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We just got back to Marquette this evening. My dad got out of the hospital yesterday. It is believed that this significant brain infection is caused by a previous virus or some sort of exposure from the past - possibly even as far back as when he was stationed in Lemoore California (where I was born) back when he was in the Navy. The theory is that this unknown virus or whatever was inactive until his Rhumatoid arthritis IV treatments, Remicade, significantly supressed his immune system, causing it to become active and attack his nervous system/brain. They have sent his brain biopsy to Washington State university for some very specific tests. They need to to another spinal tap, so that the fluid can be sent to specialized labs across the country so that they can identify the organism. They have a few specific ones in mind, but they need to be sure, because the treatments for them have significant side effects and can even be fatal. He can't have the spinal tap until he fully recovers from the brain biopsy, as there is an accumulation of fluid in his brain, so they will wait about 2 weeks, if he doesn't get any worse in the meantime, and do the spinal tap then. He is still significantly ill, unfortunately. It was excruciating to have to leave to return home.

The specialists at U of M are top notch, and I can see where they get their reputation from - what an incredible place. If you have to be sick, that's the place to be. They are obviously used to seeing things that are VERY far from the ordinary.

I got to see my younger sister while we were down there. When I last saw her, G was only a baby. She's never met A at all. We all went out for Ethiopian food at a restaurant a few miles from the Hospital.