Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: November 14: Day -5

Monday, November 14, 2016

November 14: Day -5

The day got off to an early start. Our nurse arrived a few minutes after 7 a.m. Just when I had relaxed into them not arriving until 8:00 a.m! I had only been up a few minutes and so things were a bit of a rush. Oh well, I learned from some of the others in our group that sometimes the patients have still been in bed. I just need to chill a bit. :)

We planned on meeting our group at the van at 10:00 to go back to Old Town so that those who were not well enough last Friday could see it. All but 2 in our group were able to make it today. People in the group are doing pretty well. Most are experiencing continued fatigue. Some are still having some stomach problems. Doug was pretty worn out today and not feeling as well this afternoon. Maybe the outing was pushing it, but it was enjoyable to get a change in scenery and it is good to be around others. It keeps everyone's mind off the treatment for a while.

Doug and I went to the cathedral while the group went to a lovely little coffee shop. I wanted to be sure Doug had the chance to see this beautiful cathedral. The weather too is beautiful, in the low 70's. There were lots of people out. I could feel my body relax as we walked down the streets and felt the sun on my face. Everyone in the group is so positive and warm. It is great to be with other people going through the same thing and to be able to share our stories and our burdens. Sometimes I don't always know how much stress I carry until I am able to just sit in the comfort of a lovely place, with no place to be and nothing to do and Doug is well enough to enjoy it. Then my body rests.

It is likely that this is our last outing as a group because this is a really big week. I think we are all excited and a little apprehensive. The catheters will go in Wednesday morning and the stem cells will be harvested in the afternoon. Thursday and Friday our group will get chemotherapy and then the stem cells returned on Saturday if all goes well. Please keep Doug, Karin, Suzie, Turen, Daniel, and Kristen in your prayers. We all have one vision, to end their MS and to be healed.

Tonight our driver Angel and his wife made us all a Mexican dinner. He is a wonderful chef. This dinner together gave us the opportunity to enjoy one another before chemotherapy begins this week. We called this our Mexican Thanksgiving meal. We are all thankful to be here and to be together. We are not sure if everyone will be well enough to do anything during chemo and we will be isolated once the stem cells are returned because the patients will not have an immune system. But we have tonight, to rest, eat and enjoy and to toast the promise of ending their MS.

Holy one we give you thanks for the company you provide us as we journey together. We give you thanks for the sunshine that warms and soothes our body. We give you thanks for the diversity of your people and the many cultures that we represent. We ask you to be with us now as we celebrate the hope of ending this disease and bringing new life to Doug, Karin, Suzie, Turen, Daniel, Kristen and those in the other groups here in Puebla at this time. May their healing be a light to others who suffer from autoimmune diseases. In your name we ask it. Amen

No comments:

Post a Comment

About Doug

Fr. Doug Yarbrough was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008. Although judging from his MRI scans he probably had it for many years prior to his diagnosis. Since the diagnosis he has experienced continuous progression of the disease resulting in more and more disability.

Today he is dependent on an electric wheelchair to get around outside of his home. At home he uses a walker to walk short distances. His eyes loose focus easily and he cannot read. This is difficult for someone who has always been a voracious reader and life long learner. He experiences extreme fatigue. Most days it is all he can do to just take care of his own personal needs. We are grateful he can do that and fear the day that he will loose these skills. But with the progression of this disease that day may not be far off.

This is not the person Fr. Doug has always been. Many will remember him as an active member of his family, church, community and state. He is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. As a priest and community leader he has been a passionate crusader working on behalf of the poor, the abused, the homeless and minorities. He has been a husband, a father and a grandfather. He has always been the person who helps others.

Fr. Doug is a learner and believes in education to serve the common good. He has a B.A. in Education and Philosophy, a Master's in Counseling and a Master's in Religion. He has a doctorate in Educational Psychology. His education nurtured his thirst for learning, to make God known to the world and to serve others in the example of Christ. His favorite Bible passage is from Micah 6:8. In the New English Language Version of the Bible it reads "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" These words have framed his work in the church and the world.

In 2005 he was awarded the Canyon County Humanitarian Award for his contributions, care and concern for the most needy and marginalized people in Canyon County. He chaired the Nampa Shelter Coalition board and was on this board for many years. He also served for many years on the Nampa Family Justice Center and the Idaho State Domestic Violence Boards. He founded the Open Arms Baby Boutique in Nampa. This is a resource center for low-income women. The women earn points for prenatal and postnatal check-ups. They may then trade the points in for diapers, baby clothes, furniture, etc. He was on the "Success by Six" Treasure Valley committee. Fr. Doug served on the Mercy Hospital Ethics Board. All this he did while pastoring a church and serving on many church boards and committees.

After many years of service, Fr. Doug is now in need of your help. He is in the fight of his life to stop the progression of this horribly debilitating disease. Up until now, there has been little hope, but upon returning from a pilgrimage of prayer for healing we learned of a new stem cell treatment that some are calling a cure. This treatment is HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant). Using this treatment the patient's own stem cells are harvested, then the patient's immune system is killed using chemotherapy and then the patient's own stem cells are transplanted back into their body. It works similarly to a reboot of a computer. The immune system is being rebooted. This treatment is in Clinical Trials in the United States, but in other places in the world it is being used as a treatment for MS. Worldwide data shows that more than 80% of MS patients receiving this treatment see an end to the progression of the disease and many see a reversal in disability. The brain is able to heal from the bodies own attacks on the myelin insulating sheath around that surrounds nerve fibers

Unfortunately HSCT treatment is expensive and not yet covered by insurance. To get this treatment he will have to travel outside of the country. To help pay for this treatment family and friends of Father Doug are raising money to help pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with HSCT (HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANT) to halt the progression of his Multiple Sclerosis. We don’t have time to wait for Clinical Trials in the US. Fr. Doug is rapidly progressing in disability from this disease. We have to act now if we are to save and hopefully improve the quality of Fr. Doug’s life. We have a goal of October 15, 2016 to raise all the money needed. This is the earliest possible date that the treatment may be available.

Fr. Doug has chosen to fund-raise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay for unreimbursed medically related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thank you and God Bless you for your help!

Monday, November 14, 2016

November 14: Day -5

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive