Still Breathing…with Effort

Hello, all.

I’m still in the hospital and am likely to stay here at least until Friday, They’re trying to decide what to do with me after that — send me home or to some rehab facility where they’ll try to teach me to use what little lung power I’ve got left more efficiently. I’m hoping for some sort of compromise between the two, outpatient therapy or in-home visits from a respiratory specialist, something like that.

Dr. Tu is telling me not even to think about wheelchairs or scooters yet. I need to be better-conditioned, not more fragile, to undergo the lung transplant. Fine with me.

I’ve written a brief introduction to Marvel’s Howard the Duck Omnibus volume and sent it off just moments ago to editor Mark Beazley. It was late (naturally), so I can only hope it arrived at Marvel in time to be included in the book.

I’m working on Doctor Fate, as well, of course, and hoping against hope that we’ll be able to avoid an awkward fill-in story in COUNTDOWN TO MYSTERY. Dan Didio and Joey Cavalieri have been very gracious so far and are trying their best to accommodate the situation. I’m very grateful to both of them.

As for my health, well, I am improving, but slowly. They’re about to wheel me back upstairs, so no time to go into details now.

More to follow, eventually.

14 Responses to “Still Breathing…with Effort”

  1. Gordon Says:

    Well, good. I’m glad you won’t be in a wheelchair at least for now.
    Keep your spirits up, Steve. You have more friends than you know.
    And we are all thinking good thoughts for you.

    And also, please have lunch with Evanier.

  2. Wayne Says:

    Have they got a Segway option? The ladies really dig those.

  3. Marc Bryant Says:

    Thanks for the update Steve. Hang in there.

  4. Forrest Says:

    Given that recent discovery about sitting down turning off the fat-burning mechanisms, a Segway makes gobs of sense.

  5. Stefan Immel Says:

    Still rooting and praying for you Steve. It’s good to hear that you are improving albeit slowly and tha fact that you should be back on your feet (not wheels) sounds good also.
    Regarding your work it’s great to hear that you are still working on both Dr. Fate and the HtD Omnibus. If Dan Didio can accomodate you so that there is no fill in story that is great, I still don’t know why some people think he is the devil incarnate.

  6. Scott Andrew Hutchins Says:

    I’m glad to hear that you’re improving. I’d rather have a fill-in now and more stories later than have you compromise your health to get a story out and not be able to produce more.

    You’re definitely in my prayers.

    Stefan,

    I met Neal from Comics Values Monthly at a Twelfth Night party recently. He was complaining about DiDio and Quesada, saying he knew of horror stories of the former and accusing the latter of incompetence. His argument was essentially that event-driven comics destroy mainstream sales, since the amount of buying needed to follow the storyline leaves most people out.

    I don’t think it helps that the production values of comics have gone up so high that their prices have, too. If comics wee still printed like they were in the 1970s, I don’t think they would be nearly as expensive, since it’s more than inflation that is driving up the cost.

  7. Stephen Abrams Says:

    Glad to hear that you’re doing slightly better Steve. I hope that things only continue to improve for you.

  8. Christian McDonald Says:

    Gerber is a tough bastard. I’d love to hear the argument between him and Death when the end comes (as it comes for all of us). Something tells me that this conversation will be a while from now… Gerber is smarter and funnier than Death could ever be.

    Steve – keep writing, and don’t let the hospital get you down.

  9. Charles Bryan Says:

    Steve, as always, I hope you’re feeling better soon. Let Dan D. and Joey C. know that your readers are a faithful lot and will not allow the mere passage of time to diminish our enthusiasm.

    The TV show Lost has taught me much patience when it comes to my entertainment.

  10. Alex Krislov Says:

    Jesus! Let’s not even put “death” in the same sentence with Steve just yet, okay, guys?

    Steve, this is getting old. Get better. Right now. No more of this shit. Rise! Rise! (Well, shit, it works for Oral Roberts.)

    Seriously, we’re praying for ya here.

  11. Scott Andrew Hutchins Says:

    Just make sure that if you have a sniffle when you leave that you let them know immediately. Maybe if my dad had done that, he would still be here.

  12. Bryan Headley Says:

    Yeah, you don’t want a go-cart quite yet. You need to keep a modicrum of trim that walking around affords you.

    In the meantime, it sounds like they’re treating you well. Both the hospital and the office(s).

  13. Judy Ginsberg Says:

    Steve, glad to hear you are feeling well enough to write. Keep it up and know that you are always in our prayers.

    Judy

  14. Enrique Says:

    HI Steve, greetings from a great fan from Spain, I hope you get perfect soon, a lot of people is with you in this difficult time. Whatever you need you only have to ask.