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News: San Diego Cancellation
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As some of you may already know, I've had to cancel my appearance at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The official reason stated on the site "circumstances beyond George's control" has, as I figured it would, started people speculating as to what those circumstances are. I certainly appreciate Comic-Con's desire to protect my privacy, but I also don't want people panicking about my health-- especially with my known history of diabetes. Here, edited to remove any non-pertinent info, is the letter I sent to Sue Lord, Head of Guest Relations for the con:Sue:As a follow-up, my wife and I have come up with a therapy regime that has helped relieve the itching and burning somewhat and I've gotten back to work on THE RETURN OF DONNA TROY. Unfortunately, my treatments require that my wife and I be available to each other and, since her job limits her ability to travel with me, I will be canceling all my public appearances for the rest of the year. Right now I have to work to keep my stress levels down and will be following an incredibly restrictive diet and following up on other treatment options. If all goes well, I hope to attend next year's Comic-Con since the organizers have graciously and generously extended a "rain check" invitation, my condition permitting.
You cannot imagine how much I hate having to type this e-mail, but, please believe me that I would never do this unless the situation was absolutely dire.
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2005 (July 14-17, 2005)
I'm afraid I will have to cancel my appearance at San Diego this year due to my contracting severe psoriasis, which, in less than a year's time (much to my dermatologist's surprise) has now taken over over a third of my body and has made it all but impossible for me to sleep, work or just sit without being in major discomfort or burning pain. This genetic disease (which I did not know existed in my family line until a couple of months ago) is incurable and what treatments I am now forced to take (pills, creams, injections and possible phototherapy treatments) will require a minimum of 6 months to start showing results, and even then there are no guarantees. I had gone to the movies for the first time in months to see if I could sit through the length of a film without discomfort. I lasted about two hours before the itching and burning started. This made the prospect of a five hour plane flight all but inconceivable. And being in a hotel without my wife to rub lotion on my back or finding a way to use a shower without my skin feeling like it's being sprayed with acid, or having to vacuum the bed every day due to the flaking dead skin that I shed profusely are likewise unpleasant prospects.
One of the side effects of my current medication is possible mood swings, although it's uncertain whether that would actually be attributable to the drug or the psoriasis itself. Regardless, I'd hate for a fan to be the inadvertent target of a negative shift in temper.
Thankfully, psoriasis is not not life-threatening, but it is a serious blow to my lifestyle. Never in my wildest dreams would I have figured that I'd cancel an appearance at San Diego, but Mother Nature has really slapped me in the face here.
Having to deal with psoriasis on top of my diabetes is a major life change for me and these next few months will be hard, but I'm grateful for the good things I still have going for me: an adoring wife, good friends, and a still-prospering career. Hopefully, things will get better by next year should you decide you'd like to give me a raincheck.
Thank you for everything you and the con organizers have doen to make me feel special. I know the con will even bigger than ever, and I'm really sorry that I won't be part of it.
Sincerely,
George PérezI cannot express enough how touched and humbled I am by everyone's concern. As I said, this isn't life-threatening, but it is life-altering. With the support and kindness of so many people and the love and care of my dear wife Carol, I'm confident that I will be able to beat this thing enough to be able to get out there and thank all of the fans in person.
Take care,
GPz
