Swamp Thing writer Nancy A. Collins has put out a call for help with her medical bills via GoFundMe. The writer has had health problems as of late, and the mainstream comic industry in addition to not paying well, is notorious for not helping out their past contributors with health coverage or any sort of retirement plans.
Nancy A. Collins is a comic book writer and novelist known for her work in the horror and fantasy genres. Born in 1959 in McGehee, Arkansas, Collins gained recognition for her series of novels featuring the character Sonja Blue, a vampire hunter. The Sonja Blue series, which began with the novel “Sunglasses After Dark” (1989), blends elements of horror, urban fantasy, and noir, and has garnered a dedicated following.
In addition to her novels, Collins has also made significant contributions to the comic book industry. She is perhaps best known for her work on the DC Comics character Swamp Thing, particularly her run on the series in the 1990s. Collins brought a unique voice to the character, delving into themes of environmentalism, identity, and the supernatural.
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Eight days ago, she posted this message to GoFundMe:
Hi, my name is Nancy A. Collins.
Some of you might know me as the creator of the punk vampire/vampire slayer Sonja Blue & the author of numerous horror stories, or as the writer of such comics as SWAMP THING, VAMPIRELLA, and JASON VS. LEATHERFACE.
This past Saturday (February 3rd, 2024) I woke up to discomfort in my left chest every time I inhaled. As the day went on I experienced increasing pain that radiated into my armpit and through my left shoulder, accompanied by extreme exhaustion. That evening I drove myself to the E.R. at a hospital near my house here in Macon, GA. By that point I thought I was having some kind of cardiac episode, as my mother’s side of the family had a long history of heart issues.
Within 30 minutes of being taken into the exam area, I was screaming in agony and could no longer sit up. Being kept prone helped alleviate the intensity of the pain, but breathing was still an issue.
An EKG, a set of Xrays, and a MRI scan later, I was told I wasn’t having a heart attack. However, I did have a blood clot in my lower left lung–actually, several small ones, according to the doctor. He said that if I hadn’t come in when I did Saturday night, odds are I would not have woken up Sunday morning.
They admitted me into the hospital, where I was ordered bed rest, pumped full of blood thinners, and then underwent several ultrasounds. They kept me over the weekend, finally releasing me Monday evening with several prescriptions and an outpatient appointment with a hematologist. I suspect I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. (I know, ironic for someone best known for writing vampire stories. Even more ironic–the clots appear to be the result of me sitting too long in front of my laptop while writing. )
I’m setting up this campaign to help with the medical bills from this unexpected reminder that I am no longer a spring chicken. While I have medical insurance, it ain’t all that and a bag of chips. I’m still on the hook for 25% of my treatment–possibly more, if it turns out any of the physicians, technicians, or laboratories who handled my case happen to be out-of-network.
I hate having to ask folks for help for stuff like this, but being a self-employed professional freelance writer is a chancy gig even under the best of circumstances. And now I’m looking at having to pull back on writing until I can get a handle on the blood clot situation. Any help provided will be greatly appreciated.
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So far she has raised close to $7,000 of the $10,000 she’s asking for in regards to her medical bills and treatments.
Her most recent update yesterday states:
I saw my PCP today, and she said my lungs sound good and warned me from taking NSAIDS until I’m off the blood thinners. She also set up an outpatient appointment with a Cancer Care Center for next month, to check that my clotting issues have been resolved. Also, this is the last day I take 4 Eliquis–tomorrow I step down to 2 a day for the next 3 weeks. And it’s also Mardi Gras!
Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez to all of you who have helped by donating or passing along the link!
With writers like Nancy A. Collins aging, we see stories like this more and more often. It’s up to the fans to help with DC Comics and Marvel doing little for those who wrote classic runs on books like Swamp Thing.
Did she get the mRNA?