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I am writing to you from the ICU in Lima, Peru :)

Many of you know that a few weeks ago I had a pulmonary embolism. Earlier this week I began having severe pain again and was put back in the hospital.

This was a tough day. Over the last 24 hours I had progressive pain and weakness in different muscles which led the doctors to a diagnosis of polymyositis which is an autoimmune disorder rather than infectious. Because of needing to be monitored more closely, I was taken to the ICU for a day or two. I was started on high dose steroids which is the treatment for this.

I have a long road of treatments ahead. It is early now, but I am probably looking like a two year treatment. Please pray that I will have a very quick response to the medication, to be pain free, and to have great improvement in my muscle strength. Please also pray for my protection from discouragement, frustration, and significant side effects of the meds.

For those worried about medical care in Peru. I have an awesome team of doctors working with me. They are doing a great job and caught this quickly. I have seen cardiologist, rheumatologist, infectious disease doctor, radiologist, pulmonologist, my absolutely awesome internal medicine doctor, and more residents than you can shake a stick at. This case is one that nearly everyone in the hospital knows about. Today I counted up and I had interaction with doctors at least 18 times today. I am getting great medical care. My US doctors agree (and most importantly my wife agrees).

Thank you all so much! Go Blazers!!!