Robert Jordan Diagnosed with serious and life theatening desease.

[Jacob]

In a letter to Locus Magazin that was also published on Tor's website Robert Jordan has announced that he has been Diagnosed with amyloidosis - a serious and life theatening desease. The letter is a very distressing read that really puts "waiting for the next book" into perspective. I have been diagnosed with amyloidosis. That is a rare blood disease which affects only 8 people out of a million each year, and those 8 per million are divided among 22 distinct forms of amyloidosis. They are distinct enough that while some have no treatment at all, for the others, the treatment that works on one will have no effect whatsoever on any of the rest. -- Now in my case, what I have is primary amyloidosis with cardiomyapathy. That means that some (only about 5% at present) of my bone marrow is producing amyloids which are depositing in the wall of my heart, causing it to thicken and stiffen. Untreated, it would eventually make my heart unable to function any longer and I would have a median life expectancy of one year from diagnosis. Fortunately, I am set up for treatment, which expands my median life expectancy to four years.-- My treatment starts in about 2 weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where they have seen and treated more cases like mine than anywhere else in the US.

To read Robert Jordan's entire letter, please go to Tor's Robert Jordan site Here. (http://www.tor.com/jordan/)

Robert Jordan has also made a short entry in his Blog on Dragonmount.com regarding this matter. This blog is located Here. (http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=38)

[Metallica]

That is really sad. I hope he does beat that disease.

['Skis]

That is horrible! Both for Robert Jordan and us fans.

[Asha'man Jay]

That is really sad. I hope he does beat that disease.


Damn right he can beat it!


"I have thirty more years worth of books to write even if I can keep from thinking of any more, and I don't intend to let this thing get in my way

- Robert Jordan."


Good to see a bit of Two Rivers attitude in there.

[Kalle al'Tear]

well I know that I will definitly be adding RJ to my prayers..

[UR_VILE_WEDGE]

He better beat this disease. Or I'm gonna dig him up and keep him writing.



Seriously though I really hope he gets better, or at least toughs it out.

[VerBATum]

damn it.

hand a feeling something crappy like this would happen.

[Tenaka]

This is why i tell myself not to start reading half completed series'.

Hope he pulls through.

I just had a horrible thought, the kemo will make his majic beard fall off!

[ellisande]

Oh this is horrible!!! I'll be adding him to my prayers too.

['Skis]

This is why i tell myself not to start reading half completed series'.

Hope he pulls through.

I just had a horrible thought, the kemo will make his majic beard fall off!

It's ok, it's ok. He doesn't have cancer. The beard is safe. I think? :confused:

[Tenaka]

Oh, yes. When the hair goes, with the chemo — as it is very likely to do — I’ll post some before and after shots, just so people showing up in Seattle and Anchorage won’t think we’ve run in a ringer. Yes, I plan to keeping those signings in late June. The chemo and recuperation should be finished by mid-to-late May, so I can make it. Hey, there will be big salmon running in Alaska at that time, and I never passed up a chance at big fish in my life.

He seems to think he's gonna lose his hair.

[Tidus]

He will pull through, i know it.

I hope he gets better soon though.

[Jean]

We've all joked about what we'd do is something happened to RJ, but I never thought that something actually would. :( He sounds like he has a good attitude about the entire thing.

Books aside, I hate to see anyone go through what he is right now.

[WolfBrother]

Sounds like from his blog that "A Memory of Light" will be the last book of the main story. Seems like he'll at least get that done. He seemed more concerned about side stories.

And you're right, he does seem to be taking it pretty well. Even promising before and after pics from the Chemo

[Whiteraven]

I was at work when I read this, and I started almost crying. and then I read how it'll take 30 years for him to finish his books, and 30 years is now his minimum goal, and then I laugh a little and then started tearing up some more... I was crying at work. And no one there even understood why.

God I hope he beats this.
Otherwise what a waste of such a great mind.
He'll be fine. Keep positive.

[Dragon Man]

He'll get through. All the good authors do. I mean hell, if Stephen King can survive getting hit by a fucking van, RJ can survive this damn disease. And if he doesn't, then I'll reveal my true identity as the DO incarnate and bring him back from the dead and FORCE him to keep writing.....

[tequila]

Now im not gona say hopefully or that he might get through it. Cause in his letters he does seem to have a positive attitude meaning he thinks he will get through it. His never lied in any of his letters so i dont think he will start now. He will get through this disease and beat it, with the help and support of all his fans.

[nae'bliss]

im speechless gutted and a whole range of other emotions but...

Mr.Jordan you are in my thoughts and prayers and you had better bloody recover!!!:(

[DavidG]

Sounds like he'll probably pull through... that's good to know. He doesn't seem like the kind of person to let something like this kill him anyway.

I just had a horrible thought, the kemo will make his majic beard fall off!That's pretty tough to imagine... I've always suspected he was born with the thing.

[BenIII]

It really sucks that he has to go through this. Hope he pulls through.

[Mithrandir]

He will come through, he has no other option. Gladly he also sees it that way!

Best wishes and get those nasty amyloids!

[Laren]

I adore the books, and I hate to say this, but...if he dies, I think I'll live. I think he's got so much spot on, that I can't imagine anything bad happening to him after he's dead, and the characters will live on in us. Unfortunately, that just means that we'd have to finish the tales each in our own way.

Really, I think he ought to write the last book now, and just work the plot to that point. However, he doesn't seem to work that way...

[UR_VILE_WEDGE]

While this might be disrespectful, I would terribly hate RJ for slapping out a piece of shit before he kicks the bucket. I would be forever hating the terrible ending and damning the circumstances that brought it about, and I would always wonder how much better it could have been if he had the proper time to work.

[Loial]

Damn, I hope he gets better! Man I would hate it if he dies on the last book XD But I say he will get better his beard will help!

[Enariom]

Cheese! This sucks! Hold ut Robbie! Dette går bra! Fans all over the world are thinking of ya ;)

[Nesaa]

considering the recent news... there has been a huge outpouring of care and concern for RJ. Not to send members/visitors from this site, but I ran into a really cool thing on Dragonmount. They are doing a big get well project that they are going to send to Jordan. It's a really good idea I think because you can contribute a little or a lot. Check it out, or start something here.

-Nesaa

[Kalle al'Tear]

thanks Nessa

[Albanianwolfe]

my prayers are for his recovery as well as for his loved ones...

[Jacob]

RJ is still updates his blog over at Dragonmount with reports on his treatment etc.

RJ's blog can be found here. (http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/)

[VerBATum]

dragonmount has been down for a while, huh?

edit:
someof those pic are a serious kick in the gut.

[Borderlander]

Indeed... but he's keeping a great attitude! I have full confidence he'll beat this thing! I really respect the openness and honesty he's showing us, his fans, through his blog at Dragonmount.

[mystar]

indeed. It will be a long road though...

[zaren]

Positive thoughts actually help and keeping the spirits up will do wonders. I am glad that they caught it relatively early and he has the resources for top notch care.

[Borderlander]

I've been following RJ's blog (http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/) at dragonmount, and things are looking very encouraging right now.

[Artamishia]

Good to know Thanks. Keep getting better RJ.

[Borderlander]

Good news!
RJ has updated his Blog and and says that although he's still quite weak and tired easily, he's seeing improvement each day and has even started getting back to writing a little bit.

[Ravan de'Sadow]

I hope he pulls a full recovery, but that is indeed very good news Borderlander.

[Kalle al'Tear]

Rj updated his blog again today.. and he seems to be even better then he was on June 25th.. says that eveyday he is getting stronger and can now manage to walk half way around the block.. and he's gaining weight again and thinks its muscle not fat.. and they are going to the Mayo clinic to see if they are going to get “good news, maybe.” if they do he will post about it.. maybe on Thursday next week but he might be celebrating so it might be later then Friday but soon.. keep our fingers crossed


***background on "good news, maybe" for those that don't know in RJ's words ......"Now. I got some news last week, and I am holding at about a 97% confidence level that it is about as good as it can get for me. A recent blood test looking for lambda light chains (an indication of amyloid production) showed a normal ratio, and if that is right, it means a complete hematologic response, a total stoppage of amyloid production. We won’t know for sure until I get tested again at the Mayo Clinic, where they have much more sensitive tests. That will happen in mid-July. If this information is right, though, I just jumped from a median life expectancy of one year to a median expectancy of six years. And that will be terrific news! It will mean that my heart has a chance to begin healing to whatever extent it can. It just doesn’t get any better than that."

[Jean]

I decided to hope over to RJ's blog this morning, he posted an update Friday. He went for that checkup he'd been posting about and the results weren't good,the chemo didn't get rid of the amyloids. He's still in good spirts and is now doing another treatment. Here's the link for anyone that wants to read the post:

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=61

:(

[Kalle al'Tear]

:( I was really hoping for the good news.. oh well on the plus side he said that the diease has not progressed and no further damage to his heart.

[Jacob]

RJ's cousin Wilson has updated the blog a couple of times since last message here. Seems like good news - of sorts.

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=62

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=63

[Jacob]

Two more updates - One by Wilson (via Jason) and one by RJ himself.

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/

[Kalle al'Tear]

Thank you Jacob.

and umm did anyone else find this to be thier most favorite line ever I actually find it quite restful lying in the flowerbed at the front of the house and leaping up when tourists walk by. The way they jump and squeal and set off running, well, I just lie there and laugh. Hwoooooooooooooo!
r?? I just sat there laughing so hard I actully was crying for about five minutes because I could totally picture him doing that..

[UR_VILE_WEDGE]

Hell, if my flowerbeds weren't so thorny (and tourists came to my house) I would do that. But nobody comes over ever since the Holloween incident :(

[ashan'alantin]

I know that RJs been sick, but does anyone know when the next book is comming out, or anything about the next book?

[Amelia Sedai]

Hes working on getting better first, I think.

[ashan'alantin]

Hes working on getting better first, I think.
yeah, but he may have started on the next book before he got sick. that would be back right after KoD came out.

[Thorbear]

As far as I know, he started on the next book before he got ill, but is far from finished.
But atm, I think he's worling on getting in a better shape before going back to writing.
If you're curious, you should visit his blog (http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/)

[ashan'alantin]

i hope he does get better before continuing writing, so he doesnt get sick again.

[4th Dimension]

http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/30/robert-jordan-illness-tech-media_cx_hc_books06_1201jordan.html

There are readers, and then there are fans. Readers offer condolences when a favorite author falls ill. Fans offer bone marrow.

Robert Jordan, author of the best-selling Wheel of Time series, has fans. And if you want to understand them, take a look at his blog. Since last spring, when he announced he had a rare blood disease called amyloidosis, Jordan, 58, has been chronicling his life-and-death struggle online. Whenever he's well enough to write, he thanks the fans who sent care packages, and those who donated to the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., where he is being treated. Then there's this: "For Jaime Platt and her sister, your offer touches me deeply. They were able to harvest enough of my own bone marrow stem cells that I don't need marrow donation from elsewhere, but thank you very much. That was a kind and generous offer."

And you thought Harry Potter fans were enthusiastic?

Jordan's readers are offering help because they've developed a close connection with him through his books. They're also desperately hoping he lives to finish the series. Wheel of Time is like Lord of the Rings on steroids. Since Jordan launched the series in 1990, he's added another ten books, and more than 14 million copies have sold. Fans are patiently waiting for book No. 12, A Memory of Light, which Jordan promises will be the last, even if it reaches 2,000 pages. "I've told people you might need a forklift to get it out the door," says Jordan, speaking by phone from his home in South Carolina.

But there is, of course, an elephant in the room. Amyloidosis has no cure. Untreated, the average patient lives only 12 months after diagnosis, says Dennis Krysmalski, founder and CEO of the Amyloidosis Support Network. With treatment, patients survive an average of four years.

Jordan's fans are full of sympathy, but also fright of a more personal and perhaps selfish kind. His readers have been following the lives of Rand, Egwene, Elayne, Mat, Nynaeve and Perrin for more than 16 years. Fans have shared their concerns on Web sites like Dragonmount, Theoryland and WOTmania. "Of course you wouldn't ever wish a possibly terminal disease on anyone," wrote one poster, codman25. "But what happens if he doesn't finish the book?"

It's a dangerous question. Most fans avoid posting such sentiments for fear of appearing tactless. Posters like codman25 are often chastised as insensitive by others who claim to care only for the well-being of Jordan and his family. Jordan himself chuckles at these exchanges. He doesn't mind if fans worry about his ability to finish the series. "I hope I finish the books too," he says.

In the Internet age, fans can engage with a book long after they've finished it. They go online, meet other fans and participate in role-playing games. There's even a Web site profiling couples who have met and married because of the series. (One happy couple, Amber and Markku of Espoo, Finland, met in a "clan" devoted to the Wheel of Time board game.) Rabid Jordan fans know all about Harriet, his wife and editor, and they even sent her care packages when they learned he was ill.

Jordan's connection with his fans has grown even stronger since he began blogging about his illness. He has commented on his flat "behind" and opined on the virtues of Tabasco sauce. When readers asked his thoughts on death, however, Jordan, a Vietnam veteran and former atomic engineer, became more philosophical. "You deal with death the way you deal with breathing, or with air," he wrote. "Death is a natural and inevitable end." In other words, as he has written in all 11 books, "The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass."

Jordan plans to live another 30 years--long enough, he says to finish all the books that are in his head right now. That will require a large dose of luck, and so far, his luck has been mixed. The new drug he's taking seems to be working well. Still, he can write for two hours a day at most, compared with eight or nine hours in healthier times. At this rate, he'll submit the final book in 2008 for publication in 2009, says Tom Doherty, president of Tor Books, Jordan's publisher.

If he gets better, he'll write faster. No one wants to talk about the alternative. If he dies, could someone else finish the series? Authors like V.C. Andrews and Mario Puzo have posthumously passed along their series to other writers. Still, some fans worry that another author, even Harriet, wouldn't be true to Jordan's voice. Jordan, however, is open to the idea. "I'm getting out notes, so if the worst actually happens, someone could finish A Memory of Light and have it end the way I want it to end," he says. "But I hope to be around to actually finish it myself."
The decision, Jordan says, will be left to Harriet and Doherty, who has been a close friend and colleague for years. But Doherty isn't ready to address that possibility. "I'm not prepared to concede that that's going to happen," Doherty says. "I'm working on the belief that he's going to beat this thing. Who else can tell this story?"

[Young_Bull]

I have absolute faith that RJ will pull through this. Every character is a piece of the author and therefore the author must be stronger than them all. He will live to continue this world he has weaved of words.

[Karistina]

The latest update on the blog is very reassuring. We haven't heard from RJ himself since Christmas, but his latest numbers from the Mayo clinic sound like this may count as remission.

I really wish we could just call Nynaeve to Heal him and be done it.

[blight.master]

that does look great! way to go RJ!

[fitzner]

RJ himself posted in his blog last 4/26. So far things are going... Well, not worse but not better either. I really hope he does pull through. World would be a lonely place without him too soon. It's a God-given fact he'll finish A Memory of Light but deep in my heart I just want him to be able to write that post-Tarmon Gaidon book about Mat and Tuon. I know it's selfish but there it is.

P.S. RJ kept his beard in the photo. I didn't know he had lost his hair. I didn't know that since I've been out of the loop for quite a while. Or maybe he shaved his hair... Would have looked good in Mat's hat though.

[Kulan]

It's a little late but I think he has started back updating us on his blog. I hope that all goes well and my prayers go out to him that all is well.

[Bavarian Raven]

...i hope he gets better so we aren't left wondering for ever on how it ends...

[4th Dimension]

His last blog:

http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/?p=88
A VERY quick check-in
Posted by Robert Jordan on August 22nd, 2007 in the Robert Jordan's Blog category

Just a very quick check-in to let you know I’m still alive and, with the inestimable help of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mn, I am keeping things under control. Once again my Lambda Light chain numbers are in the normal range. Now I just have to get my foot healed up so I have a chance of getting out of this bloody wheel chair. Strange to think that my foot off all things, would be giving me he most trouble. Unfortunately, the Amyloidosis makes healing go very slowly. Oh, well. You put up with what you have to put up with while working your way around or over the “minor” problem.

I hear things now and then floating out in the air. For instance, I hear that word was floating about ComicsCon in San Diego that I am displeased with Red Eagle. Too true. Too very true. In a few more months that last contract they have with anyone on God’s green earth that so much as mentions my name will come to an end and we can see what happens after that. You see, among other things they forgot an old dictum of LBJ back when he was just a Congressman from Texas, when he famously, or infamously, said “Don’t spit in the soup. boys. We all have to eat.” Worse, Red Eagle though they could tell me they spit in the soup, or pee in it, if they wanted to and there wasn’t anything I could do to stop them. You can’t apologize your way out of that with me, not that they tried. There isn’t enough money in the world to buy your way out of it with me. Not that they tried that either. So they get no further help from me. Once they are completely out of the picture, we’ll see what happens.

I seem to feeling rather viperish today. I also hear that a certain writer, on hearing that I had heart problems, announced that his cardiologist, on holding his (the writer’s) heart in his hands said that he could have been holding the heart of a sixteen year-old or some such. My cardiologist told me much the same thing, but I made him give it back. Ahem. A question occurs. What was wrong that anyone had their filthy fingers palping his actual heat. All my heart examinations have been via catheritazation or electrocardiogram or echocardiogram or the like. Only if they saw cause would anyone be sticking fingers into my chest must less fingering my heart. Some discrepancy there, eh?

On, well. Down, Simba! Down, Big Boy. That’s what Harriet says when I get like this. Lets get on to something a little more pleasant.

Many people have given gifts to Hematologic Malignancies Program –
amyloidosis research since the last time I thanked anyone. For donations since then. my thanks go out to Virginia A. Schomp and Chip
Bigness, Mrs. Janna Kamenetsky, Mr. Tony Witherspoon, Mr. Ryan Breen,
Mr. Nathan Chu, Mr. Todd Lyons, Ms. Kathleen D. Moore, Mr. Doug
Carrithers, Mrs. Deborrah M. Kozel, Ms. Melissa Craib and Friends at
TarValon.net, Mr. Eric Selby, Mrs. Carolyn Goodwin, Dr. Chris
O’Sullivan, Mr. Georgy Kantor, Mr. Andrew Childs, Mr. Doug Peters, Mr.
Scott Dimick, Ms. Pam Harley and the Hattie Mae Lesley Foundation. Thank you very much, one and all.

I’ll get back to when I can. Until then, it’s back to the grindstone for me.
RJ

[fitzner]

*chuckle* it's good to see RJ in fine fighting form :)

[Hittokiri_Bob]

yeah he died a few days ago

[Langa]

rest in peace R.J

[Crix]

You will be sorely missed , yes indeed R.I.P. Robert Jordan!!

[Deyeniye]

is Rob j gone? FOR REAL??!! i been under a rock for a couple months... FOR REAL? is it true??????????

[Thecaptain420]

May You always find Water And shade my lord dragon

[AbyssRaven]

R.I.P the true Dragon
I was kind of sad when i heard he died. A great man. Great author. brought happiness to many thousands

[HappyJoyMan]

I stopped reading his series after book 6, but I was still very sad to hear about this. Hope his family is doing okay. Does anybody know if he wrote down what happened at Tarmon Gaidon or whatever it's called? I remember reading several years ago that he knew its outcome prior to even begining Eye of the World.

[DavidG]

I stopped reading his series after book 6, but I was still very sad to hear about this. Hope his family is doing okay. Does anybody know if he wrote down what happened at Tarmon Gaidon or whatever it's called? I remember reading several years ago that he knew its outcome prior to even begining Eye of the World.Yes, he's left enough notes that somebody else can write the final book (if his family allow it).

[Meyley]

The world has lost something so very special, and so precious. We are truly bereft. There is no compensation.

[4th Dimension]

Shouldn't the mods have made a new thread about Brandon Sanderson being Chosen to complete A Memory of Light, by now.

[Dregs]

Kalle made a thread here (http://www.wotism.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7643). Perhaps it was deemed enough?

[*Rand al'Thor*]

Who is Brandon Sanderson?

[Kalle al'Tear]

he is the auther that was picked to complete Memory of Light.. all info on this forum about that can be found here (http://www.wotism.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7643) (like Dregs pointed out in the post right above yours *Rand*)

[*Rand al'Thor*]

Got it Kalle, sorry! Next time I will read first and post second

[ingleslenobel@]

Tragic, just tragic :(