Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The irrelevant & irreverent ramblings
of a couple of your partners in blue
Bob Link Update
By Henry Altschuler & John Philbeck
Contributing Editors
Bob Link, one of our finest members since 1998 was in Evergreen Hospital with aplastic anemia. This very rare and very serious condition is a result of a bone marrow disfunction. The patient does not produce enough red or white blood cells nor enough plateletes. The deficiencies result in a severe loss of stamina, very high suseptibility to infections and significant bruising and bleeding from any bumps or cuts.
Bob was released from Evergreen on Aug.19 and is now at home. He is feeling good and able to get around pretty well. He has lost a little weight (due to inactivity according to him but much more likely as a result of the chemical cocktails they have him taking) if you can imagine Bob having any weight to lose.
The most likely treatment for Bob will involve a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, he has an excellent donor with his sister (kinda' makes you regret some of those things you did when you guys were kids, doesn't it Bob!). As with life and illnesses, there are some complications which must be addressed before the transplant can go forward but Bob's doctors at Seattle Cancer Care sound like they are on top of things. Bob can certainly confirm that they seem to be having a good time poking and proding him almost every day.
Bob sends a big THANK YOU to everybody that has donated blood and platelets. "It's a generous thing you do!" he states in his latest note.
Bob still has a long way to go "but with everyone's support and prayers I'm staying positive and looking forward to next season." Bob, we're looking forward to seeing you out there, too.
Finally, we (NBUA members) still need to help support Bob by donating blood or platelets to the Puget Sound Blood Center. The list of donation centers is provided below. Please make the effort and give if you are possibly able.
· 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
John "Stonewall" Philbeck can be reached at st1jrp@comcast.net. Henry "the Yankee" Altschuler can be reached at calledstrike@yahoo.com. Story ideas are welcomed and encouraged!