Yes, Peter is in the hospital. No, we are not entirely sure why.

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Hi there, remember me? I’m Kathleen, Peter’s wife. You may remember hearing from me almost 4 years ago after Peter had a stroke.

Well this time it is not a stroke or a heart attack. Right now we are eliminating things rather than getting a diagnosis because every time we think we know what is going on, we get another curve that sets us back to figuring out what is going on.

What we do know that Peter is in the hospital with severe leg weakness. He can’t walk and even standing is dicey.

This all started this past Saturday when he had to go to the hospital because he could not stand on his left foot due to ankle pain. It was diagnosed as a sprain. It was wrapped up and he was sent home with crutches.

Sunday he could barely move and standing was agony for him.

Monday he couldn’t even stand and that’s when he went back to the hospital where he has been the past couple of days where the Doctors are doing their best House impressions trying to figure out what is going on.

Currently we do not know when he will be back home.

He did point out that at least this time he had the good grace of collapse at home rather than out on the road like last time. His sense of humor is unaffected.

He said for me to remind you that you can still purchase his books in time for Christmas. There is a new Apropos novel available among other things. Personally I am still a fan of Fearless.

So I will be updating as I know things. I am getting some serious flashbacks to four years ago but this time there is no stroke just a mystery that really needs to be solved.

Caroline is holding up and dealing with what is happening and what will not be happening this Christmas which will be the first one I have not spent with my parents in my lifetime and her first without spending it at her grandparents. We have plans for the day to make it Christmas for us. We are hoping that Peter will be home by that point but it is not looking too likely. (EDIT: Clarification here. Peter is Jewish and I am Catholic. We mutually decided to raise Caroline as a Catholic and she had her confirmation this past October. So we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah and since Caroline’s birthday is in December, she makes out like a bandit this month)

So think good thoughts for Peter. He could really use them as could we.

80 comments on “Yes, Peter is in the hospital. No, we are not entirely sure why.”

  4. Get Well Soon PAD!

    Kathleen and Caroline, I hope that you are able to enjoy some Xmastime despite the latest trials in your lives.

  8. This year, happiness feels like an act of defiance, but I’m wishing you the happiest holiday possible, and I’m hoping that Peter can be happy at home with family and friends.

  11. Here’s hoping for the best possible results and a quick recovery for the great PAD. (Also, good thoughts for you and yours: It’s rough on the relatives and loved ones as well.)

  13. Good thoughts and best wishes to you all. Peter was recently travelling, right? It especially sucks to think that he’s come home from a long trip and is now in the hospital not able to enjoy being home. Hope he gets to make the next trip out of the hospital and back home with friends and family real soon!

  20. It sucks that this has to happen right at Hanukkah/Christmas time. Hope it doesn’t limit your family’s ability to enjoy each other’s company and participate in holiday cheer. Happy Hanukkah, Peter! Merry Christmas, Kathleen! Happy Holidays to all the rest, whatever your denomination! 🙂

  24. I hate it that this is happening. I wish Peter a speedy recovery, and (I really want to make a House joke and say: it’s not lupus) that he will be able to come home soon.

  26. Ðámņ it, Peter….I need you at your best to mock Trump for the next four years. It’s the only sane way we can face it. Get better soon.

  27. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I’m sure he is in good hands who are knowledgable. A very similar thing happened to me some years ago; it was a blood clot – a large one in my chest, with smaller ones in the legs. Very treatable. If they haven’t mentioned this, it’s worth asking about.

    All good thoughts going your way.

  28. Hope everything goes well. I´ll keep Mr. David on my thoughts and send you all my best wishes.

  32. So sorry to hear this. I know that not knowing is sometimes worse than a definite diagnosis, even if it’s not a great one. Your whole family in in our prayers. And thank you for taking the time to keep us informed.

  33. Pingback: Peter David Hospitalized | Star Trek Book Club

  35. Much love and all positive thoughts. Please call or email me if you need me to drive out there (weather permitting) to help with anything. I have the next 11 days off so it’s not a problem at all.

  36. Kathleen: I don’t want to be alarmist. BUT…something akin to this happened to me in late October 2014 which led to my hospitalization in November and other unpleasant stuff. Bob Greenberger and others know about this and I’ve made no secret about it elsewhere (devoting a number of FB posts to the matter scattered on my timeline from February 2015-now).

    Here’s the essentials, semi-briefly. Circa Halloween, I was having trouble walking–and the problem just grew worse. I couldn’t put much weight on my left foot or leg. At the time, I lived alone and thus it was easy to demur attempts on the phone by my parents (in PA, Peter met them years ago at a con we did together)and a couple pals to persuade me to visit a doctor (I hate doing that AND I was underinsured with no GP). I stayed in my NJ apartment, prepared only two meals a day (so I didn’t have to walk to the kitchen three times)and couldn’t always keep that food down. I was sometimes nauseous. Mostly, I lay in bed and hallucinated. I had no idea I was dying.

    Finally, my parents offered to drive up to NJ and ferry me back to their family doctor/a hospital I trusted in PA. They brought me to Lebanon, PA on Sunday 11/16 (getting me down stairs and into the car was difficult; I could only lurch wildly dragging one leg while using Mom’s walker). It was decided en route to NOT wait for Monday morning and the doctor but to go to that Lebanon hospital’s ER directly that night. A good thing.

    They did X-rays and other stuff, but were mystified as to a diagnosis. I was told I “might have a better outcome” if I was transported a half-hour away to the massive Hershey Medical Center. So, I took a post-midnight ambulance ride to HMC in an icy rainstorm. More X-rays, a MRI. Fortunately, a doctor who rarely worked at HMC was there substituting for his practice partner. He immediately recognized my rare (but alas not as rare as it used to be) malady.

    I had unknowingly contracted Nectrotizing Fascitis, the infamous “Flesh-Eating Disease.” I was also diagnosed at HMC with Diabetes, Type II (which I didn’t know I had). Thus, I had a tiny open, diabetic-not-healing wound on my big toe (which I DID know about). Somehow, the NF germ had entered my body there, starting to “eat” my leg, which was becoming gangreneous (which I had no idea about!). Nausea and loss of appetite spread from those factors, also causing malnutrition and hallucinations.

    However, in short, a choice: My leg or my life.

    One amputation (and three surgeries in all to make sure they got all the NF) and two weeks at HMC and four more weeks in the rehab hospital, here I am.

    Now, I tell you all this NOT to frighten you or horrify anyone. But to underscore the seriousness of this specific possibility. I fervently hope that this is not an element in Peter’s problem, but reading the symptoms 10 minutes ago set off alarm bells. Not being able to walk, pain in the ankle? What if he had a cut on his foot or leg? Or he’s diabetic, too?

    So, sorry, I couldn’t NOT relate my story, even while knowing NF is semi-rare. I wouldn’t want a stranger, much less an old friend, to repeat my experience even if I risk crying wolf here.

    Anyhow, I’d like you to mention NF to Peter’s doctor—ESPECIALLY if he has had some cut on his foot or leg. Maybe “I know someone who had NF and trouble walking before matters got worse. It couldn’t be NF, could it? Have you ruled that out? Can we rule that out now?” And probably it won’t be indicated and that, at least, will be a good thing (believe me!).

    Thanks for listening to me and good luck to Peter. I’ll be hoping for a better, simpler, easier, more elegant, DIFFERENT diagnosis than mine. But I HAD TO write this.

  42. Hang in there.

    Haven’t heard from Susan since DSC, so i don’t know if she knows, but i know she’d send good wishes if she does.

  45. Best luck to a successful diagnosis and treatment PAD! Happy holidays, merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and yours!

  46. Here’s hoping for a fast and full recovery. Wishing you and your family all the very best wishes.

  48. I’m praying here, hoping this mysterie can be solved as quick as possible. Good vibrations to you, Peter, for your lovely wife and family.

  49. Sending my most positive thoughts for a speedy recovery and a Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Birthday to everyone. Hope you get to see your folks soon!

  50. Please have them test for Guillane Barre (pronounced Gee on Baray) It starts in the legs and moves up the body. Very important to diagnose early or he will require a respirator.

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