Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29) - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

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We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

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Old 09-25-2003, 11:45 PM   #1
whoSEZ
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Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Hello all,

As Sara (Belle*) mentioned in her post, there is more sad news for our PassPorter family. I was on the computer earlier tonight when Jim called, and to be quite honest, the message I heard from him when I logged off alarmed me. Between my attempts to call Jim, I called Sara and asked her to post that message in case Jim was on the boards. Thank you, Sara, for being there, as always.

Jim asked me to post this update for him.

Liz is now in the last days of her life. She has anywhere from 3 to 14 days, the doctors say, and there is "no hope of recovery." The cancer is taking its toll on her liver, and she is on so much pain medication that she doesn't always recognize Jim.

She is under hospice care, but I think she is still at the hospital for now. She has already signed a "Do Not Resuscitate" order and a living will.

Jim told me about one wonderful thing that happened today. Because she's been in the hospital for so long now -- more than two months, I think -- Liz and Jim have become friendly with the oncology doctors and nurses. The staff, of course, heard Liz and Jim talking about Disney World and knew how badly Liz wanted to go back to WDW in December. When it became obvious that she wouldn't be able to go, the staff (God bless them) decorated an empty room in the oncology unit. They put up Disney decorations, wheeled in a TV so Jim and Liz could watch Disney movies, brought in some food, had Mickey stuff everywhere. Then they rolled in Liz's bed ... and they gave her Disney. They let Jim and Liz sit in the room alone for a few minutes, watching a movie (he said when they walked in, "Beauty and the Beast" was playing), and he said she loved every bit of it.

Once again, Jim wants the entire PassPorter family to know how much he and Liz appreciate everything this community of "lovely, wonderful people" has done for them. He mentioned the cards, letters, postcards, and prayers, of course. They are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love.

He specifically asked me to thank rescuesk (Sue) and her DH (Steve) for being willing to share their Illuminations cruise in December. He wanted you to know how much they would have enjoyed that. He also mentioned the "Pal Mickey" that LilMarcieMouse sent them. He was really touched by that, Marcie.

Jim asked if I thought anyone would mind if he continues to use Liz's screen name ... I told him I thought we'd all like to see him on the boards whenever he can be here.

He asked for only two things: First, he asks for our prayers, that God will let Liz rest. He doesn't want Liz to suffer any more, and he knows it's time for her to go. He made me laugh through my tears when he said Liz was ready to "go to that big Disney World in the sky." He is sure that's what Heaven will be for Liz.

Second, if there is anyone thinking of sending flowers or wanting to help in some way, he asks that you please consider sending memorials to the funeral home. He has been in contact with a funeral home, and they have already set up a trust fund in Liz's name to help pay for the funeral costs. Jim gave me the address for the funeral home, and instructions on how to contribute to the trust fund, but I will not post it here until I get permission from Jennifer and Dave. If you'd like the address, please e-mail me SanDisney3@aol.com or send me a PM.

Also, a special note for those who have sent me checks that we hoped could be used for a surprise for Liz and Jim at WDW ... I thought it was appropriate tonight to tell Jim about the surprise, and he was incredibly grateful. He asked me to let him know who has sent checks; he wants to be able to thank each of you. Please let me know if it's okay if I send him your name. If you'd rather remain anonymous, I will respect that 100%. If you've sent me a check but haven't yet heard that I've received it, please let me know. I will wait a few days before sending the $$$ to Jim.

[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[ 09-29-2003, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: whoSEZ ]
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Old 09-25-2003, 11:56 PM   #2
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

It wonderful what the oncology unit did for them. Thank you Snady for the update. My prayers are with them. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img]
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Old 09-25-2003, 11:58 PM   #3
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

[img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

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Old 09-26-2003, 12:00 AM   #4
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

This is such sad news. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] My thoughts and prayers are with Liz and Jim.

Thanks for keeping us posted, Sandy.
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Old 09-26-2003, 07:35 AM   #5
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Such sad news [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] What the oncology department did for them was fantastic, how lucky for them. Sending prayers to Jim and Liz. Thanks for the update Sandy.
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Old 09-26-2003, 07:58 AM   #6
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Sandy,
Thanks sooo much for the update. My hugs & prayers are still going out strong for Jim & Liz. May God give comfort and peace to them both.
Michelle
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Old 09-26-2003, 09:01 AM   #7
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Devastating news this morning, Sandy. Thank you for updating us.
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Old 09-26-2003, 09:16 AM   #8
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

It is hard to watch someone you love slip away like that. I commend Jim for being there when she needs him the most.

That was a nice thing the oncology unit did. I am sorry she didn't get to Disney that one last time, but she had a small taste and that was good.

I'll keep them both in my prayers.
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Old 09-26-2003, 09:24 AM   #9
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

[img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] This is so horrible! Jim has been fantastic. I'm glad he'll be posting here in the future.
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Old 09-26-2003, 10:14 AM   #10
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Thank you for keeping us updated, Sandy. I'll continue keeping Jim and Liz in my thoughts and prayers.

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Old 09-26-2003, 10:20 AM   #11
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Thank you for updating us.
The tears are flowing freely. It is so hard watching some one you love slip away.

I am so sorry.

Wendy
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Old 09-26-2003, 10:27 AM   #12
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

What can I say? This is devastating news. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] Prayers for Liz to pass peacefully and to Jim so that he can handle this. Extra special pixie dust to those folks in Oncology for trying to make a wish come true. -Suzi
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Old 09-26-2003, 10:42 AM   #13
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

Thanks for letting us know Sandy, I feel so sad and I don't even know Liz. First Princess Lauren and now Liz. But I am touched by the kindness of the hospital staff that went out of their way for Liz - she must have touched them in some way to do that for her! My prayers go out to Liz and Jim!
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Old 09-26-2003, 10:46 AM   #14
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

[img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

Thank you for the update Sandy. What the oncology unit did for them was just amazing and wonderful. They are both in my thoughts, heart and prayers.
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Old 09-26-2003, 01:46 PM   #15
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Re: Sad Versafox update (some new info 9/29)

I'm so impressed by the oncology department. It must have meant the world to Jim that they care so much for Liz....she'll be missed. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]
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