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