SF Site News » Health

Clive Barker Health Scare

Steven H Silver — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:05:31 +0000

Horror author Clive Barker found himself in the hospital and a coma in late January after visiting the dentist. The dental visit released bacteria into Barker’s system leading to toxic shock and several days in intensive care.

For more information…

Judy Newton Suffers Heart Attack

Steven H Silver — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:49:49 +0000

Judy Newton, the President of the Washington Science Fiction Association, was hospitalized on February 8 after suffering an heart attack. She is scheduled to undergo bypass surgery on February 10.

Langford Recuperating

Steven H Silver — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:25:39 +0000

David Langford underwent surgery on January 20 to repair a detached retina. According to his surgeon, the procedure, which corrected a rapidly deteriorating vision issue, was a success and Langford is currently recuperating, noting that “life is still blurry and full of typos.”

Hevelin in Hospice

Steven H Silver — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:34:43 +0000

Rusty Hevelin has entered end-of-life hospice care at the VA Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. His health has been in poor condition and last week reports emerged that Hevelin had lost all circulation to his legs. Hevelin is a long-time convention attendee and dealer. Hevelin became active in fandom in the 1930s and was the Fan Guest of Honor at Denvention 2 in 1981. Messages for Rusty can be left at Lorena Haldeman’s blog.

Suzette Haden Elgin Ailing

Steven H Silver — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:35:29 +0000

Author Suzette Haden Elgin, who wrote the Native Tongue trilogy and the Ozark trilogy, among other works, and has been blogging recently, has become disabled and, through Stephen Marsh, has announced that she “just can’t focus on things well enough to even answer an email, let alone talk to anyone.” Rose Fox infers that Elgin may not be able to finish the novel she announced she was working on several months ago.

Stephen Marsh’s notice…
Rose Fox’s comments…

Rob Thurman Recuperating

Steven H Silver — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:48:47 +0000

Author Rob Thurman was in a car accident the week of August 19. Thurman spent several days in the ICU and was taken off a ventilator on August 27. By August 28, Thurman was aware and cognizant of her surroundings.

For more information…

Patterson Undergoes Amputation

Steven H Silver — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:09:45 +0000

William H. Patterson, Jr., the author of Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century: Volume 1 (1907-1948): Learning Curve , entered the hospital upon his return home from Renovation with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. His hospitalization resulted in a transmetatarsal foot amputation.

For more information…

L.A. Banks Ailing

Steven H Silver — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:44:51 +0000

Author Leslie Esdaile, who writes as L. A. Banks, went into the hospital in May for treatment and is gravely ill. A fund has been established to help cover her mounting medical costs. Donations may be made to:

Leslie Esdaile Fund
Account #81538801
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
Operations Center
901 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404
215-931-0300

For more information…

Joel Rosenberg Health Scare

Steven H Silver — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:42:02 +0000

Martin Schafer has reported that author Joel Rosenberg “stopped breathing last night [June 1] and was taken to HCMC by the paramedics. He was anoxic for an extended period. His breathing is restarted but he has not regained consciousness and remains in critical condition.”

For more information…

Joanna Russ in Hospice

Steven H Silver — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:52:00 +0000

Samuel R. Delany via Ron Drummond reports that Joanna Russ, the author of The Female Man and What Are We Fighting For?: Sex, Race, Class, and the Future of Feminism, among many other works of science fiction and scholarship, has been admitted to hospice after suffering a series of strokes. According to Drummond, Delany says that Russ is “slipping away” and has long had a “Do Not Resuscitate” on file.

Peter Watts Healing

Steven H Silver — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:58:42 +0000

Canadian science fiction author Peter Watts is healing after contracting necrotising fasciitis late last week. The disease, commonly known as the flesh-eating disease, has been treated and Watts is believed to be clear of the bacteria. He will remain in hospital for some time and will not have direct internet access during that time.

For more information…

Elise Matthesen Suffers Minor Stroke

Steven H Silver — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:47:45 +0000

Minneapolis fan Elise Matthesen suffered a minor stroke on January 4 while visiting Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden. After suffering a sudden impairment of vision accompanied by a strong and lateralized headache, Teresa called an ambulance. Matthesen is recuperating and appears as if she will make a full recovery.

For more information…

Card Suffers Stroke

Steven H Silver — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:08:18 +0000

Orson Scott Card suffered a minor stroke on New Year’s Day. He is expected to make a full recovery and is continuing to write, but has canceled all his scheduled appearances. Card was scheduled for a book tour in support of his new novel The Lost Gate.

For more information…

Spinrad Recuperating

Steven H Silver — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:22:09 +0000

Author Norman Spinrad is recuperating from surgery performed on May 20 at Sloan-Kettering in relation to his stomach cancer.

Jeanne Robinson Charity Auction

Steven H Silver — Mon, 03 May 2010 01:39:22 +0000

The Sci Fi Saturday Night podcast will be hosting a charity auction to raise funds for Jeanne Robinson, who has been battling a virulent strain of cancer. The benefit is scheduled to run on May 8 beginning at 8pm Eastern time. Items include artwork by Mike Mignola, Sergio Aragones, Joe Michael Linsner, Ben Templesmith, Mike Lilly, Bob Almond, Frankie B. Washington, and others.

For more information…
For donations…

Charity Auction: Laurie Marks’s Wife

Steven H Silver — Mon, 03 May 2010 01:19:25 +0000

Deb Mensinger, author Laurie Marks’s wife, is in need of a liver transplant. In order to make this possible, several authors and artists have donated items for a charity auction to raise the funds necessary. A Livejournal community has been set up to host the auction and allow others to offer items for auction as well.

For more information…

Wolfe Recuperating

Steven H Silver — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:39:53 +0000

Author Gene Wolfe underwent open heart surgery on April 24 after suffering shortness of breath. An echocardiogram showed a leaking mitral valve and Wolfe had underwent double bypass and valve repair surgery. He is recovering well and his family hopes to move him to a rehab facility in the next couple of days.

Spinrad Diagnosed with Cancer

Steven H Silver — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:48:49 +0000

Author Norman Spinrad has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Doctors have recommended he treat the cancer with chemotherapy as it is currently inoperable. Spinrad is being treated at Sloan-Kettering.

For more information…

Jeanne Robinson Prognosis

Steven H Silver — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:40:28 +0000

Doctors have stopped chemotherapy on author Jeanne Robinson, the wife of Spider Robinson. Robinson has been suffering from a virulent form of biliary cancer. Doctors have moved her to palliative care and told Spider and Jeanne and Jeanne had anywhere between one month and a year. Jeanne welcomes prayers, good thoughts, short emails of love and support that don’t require an answer, letters, or cards. Spider asks that nobody visit or call.

For more information…

Harry for Haiti

Steven H Silver — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:58:53 +0000

Harry Potter fandom will be holding a web-based telethon to raise money for Partners in Health, an organization helping earthquake survivors in Haiti. The telethon is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 23 beginning at 2PM EST. The group has more than 100 prize donations from authors, musicians, and activists to aid in this effort. The telethon will feature performances by Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, The Remus Lupins, Ministry of Magic, Lauren Fairweather, and The Whomping Willows.

For more information…

Baker Fighting Cancer

Steven H Silver — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:17:06 +0000

Author Kage Baker was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2009. Initial surgery went well, but on Christmas Eve doctors discovered that the cancer had metastasized to her brain. A tumor was removed, but it has regrown, and there are also tumors in her lungs. Baker’s prognosis does not look good. She is currently too weak for phone calls.

For more information…

Robinson Fundraiser

Steven H Silver — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:59:17 +0000

Lawrence Santoro has designated that all proceeds from the sale of copies of his e-book Lord Dickens’s Declaration through December 30, 2009 will go to help Spider and Jeanne Robinson with their medical bills. Jeanne Robinson has been battling a virulent form of biliary cancer.

For more information…

Robert Holdstock in Hospital

Steven H Silver — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:27:16 +0000

Author Robert Holdstock has entered hospital and is in intensive care, described by Ansible as “gravely ill.”

H1N1 at WFC

Steven H Silver — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:16:43 +0000

One case of H1N1 has been confirmed among attendees of World Fantasy Con, held last weekend in San Jose. Australian editor Jonathan Strahan became ill immediately after the convention and has been diagnosed as suffering from the virus, although his doctor did not run clinical tests. Although other cases of concrud may affect people, no other confirmed cases of H1N1 have been reported from World Fantasy Con.

For more information…

Klass in Hospital

Steven H Silver — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:08:05 +0000

Author Philip Klass, who writes as William Tenn, has been hospitalized with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and gall bladder difficulties. According to his wife, Klass is recovering and will spend time in rehab following his release from the hospital.

Haldeman Hospitalized

Steven H Silver — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:46:22 +0000

Author Joe Haldeman was hospitalized in Cincinnati while attending Chilicon, an informal gathering. Haldeman was suffering from chest pains, but a CAT Scan revealed it was a intestinal problem. His situation was exacerbated by pancreatic problems. Haldeman has been placed in a drug-induced coma to improve his recovery.

Jeanne Robinson Ill

Steven H Silver — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:55:23 +0000

Author Jeanne Robinson, wife of Spider Robinson, is scheduled to start a round of chemotherapy for a virulent form of biliary cancer. A benefit concert for Jeanne will be held on Friday, September 18 at 7:30 at Cates Hill Chapel on Bowen Island and an e-bay auction has been set up as well as donations through Paypal to help defray the cost of treatment.

For more information…
Benefit Concert Information (pdf)

Weist Battling Cancer

Steven H Silver — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:53:52 +0000

Jerry Weist, the author of Bradbury: An Illustrated Life and The Art of Frank R. Paul has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The diagnosis was made early and he has begun chemotherapy as part of an experimental program. In 1974, Weist founded The Million Year Picnic comic book shop.

Aaron Allston Health Fund

Steven H Silver — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:52:18 +0000

Following his heart attack while on a book tour in March, author Aaron Allston had racked up major health bills. The Fandom Association of Central Texas has created The Aaron Allston Donation Fund and Auction, a 501(c)(3) organization to collect money to help pay off Allston’s bills. They are also coordinating an auction, to take place on July 19, to raise funds.

For more information…

Stocker Ailing

Steven H Silver — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:20:48 +0000

New Orleans fan Dr. Jack Stocker suffered a massive stroke on July 6. He is currently in hospital and on a ventilator. Stocker has been active in New Orleans fandom for several years. He lost a great deal of his book collection in Hurricane Katrina and has been working to rebuild it.

Peggy Ranson Heart Attack

Steven H Silver — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:25:40 +0000

Fan artist Peggy Ranson has suffered an heart attack and is undergoing bypass surgery. Ransom was an Illustrator of the Future finalist in 1990 and was a Hugo nominee for best fan artist from 1991 through 1998, winning the Hugo in 1993.

Anne Braude in Hospital

Steven H Silver — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:20:49 +0000

Fan Anne Braude, who wrote for the fanzine Yandro in the 1960s, underwent emergency abdominal surgery on June 10. Following the surgery, during which a complete colectomy was performed, Braude was moved to the ICU, where she was listed in very critical condition.

Flint Undergoes Heart Surgery

Steven H Silver — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:07:54 +0000

Following an angiogram, doctors have determined that Eric Flint needs to undergo bypass surgery to clear several blockages. He is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, April 30 and expects to spend about a week in the hospital recuperating before returning home to continue his recuperation.

Aaron Allston in Hospital

Steven H Silver — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:29:34 +0000

Aaron Allston suffered an heart attack on March 29 while on a book tour promoting his new novel, Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast. Following a battery of tests, his doctors determined Allston needed bypass surgery and couldn’t return home for the surgery. On April 2, Allston underwent the bypass surgery and is still recuperating in the ICU as of April 5.

For more information…

Dave Arneson Ailing

Steven H Silver — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:26:13 +0000

Dave Arneson, who co-created Dungeons and Dragons with Gary Gygax, is in the hospital. Arneson has been suffering from cancer and according to reports may be terminal. Arneson’s family has asked for privacy and requests that his many fans do not attempt to contact either Arneson or the family at this time.

For more informaiton…

Laura Haywood-Cory In Hospital

Steven H Silver — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:14:56 +0000

Southern fan Laura Haywood-Cory suffered an heart attack on March 30. Haywood-Cory, who was one fo the founding members of Trino*coN, is having blockage cleared. In addition to her fannish activities, Haywood-Cory does publicity work for Baen Books.