Excerpt from a letter home

[Editor's note: edited for length and some personal content. Posted by defect's instruction. He wrote two days later to say he is fine and back in training.]

July 23, 2002

Well, I've found myself in one hell of a situation. I've developed this condition called Rhabo-something-itis. (Rhabdomyolysis) Basically, I shredded my muscles so badly that my body released huge amounts of ezymes (protein) into my blood. This could cause liver & kidney damage, either permanent or temporary. The doctor said my liver and kidneys look fine, but they want to run more tests. I'm on orders to drink 1 canteen of water every two hours, plus I've got two types of pain killers to help with the inflammation of my arms. I can barely use them, no exaggeration.

In a nut shell, I overdid it to the point that my muscles are dissolving...