Thanks for all the well wishes. I literally cried reading this thread to my wife. I am especially touched by The Chief's support, a MAN I have enormous respect for, but unfortunately have not met.
Josh, you always come up with the most inspirational quotes. One that sticks with me is "Do no wish for easier lives, wish to be stronger men". JFK. Love that one.
For those interested in my condition, I have Job's Syndrome, AKA Hyper Ig E syndrome. This rare immunodeficiency is why I have problems with infections. The antifungals I am currently taking burned my skin off, painfully, which is what landed me in the hospital again.
For the record, MVS and I did North Ridge of Forbidden in more like 15 hours
. I recall our climb of Orbit, a climb that earned one skull in the old guidebook due to ambivalent protection on a pitch or two. MVS did great. His humble attitude belied an alpine demon
. His enchainment in the Pickects stands out as one of his great acheivements in the Cascades, certainly better than anything I had done in that difficult, deep, dark range. Athough MVS and I are continents apart, I will always condier him one of my great friends.
Thanks so much for this thread. Right now I'm living on memories.