The following update was added at 8:45PM on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 —

Good evening to the entire Necon Community.

This is Matt Bechtel, once again hacking into Bob's email account to use his universal mailing list to deliver the latest on his condition. On behalf of all of us, I apologize for the length of time which has passed since our last update (as I'm sure you all understand, things have been rather hectic!).

I'd also like to take this moment to apologize to anyone who might have been a bit worried by a certain Facebook post this morning by Necon's Fearless Leader, our Chairwoman Sara Calia. Sara posted a brief note asking for thoughts and prayers for Bob, and a number of people (understandably) jumped to some fairly dire conclusions. Sara, please allow me to say that your strength, love, and courage throughout these last few months has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I've been humbled and honored to stand by your side ... but damn it, couldn't you have dropped a little more info than just, "Please pray for Dad, he needs them!" into your Facebook post??? Judging by the way my cell phone blew up this morning, your minimalist Status Update really scared a lot of people!

Okay, all joking aside, here's what's what on "The Bob Front" — what Sara was alluding to is the fact that the last 24 hours have been far from the best. Last evening, Bob spiked a fever of 101 degrees; seeing as he's undergoing chemotherapy, his doctor did NOT screw around and ordered him immediately to the E.R., and from there he was readmitted into the hospital. His medical team identified multiple possible causes of infection which could explain the fever (including a VERY small amount of the VERY early stages of pneumonia, which was gratefully caught so early!), so they put him on an I.V. of antibiotics to clear everything up. As such, I'm thrilled to report that he is already feeling much, MUCH better; the fever broke almost immediately, Bob's less fatigued, and he's in his typical high spirits. They're going to keep him in the hospital for a few days and run some more tests/cultures to determine exactly what type of infection he has, but at that point they plan to switch him from the global I.V. antibiotics to an oral dosage of antibiotics which will specifically target whatever particular type of infection this happens to be. So, long story short, we're knocking on wood that they'll be able to send him home on Friday.

Which brings up another key piece of news which happened since our last update ...

On Monday, February 4th, BOB WENT HOME!!!

(Granted, even before last night's fever he's been back-and-forth a few times for tests and for another round of chemo, but that last sentence is still worth repeating ...)

On Monday, February 4th, BOB WENT HOME!!!

I'm not going to go through all the boring nuts-and-bolts details of having equipment installed at the house and arranging a visiting nurse schedule (particularly 'cuz that tends to change on a daily basis anyhow!) What I can tell you is that I honestly don't have the words to describe what a difference being home has made for him ... and that you all played SUCH a significant part in that triumph. Once again, your outpouring of love, support, prayers and well-wishes have done far more than just lift Bob's spirits — you've given him strength. From the bottom of all of our hearts, I cannot thank you all enough.

As I referenced earlier, the plan going forward is to continue returning to the hospital for his chemotherapy treatments (which last for three days) every three weeks. However, first things first — let's knock out the rest of this infection and get Bob back home within the next few days. In the meantime, anyone who wishes to reach out to Bob is happily encouraged to do so! Sara is still receiving emails for him at saracalia08@gmail.com, while cards and letters can be sent directly to: Bob Booth, 67 Birchland Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860. And once again, this email will be turned into a Facebook post, a Necon E-Books Live Blog, and posted on various message boards, so please feel free to use those various web sites to convey your best wishes as well.

Thank you all again so much for all of your love and support. And thank you for being such an important part of ...
– The Necon Family

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*** PLEASE READ (AGAIN!!!)***

The following update was added at 10:20PM on Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 —

Dear Necon Community,

Good evening (and I'm happy to report that it IS a good one!). This is Matt on the con; Sara asked me to send out an update on Bob's condition, and unlike the last email, this is one you'll be glad to read.

I'll start with the "big picture" — Bob's improvement over the last four days has practically been miraculous. He feels stronger and stronger each day, he has been eating consistently since Friday evening (after over a week of having no appetite whatsoever), and he reports being in NO PAIN. His eyes are clear, his spirits are high, and I don't have the words to tell you how much he appreciates the outpouring of love you have all shown him.

Now for a few particulars. An MRI on Friday showed tumors pressing against Bob's spine; ironically, this was actually decent news because it explained many of his symptoms (such as the weakness in his lower body). As such, he immediately began an aggressive regimen of radiation and steroids, and as I wrote earlier, his improvement was instantaneous. His doctors have decided to complete the full regimen of radiation (which will run through next Wednesday) before moving on to chemotherapy, but in the meantime, Bob has already met with his Physical Therapy team, who have been tasked with building back the strength in his legs. They plan to begin his PT within the next few days, and they're not messing around — they're planning on putting him through the paces for three hours a day!

Bob also received some of the best news he's gotten this weekend, and in classic Bob fashion, it didn't take him long to twist it into a funny story. According to Bob, his doctor's EXACT WORDS were that a CAT Scan taken a few days ago "showed nothing." "So," Bob explained, "either he means I have no brain, or he means I have no brain cancer!" While most of us have suspected the former for years, I'm pretty damn sure his doctor meant the latter.

So that's where we stand, gang — with a long road ahead, but with Bob feeling better and stronger by the minute. Yes, these are the beginning steps forward, but each and every step forward, and each and every day which Bob feels better, deserves to be celebrated.

Which is where you all come in. On behalf of Bob, Mary, Sara, Dan and Jillian, I humbly THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for your positive thoughts, prayers, well-wishes, and energy. The way you have all rallied to Bob's side has absolutely touched his heart and given him strength. Your cards, letters, emails, Facebook posts, and visits have made an immeasurable difference towards lifting his spirits; as such, please, by all means, keep 'em coming, 'cuz they're obviously working!!! Once again, you can email Bob via Sara at saracalia08@gmail.com, while cards and letters can be sent directly to: Bob Booth, 67 Birchland Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Finally, this announcement will once again be turned into a Facebook post, a Necon E-Books Live Blog (http://www.neconebooks.com/blog/?p=226), and posted on various message boards, so please feel free to respond and send your best wishes to Bob via those social networking sites as well.

Again, thank you all so much for your kindness, support and love. And thank you all for being a part of …
– The Necon Family

P.S. — Nanci, thank you for sticky-ing this thread; we'll continue to post updates here!

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Dear Necon Community,

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we write to you today to ask for your prayers, good thoughts, and positive energy for our Papa Necon, Bob Booth. As some of you may have heard, Bob came down with bronchitis in November. He was sent for a chest x-ray and it came back showing a shadow that the doctor didn't like. Further tests revealed spots on his lung and lesions on his liver, which led to still further tests. He has been diagnosed with stage four extensive small cell lung cancer and stage four liver cancer. The doctors also believe that it has spread to his bones, and he is undergoing further testing to discover if it has reached his brain. Early next week, when all of the results are in, decisions will be made regarding the wisdom and usefulness of chemotherapy and other treatments, but it must be said that options are limited.

Over the more than thirty years since Necon's founding, it has become ever clearer that Necon is more than a convention. It has been called summer camp, but always feels like more of a family reunion, and our Necon family grows and changes with every passing year, spreading further and adding new members. Bob has been the center of that family--truly Papa Necon--since the very first day, and it is one of his greatest pleasures. We trust that many of you will want to send Bob your thoughts, kind words, and well wishes, and we gratefully encourage you to do so. Prayers and positive energy are powerful and would be deeply appreciated by all of us.

Cards and letters can be sent directly to Bob at home. Bob Booth, 67 Birchland Ave Pawtucket, Ri 02860. If you'd like to send e-mails and want to be sure they reach him, the best way is to send them to Sara, and she will see that he receives them. Her e-mail is saracalia08@gmail.com.

Thank you for your kindness, past, present, and future.

Sincerely,
The Necon Family

P.S. — This announcement has also been posted on the Necon E-Books Live Blog at http://www.neconebooks.com/blog/?p=221 so that people may use the "Response" section to convey their well-wishes to Bob, Mary, and the entire Booth Family.

This is such sad news. My thoughts and prayers go to Bob, his family, and to all his many friends.

Ah, this is terrible news. I'm so very sorry, and I can't imagine what Bob and his family are going through right now.

_________________
http://louis-eldest.livejournal.com/

We will keep Bob and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

_________________
" If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand"
Milton Friedman

Bob's wife at the mike.

Nanci with Bob's daughter.

My heart went cold when i got the email... its just terrible.

_________________
Kurt~
Copy-Editor Crossroads Press
OCLT Historian/Bible Keeper
aka Reverend C, The Hallowed Ground Wiki Master
aka Kekoa Kekipi, CCP Cult Name.

Holy cow, that's great news! Happy to hear he's feeling stronger.

_________________
http://louis-eldest.livejournal.com/

Thank the gods!

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www.chuckrios.com