Wow. That is incredible. Thank you for sharing and thank you for staying by her side throughout all that. I probably only have the slightest idea of what that roller coaster felt like as I am not married yet.
 
Sadly, so many people in this world would have left and not come back if his/her spouse were diagnosed with something like cancer at such an early age. I'm glad you didn't because she looks like a really cool person.

Adam2013

Wow. That is incredible. Thank you for sharing and thank you for staying by her side throughout all that. I probably only have the slightest idea of what that roller coaster felt like as I am not married yet.

Sadly, so many people in this world would have left and not come back if his/her spouse were diagnosed with something like cancer at such an early age. I'm glad you didn't because she looks like a really cool person.

 
+1!!!!  I can not say this any different or add to it.  Only that having been married for over 30 years, I salute you for staying together.  Many couples forget that they swore an oath to love, cherish, & honor each other in sickness & health.  Very commendable & my prayers are with you for a special recovery!

Prayers on the way for Amanda and you.  All the best in her recovery.  This is a pure example of people at their best when the worst happens.  Inspiring...
 
Rick

December 1, 2010
Madrias
 
Why do I fold?  It gives me something to do when I'm not gaming or watching movies.  Something to do with the expensive GPU in my rig.  The fact that it could be saving someone's life attracted me closer to folding more than any of the other Distributed Computing items.  That, and if it can (eventually) cure cancer, it's all that much better.
 
To understand my hatred of cancer and why I fight in this 'folding war' to kill it, let me briefly explain:
 
My mother (formerly a smoker) passed away when I was 6 years old.  Cause of death: highly aggressive lung cancer.  Our family's been fighters for years.  She was given 3 months to live and dragged it out for 8 months.  That moment itself made me want to do something about it, but at the age of 6, I couldn't do anything.
 
For years, I couldn't do anything.  I didn't know about folding.  Heck, I hardly knew computers until I was 10.  Well, I knew how to use them, but hadn't ever tinkered inside them.
 
After that time, I began fiddling with computers, mostly to take my mind off of things.  Any time someone made a joke relating to parents (particularly "Yo' Momma" jokes, I flew into a fit of violent rage (understandably so), but the computer stuff helped.
 
Time passed and Dad got a GTS 250 (at the time, attempting to make his monitor work with the Radeon 5770 and giving up), but it didn't have HDMI connections (I believe it's the better model without), and so got a DVI to HDMI adapter.  He installed the card, got no screen display.  Hooked the adapter into the 5770, the screen worked just fine.
 
With that, I got my GTS 250 (It's about a year or so old now, still runs fine), and for about 2 or 3 months, I ran it normal.  Speedfan showed temps, I didn't like the card idling in the 50's, and so I installed Precision from the driver disk.  It wanted to update.  To update, I had to be a member of the EVGA forums, etc.  I signed up.  Not 2 days later, I found out about folding, and gave the GPU client a spin.
 
Since then, I've been folding on and off, until recently, where I cranked it up to fold more than I game (I have 2 games and neither are worth long playthroughs.) and pretty much haven't touched a controller.
 
So, now onto the part you all want to hear: why I fold.
 
I fold so that no one else has to suffer through cancer.  It's a disease I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy, and trust me, there's a lot I'd wish on him.  I fold to cure cancer, and some of the other nasty diseases.
 
The points, well, they allow me to compete (like gaming) against other people, specifically against those on my team, aspiring to be better.

Thanks Madrias, esp since i forgot to PM you a reminder. More comments later!

warthorn

Thanks Madrias, esp since i forgot to PM you a reminder. More comments later!

When I looked at the system clock and it said 12/1/2010, and 12:01 AM, it was time to do something.

[I know this is a few hours early for ya'll but i'm out early tomorrow morning so i'm posting this as close to the new day as possible for me (GMT).
 
-------------------------------
 
10th December 2010
 
Everyday I wake up, it's just as cold as every other 6 o'clock morning start. No heating, no breakfast, no shower until... i've trapsed accross to the otherside of the house, switched the power socket, monitor and computer on. Next: Its time to type my password, and slowly lumber back to the kitchen for some breakfast... In my books, every second earlier that I switch that machine on, someone may well benefit from my work units more in the future than if i'd waited a few minutes longer before getting up. I first started distributed computer processing last year when a lecturer in one of my university modules talked about it. I believe he referred to Seti@Home and this was the first program I started working for, but only for a matter of a couple of days. I then found out about folding@home through external links from the main SETI client. Ever since then i've been folding as I feel this to be the most beneficial cause for computational time. I fold on CPUs, GPUs and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on! (How I wish you could fold on ARM....).
 
My Reason:
 
So, to sum it all up, although I have no direct experience of the consequences of mis-folding (like many others out there) I do it to help, knowing that one day, somewhere, the WUs I submitted will have helped scientists to help a total stranger to me somewhere.

Sleinous,  well said and bravo!  I too head straight to the PC each morning to check Folding status and possibly start a new WU before coffee or most anything else.  Your "reason" is enough basis for anyone worldwide to Fold and I'm glad you are here with us no matter which Team because we are all the same Team. 
 
Rick
 

Good post Sleinous. Although it was a bit weird for me to see that you were trying to post as close to the next day as possible as it is almost 2pm here (GMT -6) until I saw what time zone you are and that you are in the UK 
 
Fold on!

Yes my apologies, especially as ive just gotten home earlier than expected and couldve posted a couple of hours later :(

Fold on!