Dear Volks,

I finally heard from Mary two days ago, and I'm now at a place in my
travels where I have a connection.  I don't want to get
into  details, but as of a couple days ago Mike's condition was very
grave, and looking at the list of things he has piled up against him
right now, and I beg you to keep this amongst yourselves, in my
professional opinion he's not likely to recover.  I hope I'm wrong,
but the excellent internist at whose house I dined tonight and in
whose bed I'm sleeping likewise sees little chance for  him based on
Mary's email.  And when I mentioned Goodpasture's disease, my  friend
immediately said "Mphm...that's a very serious disease, hard to
treat.  I've never had a patient with it and I'm very glad of that."

I wish I had better news, and Mike's joie-de-vivre and powerful will,
and his great love for Mary are all points in his favor.  He's been
transported to Charlottesville where they have better facilities and
is being treated vigorously.  As it has all along, it still seems to
be a race between the steroids and the reaper.

Sadly yours,
David