We've had a couple of similar stories here this year. Not that it makes yours any less important or sad, just that it has happened to others as well, and almost exactly the way it happened to you.
Best of luck on your recovery, and the new job. You'll always have friends here, even if they're invisible friends you may never meet.
I know! Come to this years meeting! At least you can talk to people you know from here, and what could be worse than that?
