Some good news for a change

[Kevin]

Some good news for a change
(but some scary stuff preceded it)

Hi Everyone. Sorry I missed writing last Friday’s Weekly Update, but we had another scare with my Dad, and I had to run off to the hospital before I could write it. I thought Wayne did a good job filling in.

UPDATE: Henry Siembieda. Thursday morning, my father Henry had the ventilator tube removed from his throat. Friday morning he looked great and was just starting to talk. He was awake, finally, alert and aware.

Friday morning, Dad greeted me with a huge smile. We chatted and watched TV before I had to leave. It was great to see him looking so good. I called a few people to tell them how good he was finally doing and bounced into the Palladium offices with the good news. Consequently, I was shocked and dismayed to get a call in the evening from a close family friend that my Dad had become unresponsive. It seems like every time Dad was doing good something would happen to set him back. All I could think was, “Oh no, not again.”

Sure enough, when I got to the hospital he was zoned out. At first we thought he was sedated, but he wasn’t. We were told his vitals were good and that he was probably exhausted. Maybe, but that’s not my Dad. We were very worried. I crawled into my apartment around 11:30 PM and exhaustion claimed me.

I went back early Saturday morning to find no change. There was concern about a possible stroke and a number of other things. It was scary. The family friend had gotten there a little earlier and noticed something helpful.

Good news. Nurse Rabia, who we affectionately call “Super-Nurse” among ourselves, me and the family friend were able to figure out that it was the pain meds knocking my Dad out and making him unresponsive. Turns out, my Dad has a low tolerance for opiates. Consequently, pain meds have a profound and debilitating impact on him. Sure enough, off the pain medicine Dad came around quickly. What a tremendous relief. Of course, the next problem became how to manage the pain and keep Henry awake. That has been (mostly) figured out now.

I’m almost afraid to say anything too positive, because I don’t want to jinx it, but my Dad seems to be doing much better. He’s eating mush and they are talking about moving him up to solid food or soft solids today or tomorrow. He’s weak (21 days of being stuck in bed), but awake, alert and looking good. He and I watched the Three Stooges this morning on AMC and he was laughing away. With any luck, he’ll continue to make improvement, move on the rehab portion of his recovery, and get home in a few weeks. Whew. Your prays must be working. Thank you.

In other news

Initial fan reaction to Heroes of the Megaverse is just starting to come in. So far, the vast majority like what they see. Another relief. I was very happy with the end product, and everyone here loved it, but you never know. I think most folks will love this sourcebook.

Online sales were a bit softer this weekend, but still decent.

We had wanted to get The Rifter® #52 to the printer by today, but that won't happen due to other demands on our time and the fact that Wayne got walloped by a nasty end of summer cold last week. The book is almost done but probably won't go to the printer for another day or two.

Now I think I’m coming down with something. The glands in my throat are swollen, my right ear is all plugged up and I feel worn out. Hmmm, then again, it could be that I am worn out. Been burning my candle at both ends, and several places in between for weeks now. I tried to get some rest Saturday and Sunday, but I think it was too little, too late. Will knock off early today if I can.

Gotta get back to my work in The Rifter®. Dying to work on Armageddon Unlimited™ (most of the art is in and looking good). I did make more notes for the Rifts® Vampire books over the weekend. Keep those imaginations burning bright.

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda

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Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

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