Lord Balian Support Thread

[Alex]

Hey Orbisians, I've got a special request for you all today. A member of our community, Daniel (Lord Balian), suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and his health has taken a turn for the worse. He's messaged me about his situation, and now I'm asking you all (the community) to set aside the game and the politics of the different alliances to rally around and support him in these trying times.

 

Below is a full message from Lord Balian that I highly encourage you to read - he explains his situation, that there's a tear in his lower left lung lobe and that he'll soon be going in for surgery. He's gone into vacation mode while he goes through this surgery and recovers, and I'm hoping that he'll come out okay, but the apparent success rate of this particular surgery is only 60%. I ask that you all keep Daniel (Lord Balian) in your thoughts and prayers, and offer words of encouragement and support.

 

Daniel (Lord Balian) created a GoFundMe campaign some time ago to fund his wish of taking his wife on a vacation while he's still healthy enough to travel. If you're moved at all and want to help him out, I ask that you throw a couple of dollars his way. I personally donated $100 to his cause, and I hope that he meets his goal and gets to live out this dream of his. If you're not financial capable, then I'd encourage you to share his campaign on Facebook and Twitter in the hopes that someone else who is financially capable will be moved and will help him out.

 

A link to his GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/ryktknx2

 

If you're interested in proof that this is real, and that he actually has Cystic Fibrosis and isn't trying to just scam us all out of our money, please scroll down to the bottom of this post and read the information there.

 

I hope that we can rally together now, and change this man's life. Feel free to offer your words of encouragement here, I'm sure he'll be checking in on this thread both before and after his surgery.

 

---

 

From: Lord Balian        Date: 02/05/2016 Friday 9:58 am 
Sheepy. As you know I have been playing this game for a long time, have supported this game, bought credits, etc. You also know that I have had my problems with my health, due to Cystic Fibrosis. I do not have a lot of support dealing with this at home. My wife doesnt want to talk about it because it affects her, and my friends that live around me, these guys dont do well with emotional stuff. I have made great deal of friends in this game, and they have been great at being there for me, talking with me, and the last time I was in the hospital, they were really helpful.

I have been in the hospital for the last week or so. My lung volumes are down to 35% due to a infection called Burkholderia cepacia. It is hard to treat and when one gets this, it usually speeds up the disease process. So, I have been getting sicker, faster. But nonetheless, I was still being active in the Orbis war going on right now even though I just left the BoC and joined Rose, had no idea why the war started, but was willing to engage and have fun regardless. I joined Rose because there was a lot of turnover in the BoC, and a lot of my friends scattered to other alliances. So, I asked around, sent messages to leaders of various alliances, expressing my desire to be active in a government role, but mentioned that my CF will get involved schedule-wise, and asked if that would be an issue. Rose people were so nice and stated that they would love to have me, would be very supportive with my CF and would understand if I needed to take time off. So, with that, I joined them. Then this war started and I was more then happy to go to bat for my new friends. 

However, last night I started to cough up lots of blood and mucus. I went to go to the bathroom, and I collpased. The nurse helped me back to bed, and a CT Scan was ordered. It turns out that I have a tear in my lower left lung lobe. I am scheduled for surgery in the morning. In the meantime I have a tube in my chest and it is painful. My doc however told me that I once again am in a bad situation. This lung tear, along with this new infection, puts me at risk. The success rate of this surgery is about 60%. If it doesnt work, the lobe will be removed. My doctor told me that to have a lobe removed, with a low capacity, with this infection, can lead to some very scary possibilities. The fact is I am very scared Sheepy and am kinda freaking out. 

My doc told me that these next 2-3 weeks will really determine if the antibiotic to treat this infection works, if the surgery takes, etc. Being that my wife is freaking out, that I am, that my doc wants me to think of nothing else but trying to get better, I decided to go into vaca mode. I emailed all those who declared on me (3) and the one I declared on, early this AM once I met with my doctor, explaining to them that I need to step away, that by going on vaca mode, I wont be able to fight back and will probably take tons of damage, but that I was OK with that. I said that I was sorry for the timing, but that I would be more then happy to download my medical chart from U of M to prove my illness if need be. I am in the hospital for this about 6-7 times per year, and I can prove this too. Sheepy, I am being personally attacked now, bullied by people, being called names, saying I am a lair, and it is some hurtful stuff. I dont want to sound like a weakling here, but I am dealing with too much right now and I am having a very hard time coping with what is going on. I am 40. My goal was 50. My doc said if this goes poorly, that reaching 45 would be a long shot. The reason why this has happened again (do you remember before a few months back?), is because the average length of time a person lives with CF is 38....and I am 40 now. So, I am at a point in my life where I am weaker, get sick more, and each time I get sick, the risks go up. 

I am not going to give up, and intend to fight this. But I would like to please ask you for a favor. I know I am asking a lot, but you are the only one that is in the position to help me. I am asking that you please make a posting in the PW forum about just in general what is going on, that you know that I do indeed have Cystic Fibrosis, and that the situation I am in has happened in the past, so I do have creditability. And of course, I can give you via email, my downloadable medical chart to prove that I have CF if you need it. In fact, below is a link that I created back on 01/16/16 on GoFundMe. It is a Make a Wish type of thing where I am asking for help to fulfill a final goal of mine, which is to take my wife on one final nice vacation before I die. This was posted well before this war with Rose started and before I joined them. 

Again, this is a very odd request of me. And I am sorry for that. But for me to have to face bullying, being attacked like this is not called for, and bulling a person who is terminal is not something that I think is good for the game, for many reasons. Sheepy, my health is declining and each time something really bad happens now, it puts my life at risk. And I can tell you this, it scares the hell out of me. 

I am about to go down for another CT and MRI Imaging scan to get ready for my surgery tomorrow. I have been so worked up I have been unable to eat, sleep, rest, or anything. My doc wants me to try to get as much rest today as I can. So, I will be signing off here shortly. But if you could just make a small statement in the forum about not bullying, about personal attacks, and using me as an example, letting folks know that my struggle with CF is real, you really would be taking this worry off my plate, and I would be very grateful. 

My LINK: https://www.gofundme.com/ryktknx2

Blessings,
Lord Balian

 

I've done a fair bit of googling to verify that this is a real person with a real cause, and have found enough evidence to convince me that this is the truth and Lord Balian (Daniel) isn't trying to scam us out of our money or anything. He's offered further verification, however, that's contained in this spoiler below, and asks that if you don't believe him for some reason to just send him a PM and he can provide more proof.

 

 

 

From: Lord Balian     Date: 02/05/2016 Friday 10:28 am

I am comfortable with that indeed. Just be prepared for some backlash cause some comments have been really messed up. And again, if you need more proof or anything, please let me know. These are additional links below showing that I indeed was a hospice worker at one time (as that too was questioned and attacked), as well as a few links more about my CF. I'd even be willing to send copies of discharge summaries if needed. I just dont want this stress while I am dealing with all this, I am overwhelmed as it is. I still love this game, the friends I have made, but some messages I have gotten were really hurtful, and there is no need for that. IF anyone had questions about my condtion or even if I was telling the truth, then just message me, let me send it....before one attacks. Anyway, thank you so much for advocating for me Sheepy. I will never forget it!

THIS IS MY 'Make a Wish' type of goal that i posted on 1/16/16. I wanted to be able to take my wife on a vacation, a really nice one, before I pass. Please look at it.

https://www.gofundme.com/ryktknx2

THIS IS A LINK that my sister created as she put together in my name, a team to raise funds for the CF Foundation in 2011.

http://hometownjournal.biz/2011/06/20/cystic-fibrosis-fundraiser-planned/

THIS IS a LINK of what my goals where when I first became disabled. I was hoping to get better and return to work.

http://www.profiwiki.com/info/eUtkeW51V1dk/Greater%2BDetroit%2BArea/Student/Daniel-Rouan

THIS LINK, PLEASE OPEN AND SCROLL TO PAGE 4 : My name is Daniel Rouan

http://dnom.arrowis.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Revised_Spring-Summer_09_Newsletter.pdf


THIS IS A Link of my wedding announcement placed in a paper in Ohio, showing I was a hospice social worker.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/aug/29/anne-clevenger-v-daniel-rouan/

THIS LINK, scroll to page 5, another ad placed in a local church when I was working showing me as a hospice worker

http://ssjohnandpaul.org/docs/bulletins/2006/0723379.pdf

THIS IS A LINK, A DEATH NOTICE, for one of my friends who died from CF, back in 2010. She had a lung transplant that was rejected. At the bottom of the page, I made a guest book comment on 2/2/11. Gloria was awesome and having her pass was hard on me.

http://deathnotices.michigan.com/view-single.php?id=252430

 

[Dark Specter]

Hes been telling me of his condition in-game messaging system and i truly hope he recovers.

[Tywin Lannister]

I've never had any direct contact but my prayers go out to him. May he have a successful surgery and be well soon.

[Ryu[Old Account]]

Get well soon!

[Kastor]

You'll be in my prayers. Hope you get a speedy recovery.

[Restius]

Praying for you and your family during this time Lord Balian! 

[Avruch]

My innate skepticism has not been overcome. If he has a "HI THERE PNW.COM I'm Balian" poster and posts a wide angle pic of himself holding it in his hospital bed, I'll donate.

[Alex]

My innate skepticism has not been overcome. If he has a "HI THERE PNW.COM I'm Balian" poster and posts a wide angle pic of himself holding it in his hospital bed, I'll donate.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this for giggles, as long as it's not a major inconvenience to him.

[Gerdan Lemoi]

I hope you'll get well soon, Daniel, and I will donate to the campaign when I can.

 

EDIT: Hopefully tomorrow.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Gerdan Lemoi

[Tenshibo]

Best wishes man. Hope you can pull through this o7

[Spooner]

Damn, that's heavy stuff. My heart goes out to him and his family. As a poor college student, there's not much I can do financially to support this. However, I've permanently renamed my ground commander after him, so that no matter what happens, he will continue marching to glorious victory within Orbis:

 

 

Hopefully he gets an immense triumph over this disease in the coming weeks.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Syrup

[Ekaterina Kalmyk]

I know that any major surgery is scary, but try to keep a hopeful attitude, since freaking out won't help (unfortunately, for those of us who specialize in it).

 

I hope everything goes well for you, Daniel/Lord Balian.

[Shadowstar1922]

I'm going to share this on my facebook. I really hope he gets better! I'm not really religious but I hope God blesses him. 

[Jean Parisot]

Although I haven't had much contact with you, I always thought you chose a cool name.

 

I hope everything goes as well as possible in surgery and that you have a speedy recovery so you can go on that vacation!

[Nietzschelloo]

Wishing you all the best for your health, comrade. <3 I'm sorry you were treated unkindly. Sending you all my positive wishes ~~

[Natinator]

Get well soon!

[GentlemenJack]

Get well soon Daniel . One thing i love about this game is that the community always looks out for one another. Travel safe.

[Ragnor85]

Get well Daniel.

[Niemand]

Lord Balian it has been and it will be always a pleasure to communicate with you. The commitment you have to improve the lives of others is impressive. I do hope the treatment goes well and that you and your wife will have a lot of good years together. Take care my friend!

[Spaceman Thrax]

I messaged him in game. I hope that's not poor form.

 

All the best to you and your family.

[Licorice]

I'm sure the surgery will turn for the best

 

May Dio/Dragon Gods/Sheepy/Blood God/Ayyy lmao brings you a speedy recovery

[Kevin D]

Dang this really sucks. I'll try to donate some money over the weekend or next weekend.

[Asierith]

Best wishes, and I hope the surgery goes well.

[Lord of Puns]

Get Better LB! I remember the big scare in BoC, you've recovered before and can recover again!

[Robert Ap Ioan]

I have never had anything to do with Lord Balian, but man you must be a tough cookie, being a hospice worker is hard at the best of times - but doing that job knowing that you are likely to be on the the other end must be incredibly hard. Your story is inspirational and deserves the utmost respect.

I will be praying for you and your family, may you know the peace and love of Jesus(I assume you are a Christian from your message) that surpasses all understanding, that your heart and mind should be at peace.

 

I have no words strong enough to condemn people who would bully such a person.