Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: November 8, 2016: Chemo Begins

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

November 8, 2016: Chemo Begins

Today was a really important day. We spent the morning in consultation with the doctors, reviewing Doug's blood work, lung capacity test, chest x-ray, EKG, and overall health history. In order for Doug to be eligible for treatment, he has to be healthy enough for the procedure. And indeed he passed with flying colors!!! Other than MS, he is very healthy. Doug and our whole group were approved for treatment. We were all very excited.

Things settled down pretty quickly though. Chemotherapy was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. All appointments were running long and so several of us took lunch orders and went and found food for everyone for lunch. We ate a quick lunch and then all the patients settled into recliners and were hooked up to IV drip machines. Everyone received Cyclophenosphamide along with medications to reduce the chance of nausea, dizziness and headache. It was a very long afternoon. The total time for the infusion was about 5 hours.

I am really happy to report that everyone in our group handled the infusion very well. During the afternoon, people read, slept, played on the internet or visited quietly. Angelo, our driver stayed with us the full time and helped people get to the bathroom with the IV drips. The nurses were very skilled and monitored the temperature, blood pressure, and drip rates continuously throughout the procedure for each patient. Doug handled the treatment very well and remained in good humor throughout the process. So far he has had no ill effects from the procedure. We are so thankful!!!

We arrived back at our apartment a little after 7:00 p.m. I made soup and sandwiches and we both ate. We are settled in now ready to watch the election coverage on CNN. Of course we are delighted right now because Doug is feeling so well and we are able to watch the returns here in Mexico. Hopefully the results of the elections won't' create an upset stomach! :)

To sum up this day, we are thankful.

Holy One, we thank you for this day. We thank you for good heath and the company of positive optimistic pilgrims who journey with us. We thank you for lighthearted banter and joyful anticipation of things to come. We give thanks for the knowledge and skill of our medical staff and their care for all of us. Holy One, we ask you to be present to us through the night, that we might sleep well and be with us tomorrow as the patients receive the second dose of chemo. Sustain our spirits and bolster our hope in this journey. In your name we ask it, Amen

2 comments:

UnknownNovember 9, 2016 at 8:48 PM
Sending you our love and prayers!
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EileenNovember 10, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Thank you so much for both the prayers and support. Both are much appreciated. Every step, each day is a journey toward healing. To get there we will need all the prayers and support we can get. :)
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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!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

November 8, 2016: Chemo Begins

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