Update from Jeri:

Tuesday was a tough day. We attribute this partly to the after-effects of lying on the MRI table for 1/2 hour on Monday afternoon, and partly on a bad reaction to a sleeping aid. The medicine helped him sleep, but did not help him to loosen up and unclench during the night. It also seems to have caused extreme nausea, a headache, and chills. It was about 2 p.m. before Michael was back to "normal." At that point, it was business as usual: pain, drugs, and conversation (most of it quite lucid). The positive side of all this was that the apparent gravity of the situation promoted a burst of necessary activity and many of the things on Jeri's to-do list have been accomplished. This evening we explored the efficacy of ice massage to reduce inflammation and pain in muscle tissue. Michael approves and Jeri has a new technique to add to her repertoire.

The plan for the near future is:

• fly to Seattle early Friday a.m.
• receive a steroid injection, posterior presentation (the same procedure that was used successfully in February)
• consult with a spinal surgeon specializing in minimally invasive procedures
• spend the weekend in Seattle, lying low and hoping for dramatic improvement
• consult with a neurologist at Virginia Mason on Monday afternoon
• fly home Monday night

However, we are giving serious consideration to staying in Seattle for the duration of this adventure. If surgery is needed, it makes sense to us to undertake it at a major medical center, after taking the opportunity to benefit from several professional perspectives on the current situation. Fortunate souls that we are, we have been offered a place to stay while we are in Seattle. As a way of reducing expense and stress associated with our plan, nothing could do more to help.

Thank you, friends & family, for checking in on us virtually, and for everything you are doing for us "IRL" as they say in the gaming world--In Real Life.