Happy New Year 2013
Posted By Kathleen David on January 1, 2013
Peter update (I figure I will be doing these once a day for a while):
One of the scary things about stroke is that things can get worse before they get better. There is the initial stroke and then what I would best describe as aftershocks as the brain works through the trauma it is experiencing. So there can be a bit of a downward before we begin any upward. And with any good luck we are past the bottom of this and working our way back up the hill.
Peter was much more alert when we arrived yesterday morning. His eyes looked better even though he still has the double vision in the right. He seemed much more himself. He was not tiring as easily during the morning.
During the day we got both some good news and some bad news. We had some movement forward and a little back but this is totally normal for someone who has suffered the brain injury that Peter has suffered.
However before midnight we got some great news or rather saw some great news. He was able to grasp and squeeze Ariel’s hand and my hand. This is great because 24 hours earlier he could do neither. He says the most frustration thing about all this is that he can feel the limbs and he knows they are there but he can’t get them to agree to move for him when HE wants them to. He isn’t in pain just extremely frustrated.
Shana, Gwen, and Ariel have been great through all this. Shana is taking care of Caroline which frees me up to take care of Peter. Gwen is helping with all kinds of things including some information gathering that we needed. Ariel is being a rock in front of her dad even though she is very scared inside. She has been very helpful.
We all agree that Caroline is going to have to be brought into the loop sooner rather than later. We are working out how that is going to happen. She is coming back to Orlando today and she will see her Daddy.
We are still in a hold on what is happening when next.
Again keep the good energy coming. He is coming back but it is going to be a long road ahead.
I am grateful that he started the New Year by being able to hold my hand.
Very best wishes to all of you!
Best wishes to you both. Wishing a speedy and full recovery to Peter.
I accidentally (while making a complete fool of myself) met Peter in the aviary (that open area where you get your passes, get autographs, etc.) of the San Diego Convention Center during SDCC 2011. I say accidentally because he was walking along, minding his own business, when I stopped him and inquired about the Avengers t-shirt he was wearing. In particular I wanted to know how I could get one. Peter was coy about it, we joked about a secret password and handshake to an imaginary intern as the key to getting the t-shirt. Eventually he fessed up and said he worked for Marvel, only then did I look at his name tag and put two and two together. I was extremely embarrassed, as I am a fan of his work on Hulk and Xfactor in particular, and turned three shades of red. I immediately began to apologize profusely to him for my mistake, he was very gracious and laughed it off. He thanked me for reading and we parted ways. I met many creators that week, many were nice and professional – but none interacted with me on the level that Peter did.
Again – best wishes to a speedy and full recovery.
Excellent news about the hand. Thoughts and wishes are with you. I take it he can still talk? The words may escape him for awhile, but they will come back.
Thanks for letting us know. Still sending prayers his way that he will continue to improve.
If I could only capture all of the joy Mr. David has brought to me through his writing and send it back to him as well wishes he would be 110% this second! Please pass on my thoughts to him and all of your family, you have my heartfelt best wishes.
[…] wife Kathleen reported on her blog that David was able to grasp using his right hand by Tuesday, although other effects were still […]
i’m thinking about you and your family every day and sending all the good thoughts I can muster. Please make sure you take care of yourself as well as Peter.
I’ve been a huge fan of Peter’s. I’ve enjoyed his stories for years. No one writes a story like he does. I wish I could give to him like has given to us with his fantastic stories. He and all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sending lots of love and healing thoughts you, to Peter, and to all the family. x
Very sorry to hear about Peter this morning, but wishing your family all the best.
That’s terrific news about him able to squeeze your and Ariel’s hands; I’m no doctor, but I think that bodes pretty well for the future.
I obviously don’t know Peter as well as you do, but I may have known him (peripherally) longer than you … and regardless, I know he’s a good man and a lot of fun to be around. He’ll still be that as all of this settles out — it may just take a while.
All the best to you and yours.
Keeping you in thoughts
Thank you for the update, y’all. Thinking nothing but the best; wishing and praying for a full and SPEEDY recovery… All the best, Happy New Year, and-love, from ALL of us out here…
—^^^”< 1
Glad to hear he’s improving, Kathleen! Sending good thoughts, well wishes & warm prayers your way. 🙂 Take care. 🙂
Sending good vibes to you and Peter.
Thank you so much for the updates. Best wishes to you and your family for a speedy, progressive recovery.
Very best wishes and many good thought to you in this time of need. I hope all goes well, and I know this is just a matter of time and he will be good as new.
Sending healing thoughts from all of us at Necronomicon Sci-Fi con in Tampa Bay.
God Bless!! i’ve not read as much of your stuff as others have, but i know you love comics and that makes you a brother or at least distant cousin in my mind. So God Bless and keep fighting!!
You guys are in my thoughts continually and am glad to hear that there is positive progress.
I’m sorry to hear about Peter’s condition, but I know he will come through strong and safe! My thoughts and prayers are with both of you. Take care of yourself as well … these are the times when it’s important to rest and call in all the troops to get as much love and support as you can stand.
Good news about the increased hand mobility, I hope you have many more such moments.
Thank you for continuing to take the time to keep us all up to date. Echoing something Mr Isabella said above, be sure to take care of yourself as well, I’ve seen far too many people run themselves into the ground taking care of others. It sounds liek the girls are being incredibly supportive. They must have been raised well.
In 2000, Peter visit Buenos Aires for a convention. He was a force of nature. It was really amazing. He was totally empowered, and fun, and incredible. The stroke didn’t have a chance against a guy like him. I’ll send my love to all the David Family.
PAD will be ok. He’s a tough cookie. Sending you all my love, prayers, and a great BIG HUG.
Grey
Sending positive energy and prayers for a strong recovery. Sounds like there are already some positive strides. And as others have mentioned make sure you are thinking of your needs through these difficult times
Sending a whole universe of love and warm wishes to your entire family, Kathleen. Peter’s writing really helped me through a dark time, and I cannot thank you enough, or hope strongly enough for his recovery.
Hey Peter.
Big fan here, and fellow stroke survivor.
Mine happened out of the blue back in ’05. My right arm just went dead..there was no warning or other signs,..just BLAM. So I know what you are going through and I can say you WILL improve…thing s WILL get better for you. And even tho some of your normal functions won’t be 100% (I have nerve damage in my right hand and I occasionally trip over my words) you’re body will find a way to adapt.
It’s going to be frustrating for a bit, but you have a great support system with you and that will make all the difference.
Take Care
&
Stay Strong.
Robert
(AKA Darcsyde from the She-Hulk Message Board)
Please know you’re in my thoughts and prayers! You’re one of my favorite writers (I appreciate both the comics and the stuff) and I particularly love the family blurbs in X-Factor (which I routinely share with my intended…who is a Saint when it comes to indulging a comic habit that is rapidly approaching the price of other hard drugs; like those, my first comic was free) Get well.
Glad to hear he’s doing better. You, Peter and the girls all have my sincerest sympathy. Be strong and keep the updates coming.
Wonderful news about his hand. I’m a big fan of him and was saddened to hear he’d had a stroke. Sending all my well wishes to him, you and the rest of your family. Get well soon peter!
I don’t think Peter and I ever met face to face, but back in the fabled days of GEnie and the local board The Algonquin Round Table, I saw a lot of his responses and other writings, and was greatly impressed by his intelligence, his wit and his occasional silliness. I hope he emerges from this okay; Ray Bradbury did–after TWO strokes.
I also want to thank you for keeping us in the loop and want to again express my best wishes for Peter, you and your family. I wish all of you the strength and patience it is going to take to get through this, and am sending nothing but positive thoughts your way.
Again, all my best to you guys during this incredibly stressful time.
Please make sure Peter knows we’re all pulling for him and will be checking up on him and he won’t be forgotten!
Thanks for the update, I’ve been worried about all of you. Sending more positive vibes and hopes for continued improvement. 🙂 GET WELL SOON, PETER!!!!
I really hope you have a speedy recovery. You have my good thoughts and prayers. I have let my friends know, and you are also in theirs. Thank you for the updates too!
I am grateful you intend to write regular updates. Not only will it keep fans and friends “in the loop” I think it will also serve a valuable public service regarding strokes, their impact on both the patient and the family, and the subsequent recovery…
Best wishes and healing thoughts to all…
Keeping Peter in my thoughts – his stories have been there for me when I was down, you can be assured that I’m thinking of him now that he’s down, and hopefully up again soon!
This christmas was a little rough on my family, this was the anniversary of my step-dad’s death, and my step=sister was very close to him. It really can happen in the blink of an eye, and when it does it’s all about facing the transitions as best as possible. Much love.
My prayers are with you
Thank you for taking the time to share, Kathleen.
Peter David has been a mainstay provider of laughs and stories for a long time.
Please let him know to keep the X-factor in him flowing and beat this! I (and so many others) will be rooting for him all the way!
Mr. David won’t remember me — it’s been too long since we chatted at ComicCon — but both Deb Walsh and Marv Wolfman mentioned his condition on Facebook. Our prayers and wishes are with your family both for a full recovery for him and for the strength to be the healthy one when the one you love is sick, especially when you need to be strong for the younger members of the family. Hang tough.
that is good about peter being able to squeeze with his hand . means the brain is managing to get the circuit to work while it recovers. will keep good thoughts for you and peter. for peter is going to have to accept the frustration of not being able to recover as fast as he wants to including getting his body to obey from the stroke.
Had the pleasure of interviewing Peter many years ago.
Had the unpleasure of a sub-arachnoid brain haemorhage, myself, a few years ago.
Not *exactly* the same thing, but close enough that I can definitely appreciate how scary this must be and send all best wishes for a steady and eventually full recovery.
i am a big fan of peter from germany and as i told my friends about the stroke they were shocked and concerned as i am. so three of us spend at least an hour an our on our new years eve party sharing memories of stories peter gave us and we hope, that peter will have a lot more in store for us to remember!
the best wishes to all of you!
Monsieur David,
Know that on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean there are also people who think of your health
A French admirer
Best wishes!
You are all in my heart and thoughts.
Thank you for sharing such a time with us.
[…] on PeterDavid.net and her own blog, No Strings Attached, and it seems like they are seeing incremental but nonetheless positive gains, with Kathleen recently reporting that he has sensation on his right side and that he has been able […]