Hi everyone
Easter Sunday I had to go to the emergency room of the University of Rochester Medical Center because my health was deteriorating. They immediately put me in intensive care and 2 days later removed a massive tumor from the right front of my brain. I spent a total of 9 days in recovery and was then released. The surgery was very successful in that I can still think and talk normally and physically I am intact.
It is all very early in the process but I have been diagnosed with cancer in my brain and cancer in my lungs. What the future will bring, I do not know at this point. A series of treatments is being designed but it is still too early to tell what will happen next and subsequently.
I have been struggling lately to fill back orders and generally to keep up with everything. I fell behind in early fall when I accepted a huge order from an art school that was beginning a printing school and needed type to get going. That order took me a solid 6 to 8 weeks of work to make the type and ship all of it.
In the meantime orders continued to come in and I fell at least 6 weeks behind receiving an order and then making the type. At the same time I was starting to become less efficient at getting around and weaker when it came to the work involved in making type.
At the same time I started losing track of things such as orders and vast amounts of time. I didn’t realize it at the time but I think my mental condition was deteriorating. I have a bunch of orders to fill that have been paid for and people are waiting for. Until I am solid on making the back orders, I need to stop taking new orders for a couple of weeks.
I am in the midst of sorting everything out and I will try to contact everyone who I owe things to and will establish a realistic schedule to complete each order.
So, as much as I regret it, I must stop taking new orders all thoughts of new typefaces and other projects and try to get back on track. At this point, I am still able to work and I think I have enough raw wood to complete the orders that I have to make.
I anticipate losing time to medical treatments in the near future, but so far I am able to work. I may share additional health information as time moves on.
Bill
So Bill,
What should we do? Would it be easier to just give us a refund under the circumstances? The money we put out is a lot for us if there is no finishing things soon. Let me know and I am very sorry for your hardship.
thanks,
Tom Lucas, Director of Print
Lillstreet Art Center
Hi Tom (and everyone)
I am sorta stuck right now not knowing which way to go.
I am in no position financially to refund everyone. I am also not sure about any of the future so the best I can do right now is to keep making type one order at a time until the backlog is gone.
I plan on contacting everyone individually with a message about what has been ordered and when I can deliver.
The last few months have been such a confounding time that I fear that it will take more than a few days to sort through. The good thing is that I am able to work now and I am going to take it one font/customer at a time until I catch up.
I am not going to take any new orders for the short term. I hope when the backlog is clear to go on to new faces and do some really good work for years to come.
Bill
Bill, just concentrate on getting better. We all understand what a tough time this must be, and your health is the most important thing. So get better and if you can fill orders, great, and if not we’ll “burn that bridge when we get to it.”
Don’t worry, all of us will be fine, just think about yourself right now.
Many thanks for all your tireless work for the professional and craft fine printers out there, here in the US and all over the world. You provide an invaluable service, at a consistently high level of quality, and at a very fair price.
Very best wishes from the Friends of Lorine Niedecker. . .we will be sending thoughts, prayers and poems your way. First priority is your health. . .all else will print into place eventually. Take GOOD care.
Bill, sorry to hear of your health issues. I wish time allowed and I’d come up to help you. Get your health right and keep us posted on your recovery.
Sincerly,
Casey McGarr
Bill,
I came by your site as usual and was shocked by the news. I keep telling people about your wonderful type, and everybody is so happy about the calendar we made thanks to you.
We hope you recover completely soon and like said before concentrate in getting there. Health is first! We love your work and will be ordering more type as soon as you are back in track!
Best wishes and thoughts from Sonoma, CA!
Bill,
take care of yourself! of course we want type, but not at the expense of your health.
healing energy coming your way, and do keep us posted!
Well, you must attend to your health first and foremost. Best of luck in dealing with the challenges you have been dealt. I saw some of your work in the Typetruck when it came through here and it goaded me to put in an order… alas!
Take care, be well, and do your best.
Bill,
Thanks for all the work you have done for us. I hope you have a quick recovery.
Dan
Bill
All best wishes for you and your family from the other side of the Atlantic.
Hi Bill,
I just received the type you made for me in the mail, yesterday and I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate it, especially under the circumstances. THANK YOU for finishing it and it looks really fantastic. Can’t wait to try it out.
I hope your health is improving and that you are training an apprentice.
-Melissa
Bill,
Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery, from a big fan of your work.
Take care,
Gene
Bill,
I just stumbled onto this post today and I’m so sorry to hear the news. Please take care of yourself and you have my best wishes for a full recovery.
best,
Jon
I am sending some positive Colorado energy Bill….. I just feel lucky I picked up some goodies at the LOL conference. Keep us posted and I hope you produce some nice ampersands in the near future…. thinking of you + your family. Denise
I am so sorry to hear of your illness and wish you all best for a full return to good health. The type I bought from you last year is beautiful–thank you again for your great work.
Bill
What news…
Our thoughts are with you from SlowPrint in Dubuque.
Please let us know what we can do to help keep this song alive.
I’ve been very interested in your work, and hope with all good thoughts that you will be able to pursue this work for many years to come.
Peter Fraterdeus
Slowprint.com
How is your health?
Just read the post you put up in April 2012.
Hi Bill,
I just found your site as I was looking for wood types. This post is definitely sad, hopefully you are on your way to recovery, we need more people like you and your craft. All the best and health is always first.
Charmaine
Bill,
How are you feeling? Are you back to cutting type?
Casey