I was trying to throw another few bucks in the bucket but I can’s see any way to do it on here. I thought it was pretty easy last year but now I can’t find a way even though I have spent some time looking.

On another note, it’s great to read that your have had seen some positive results from all of your hard work.

Hopefully you can add some sort of link on the home page that will allows us to feel we are helping to support you in some small way on your journey.

Take care for now,
Barry

Be as stronger as you can, but show your weakness sometime: it’s healthy.
There will be moments you hate your present life, especially after many days of continuous and strong pain, and maybe detest yourself because in these moment we are verbally aggressive with the people who love us most. Eventually they will forgive us, eventually we will forgive ourselves.

The best of luck.
Simo

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Let me introduce myself first: I worked with you on the Dawn back when Dominique was your Manager at ShorEx and Florentina was my Assist. Manager in the Gift Shop.
I even took one of those pictures from the crew bar and I remeber “fighting” with you for the camera to erase another one you didn’t really liked…(It was some party, or even close to New Year’s holidays.)

Why am I saying this? Out of all the memories, one stood apart: i remember that extremely stong grip on my wrist when you asked for the camera!
I remember you as one of the most powerful and mentaly strong peple I had the chance to meet while working on that ship! Funny, witty, andventurous…
I only found out yesterday, from an ex crew member, Camelia. And here I am today, writting to you and Flory.

We were never friends or co-workers; there were those days when we used to work on the private island…But still, I could’t help but thinking of you two all day long.
You might have heard about me…i was the most notorious “criminal” that worked on cruise ships in 2005…I felt that my entire world collapsed those days…I was broke and broken, with no sunshine on my window (and that’s so much more than a figure of speech!)

Back then, I remeber that I used to tell myself:
“Once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up!”.

And I made it. Better than expected and sooner than hoped for!

You are a great guy and you are blessed to have an amazing woman by your side! All my hopes and prayers are with you. (I have a 5 year ban to enter North America, starting 2005. By the time it expires, I am confident that you’ll make major progres!)

And, to the best of my financial power, I’ll help as often as possible.

Stay positive and fight!
You’ll make it!

I’m not sure if you’ll remember me, but you know my sister: Lizeth Smith, South Africa. I did one cruise in Alaska with her in 2006 and met you briefly.
I’ve been following your progres a bit, and would like to make a donation. But I’m not sure what would be the best way. I’m a bit concerned with using Paypal, as it seems my Credit Card details (including 3-digit security code) will be saved, even though it’ll just be a once-off donation. I’m a bit concerned about the safety? Also, I don’t want a percentage to be subtracted, but on the other hand I doubt that a South African cheque will be useful in Canada? I actually don’t know!
Could you please email me?

Thanks!
God Bless!
Mariette Smith
South Africa

Thought I’d leave you a message on your website as I’m not sure how often you check facebook. I’ve been meaning to send you this info for some time now so please forgive my procrastination My fiancee works with several wheelchair athletes (of all abilities - some have competed at the national and international level), one of whom lives in BC (I think Vancouver). His name is Kelly Smith - not sure if you’ve heard of him before. If not, you might want to check out his website (www.wheel-power.com) as I think Kelly would have much to share with you given his path to recovery (in 1991 Kelly had a rock climbing accident that left him partially paralyzed) and his ability to inspire others. I hope the two of you will have an opportunity to connect in the near future. I too hope that I can make it out to see you and Floey at some point! Hang in there and keep up the great progress!!

Cheers,
Jay

As for me, I’m a community support worker, so I am fully aware of what you and your wife deal with daily.
I have 2 wonderful boys, keegan is 6 and Drayden is coming 3. They keep me busy !

Well I must run, I hope to hear back from you.
Take Care
hugs

Keep up the excellent progress and I wish you the best.

Garret

There are few days that pass without us thinking about you or discussing you guys. Our hearts are broken for you and Flo, but instead of feeling sorry for you, I want to encourage you never to give up, or loose faith. We cannot choose what will happen to us, but we can choose how to react upon that what happen to us.

When my stepmother shot and killed her two kids and herself, I felt that life owed me… Two years later my dad shot himself… In the 17 Years that passed I learned that life sometimes deals with you harshly and unfairly. There’s nothing you can do about it. The good comes when you see God revealed in your pain and dissapointment. If it wasn’t for Jesus in my life, I would have given up hope long ago…

We are committed to keep you and Flo in our prayers.

Love, Burd Cordier

We went to school together, many, many years ago!

I’m sorry to hear about your accident, but I’m glad that you have a positive attitude towards everything. That’s so important!!!

Your wife is absolutely beautiful, and I loved looking at your wedding pictures.

Keep that attitude up! All the best.

I agree with Beata. I will never forget the day you were hurt on the Dawn because everyone especially us cruise staff were shaken. Our thoughts were and will always be with you!

You are such an inspiration. Keep looking up to the sky!

I still remember that evening on the Dawn when I was notified of your accident. What a horrible news: not only for the paymaster to check the crew member out because of the medical reasons but also for a friend! What I also remember is one of the nurses in my office, answering all the questions. I was told at the time “this will be a long way with no promises”…Well, I personally had no doubts you were going to make it. Look, how far you are now! I would like to see that nurse again to tell her about you and to give her your webside! I’m proud of you, Greg and I’m proud of Florentina. God bless her, God bless both of you. Please don’t give up because winners never quit!!!

I am Barbara, from Lisbon, Portugal. I got your contact through a friend on WAYN.

You have an amazing story and lots of courage.

I live everyday with a chronical disease and I must go to the hospital every 2 to 3 weeks to get intravenous treatment, and it must be done for the rest of my life. Even with these constraints, my story means nothing compared to your story.

By my own experience, I realize that life changes in a minute or takes more than 2 years to realize what was wrong with you. I tell you, it was also quite a drama and one starts even to feel guilty because one is ill. But it gives us strength.

I know it might look that my words are just that: words. I am a teacher and I have no close family (I live alone with my cat). My way to live is to touch lives at the faculty where I teach. Sometimes I am so tired (physically, I mean) and my students are sort of keeping me alive. As you can imagine, when a former student comes and says that s/he misses your classes, you feel that you did something right.

In all this story you can say you are a really blessed man (I am not even religious but I can be quite espiritual). You have people that love you, you have a family that loves you and friends that share your story without making us feeling pity but almost “joy” for seeing someone overcome such difficult periods and experiences in life.

I wish you all the best and I wanted to tell you that you are an inspiration for my life too. I deeply thank you.

With warm regards from
Barbara de Sousa Videira
(Lisbon, Portugal)

Post Scriptum: I love your pictures, all of them, but especially the ones after your accident. It gives hope and inspiration to people. One more time: I am gratefull to you!