It's funny because I have always mocked the obscure boundary with which "real life" and the "online world" are separated. We all watch the Bills, post our thoughts, mock trolls (while occasionally taking the bait when emotion or boredom dilute our senses) and then go on about our lives. We all have our Monikers that are as close to an alter ego as it gets, and we interact with other monikers who are doing the same thing, almost ignoring the real person that pilots the keyboard. Then the real world has the audacity to invade our cyber community, melting away the aliases and uncloaking us all as to who we really are.
I've never met John, I've never had the fortune to have a real conversation with him, I could pass him on the street and have no sense that Beerball and I just crossed paths. But at moments like this, our world is put into focus. I find myself checking this thread constantly for updates on a man I don't know personally, but whose absence would create a discernible void for all of us.
I guess that's just a long winded way of saying John, you are in my prayers, fight hard, be strong, and god bless.