated with any of you. To refresh your memories, and by way of an into to those here that don't know me, I have been on Spinal Disorders, Chronic Pain, Survivors of Suicide and Bipolar forums since 2002. In 2002, I had my second back surgery, a spinal fusion. I also have a bipolar husband, who attempted suicide, and many of you, like DiMarie, Bizi, Alffe, Mari, waves, and Pamster, to name some of you (please forgive me if I left you off!). I also have a bipolar daughter. Or rather, I should say 'had'....

I have gone through the worst seven months of my life. My family suffered a great tragedy on January 18, 2011. A raging fire completely destroyed our home and contents, and worst of all, my daughter Andrea perished due to CO2 poisoning and smoke inhalation. Her room was on the second floor, and the fire started on the side porch and came around to the base of the stairs. When I somehow, thankfully, awoke, I opened my bedroom door to a wall of flames and heavy smoke. The first thing I thought to do, after waking up my husband, was to find my purse where my cell phone was, and call my daughter. She never answered. She was probably at least unconscious due to all that black, thick, smoke. The first responders were two police officers, who heard us inside the house and broke our bedroom window and pulled us to safety, but not before my husband, in a confused state, ran out into the hall and suffered third degree burns on his hands and smoke inhalation. He spent two months in the hospital for his burns, and then was released in late March. We were so happy he was okay, as was he. Of course, we were devasted that we lost our daughter, who was 27 yrs old. We bought a beautiful, big new house and moved in, and so did my son and his family (wife, 2 kids). We thought things were working out well. Both my husband and I retired, and we set out`to enjoy this new chapter in our lives....Until hubby started having psych issues - he was manic, w/ paranoia, and more. It was very scary. This was in mid-June, and I'm sad to say he's still in a psych hospital, Dxed w/ manic psychosis, and PTSD, from all he went through. BTW, he had also suffered delayed CO2 poisoning, about 3 weeks after the fire. They did not place him in a hyperbaric chamber; don't know if that would have made a difference or not... Anyway, of the three of us, I seem to be the only one left standing, and, has it ever been STRESSFUL!!

Forgive me for dropping this sort of bomb and taking off. I have to take care of the Grandkids in a few--- I miss talking to anyone who understands what I'm going thru. Should probably be in therapy, but I've been too busy running back and forth to see hubby...

Talk to you all soon, I hope!

Hugs, Jacquie

PS --No time to proofread - sorry for any typos!!