News about Wayne AKA Steppen from WoW...

[Leizu]

Hello everyone...I know you don't know me but I'm a real time friend of Steppen's who i shall be refering to as Wayne from here out...I am very sorry to say to those of you that were friends with him that things have taken a very bad turn for him...

No doubt you have noticed a long absence from him for awhile now and that is because he has been in the hospital...I'm not sure how many of you knew, but he is a Hemophiliac (like me) which meens he bleeds internally from time to time, I won't go into the finer details cause it would take too long if you would like more info about that the internet is full of the answers you seek...

Anyhow, he had a small hemorage in his brain about 5 weeks ago and was in the hospital for it...He came through that like a champ, but unfortunatly while he was in the hospital he came down with some other problems...(and people wonder why I hate going to the hospital) Since then he has been re-admitted and his kidneys and liver have unfortunatly failed him...

I'm sure some of you realize what that means...While at this moment he is still with us "it is only a matter of time" is what the doctors say...he will be leaving this life soon as being a hemophiliac with the problems inherent means he will but ineligable for transplants or anything short of machinary to keep him alive...And also like most hemophiliacs (myself included) he has a DNR (Do Not Recessitate) order so they cannot keep him "alive" on machines when his body finally fails him...

He is a good friend of mine, we met due to our hemophilia and have gotten really close since then...His mother found my phone number on his cell phone about an hour before I started writing this post...I did a little digging over on Crushridge in WoW to try and find out exactly where his MMO friends lurked...I figured his mother would have a difficult time finding out about it and letting those of you that knew and liked him know, so I decided to do it...

I'm very sorry to his friends, he is a good guy and deserves far better than what he has gotten, but unfortunatly we shall probably never be hearing from him again...I hate to come in just to bring bad news but I figured if it were me, I'd want my friends to try and fine the people from these online games I liked and let them know...So i have done, and so now, shall I take my leave...

If anyone wishes to talk more about it and still has a WoW account I'll let you know where you can find me as I probably will not be back to these forums from being busy in game with my guild over there...

Realm: Garona
Character: Leizu
Time to find me: Almost always on at 9pm EST Tue, Thurs, Fridays (raid nights) and periodicly other than then for farming and playing other toons...

Secondary toons: Leiru, leezoo, Sekushi




Good hunting everyone...And I am sure when he finally does leave us, he will be watching over us and laughing at the foolish mistakes we make along the way...

[Hoofhurr]

I've wondered from time to time what the latest was and I'm incredibly sorry to hear this news. I did know he had a condition that kept him from playing now and again over the last 10 or so years that we've gamed together but was never privy to the details. If you see him again please tell him he will be remembered well for his caring character and easy nature.

I've always pondered how the internet culture of today would adapt to these inevitables of life. Gaming communities are very transient in nature, often superficial and quite often exclusively focused on gaming itself. They seem ill-equipped to deal with, or even patently uninterested in dealing with, the lives of their members outside of the gaming medium. I'm not sure where this thinking will ultimately lead but it seems almost essential that some real world physical contact be attempted to reinforce and reaffirm online friendships. That's a tough gap to bridge and many would probably choose to go without the attempt but as online friendships begin to form in the absence of physical ones it may become more pertinent to the fabric of society as a whole.

I'm very glad to see you reaching out for Steppen and I, for one, appreciate being informed about his condition. Say hello from Blhurr to him for me.

Cheers.

[Leizu]

I will if I get the chance...Though unfortunatly he's all but in a medicly induced coma at the moment from what I heard...Even if I saw him, I doubt he would even register my presence at the moment...And that is unfortunatly not likely to change...

However I am sure that the feelings of his friends will reach him eventually...And as a friend of his I simply felt that I owed the others he counted as friends on his behalf of a note so that you guys didn't think he just forgot about all of you...I know he hasn't...He used to have all manor of grand stories to share with me of all his time playing with you all...And I'm sure he would have wanted you to know...

[Skaag]

I am very sorry to hear this. But thank you for sharing this info with those of us who have known him throughout our gaming history together. We may not meet or become best friends with everyone we meet along the way, but we do share lots of laughs, struggles, and good times. It makes you value them as a person and makes these games more than just random toons playing together.

Please let his family know that he has touched many peoples lives through his hobby. He will always be in our hearts and memories.

[Thudz]

Please tell Steppen we wish him the best and to stay faithful that when the time comes he will be taken care of. :cry:

[Tipp]

This is horrible news. Step has been a friend since he joined Xanit K`Ven on Vallon Zek. He has always been an easy going, positive and relaxed person.

I know he has had health issues but was not aware they were this severe. I hope he pulls through this.

[Ulfen]

I am saddened to hear that, Step was always a really nice guy. I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.

[Flab]

Yep, Wayne was a good guy. I would occasionally talk to him on the phone and he was always a pleasure to talk to. Life dealt him a bad hand and he dealt with it better than I would've.

I hope the time he spent with us made things a bit easier for him.

Ill miss ya Wayne.

[Vanraw]

Seems like a month ago his name came up in the forums and we were all wondering how he was doing. Many of us knew of his condition. He is a good friend. I can only hope and pray, that somehow, he pulls through.

Please try to keep us up to date if you hear more.

[Moristans]

Step always comes accross as a genuinely great person. The internet always makes you wonder about these things, but I never wondered about him. I miss gaming with him a lot.