I need help displaying data to an LCD using a PIC24EP512GU810 microcontroller

Question

The LCD won't display anything no matter what I try.

I am trying to display data to an LCD using a PIC24EP512GU810 microcontroller. I know the bits are set to the correct pins for the LCD data because I have gotten characters to show up before with the same config. However now the characters don't seem to be showing up at all. I tried messing with delays to see if the LCD just needed more time to display the data values. I tried manually moving the cursor, adjusting the initialization settings for the LCD, commenting out the timer (so it doesn't interrupt a write to the LCD), and more. I know it is making it through the char arrays sent to it and even setting the right bits to the LCD. I have done everything I can think of to make this work, so I was hoping I could get some advise. The LCD I am using is a Hacktronix HDM16216L-7, not to be confused with Hacktronics god knows I've made that mistake. I should mention the LCD does work as I have checked it with a different board I have, so that is not the issue.

LCD_manual: text LCD_DataSheet: text

const unsigned int tm10ms = 2;
const unsigned int tm20ms = 4;
const unsigned int tm25ms = 5;
const unsigned int tm50ms = 10;
const unsigned int tm100ms = 20;
const unsigned int tm200ms = 40;
const unsigned int tm500ms = 100;
const unsigned int tm1000ms = 200;
const unsigned int tm2000ms = 400;
const unsigned int tm5000ms = 1000;
const unsigned int tm1min = 12000;
const unsigned int tm5min = 60000;
const unsigned long tm10min = 120000;
unsigned int count5ms = 1;
unsigned int count = 0;
unsigned int ii = 0;
void SetLCDData(unsigned char chardata);
void LcdInit();
void LcdCmd(unsigned char cmd);
void LcdWrite(unsigned char *cmd);
unsigned char charData;
int countvar = 0;

void InitTimer1(){        //10ms
     T1CON         = 0x8020;
     T1IE_bit         = 1;
     T1IF_bit         = 0;
     IPC0         = IPC0 | 0x1000;
     PR1         = 10937;
}

void Timer1Interrupt() iv IVT_ADDR_T1INTERRUPT
{
  T1IF_bit     = 0;
  count5ms = 1;
}

void LcdInit()
{
    delay_ms(50);
    AN_AvgValues[idxSigBusFLT] = 0;       //corresponds to the R/W bit of the LCD
    LcdCmd(0x38);  //Set LCD Functionality
    LcdCmd(0x0e);  //LCD ON 1110      cursor on
    LcdCmd(0x01);  //clear the Display    0001
    LcdCmd(0x06);  //Entry Mode Set  0111  increment cursor no display shift
    LcdCmd(0x80);  //set the DD Ram address aka the location on the lcd which we will Display a character
}

void LcdCmd(unsigned char cmd)
{
     LCD_RS = 0;
     SetLCDData(cmd);
     delay_ms(1);
}

void LcdWrite(unsigned char *cmd)
{
     LCD_RS = 1;
     ii = 0;
     while (cmd[ii] != '~')
     {
        SetLCDData(cmd[ii]);
        delay_ms(100);
        LD_FAULT=~LD_FAULT;
        ii++;
     }
}

void SetLCDData(unsigned char charData)
{
      AN_AvgValues[idxSigBusFLT] = 0; //represents the R/W signal always 0
      LCD_D0 = charData.B0;
      LCD_D1 = charData.B1;
      LCD_D2 = charData.B2;
      LCD_D3 = charData.B3;
      LCD_D4 = charData.B4;
      LCD_D5 = charData.B5;
      LCD_D6 = charData.B6;
      LCD_D7 = charData.B7;
      LCD_EN = 1;
      delay_ms(1);
      LCD_EN = 0;
      delay_ms(50);
}


void main() {
     //PLL Config for 140MHz Fosc
     //Fosc = Fin*(M/(N1*N2)) --> 140MHz = 8*(70/4)
        PLLFBD = 68;             // PLL multiplier M=70
        CLKDIV = 0x0000;         // PLL prescaler N1=2, PLL postscaler N2=2
     
    //SET Analog bits and TRIS bits

    LcdInit();    // Initialize The LCD
    delay_ms(50);

    LcdWrite("test~");
    LcdCmd(0xc0);
    LcdWrite("BadApple~");
    //InitTimer1(); // Initialize Timer 1 for Period Interrupts
    while(1)
    {
       /*if (count5ms == 1)
       {
           count5ms = 0;
           count++;
           if (count%tm1000ms == 0)
           {
                LcdWrite("Bad Apple~");
           }
       } */
    }
}