Thursday, July 27, 2006
Bob Link Hospitalized
By John Philbeck
Contributing Editor
Bob Link, an NBUA member since 1998 and one of the nicest men to ever walk this planet, is in Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland with a very serious and extremely rare condition, aplastic anemia. This condition, which affects fewer than 1,000 people each year in the United States, is a result of the bone marrow not producing normal amounts of red and white blood cells or platlettes. When the condition becomes severe the blood will not clot properly, the oxygen carried throughout the body is reduced and infections are extremely serious because the immune system is compromised. The information I have seen about this condition discuss treatments including bone marrow transplants.
Bob says that he's not feeling too bad and the drugs are hopefully helping his platlette count improve. He is expecting to be in the hospital possibly through this weekend. Hopefully the doctors will be tired of poking him full of holes by then and he will be able to head home.
Bob has been the recipient of a number of transfusions as part of his treatment. The blood and platlettes are from the Puget Sound Blood Center. A list of all of their donation centers is below:
- Bellevue Center North Seattle Center
1021 112th Avenue NE 10356 Stone Avenue N
Bellevue, WA 98004 Seattle, WA 98133
425-453-4011 206-526-1970 - Bellingham Center Seattle Center
Sunset Square 921 Terry Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98226 Seattle, WA 98104
360-671-8848 206-292-6500 - Everett Center Silverdale Center
2703 Oakes Avenue 3230 NW Randall Way
Everett, WA 98201 Silverdale, WA 98383
425-252-5132 360-337-1985 - Lynnwood Center Tukwila Center
19723 Highway 99, Suite F 130 Andover Park E
Lynnwood, WA 98036 Tukwila, WA 98188
425-774-6366 206-241-6300 - Olympia Center
1220 Eastside Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360-352-1100
If you are able, please give platlettes at one of the centers listed. Please specify that you are there to donate platlettes on behalf of Bob Link. According to Bob platlettes are the primary component he needs and these are less available than whole blood.
Leslie Fitzgerald is in contact with Bob and is planning to send flowers on behalf of NBUA. As we hear more we will keep all of you informed on his situation. In the meantime, your thoughts and prayers are sincerely needed and appreciated.