Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: December 11, 2016:Day =+22

Sunday, December 11, 2016

December 11, 2016:Day =+22

Doug when he was admitted to the hospital

When Dan and I arrived at the hospital this morning we learned that Doug had slept most of the night. We were grateful that he was able to rest.. His body is worn out from all that he has been through in the last month, and being ravaged by this infection and uncontrollable cough.

He has slept most of the day, which is good. He is still coughing, however it is not continuous. His temperature has been down most of the day. His heart rate is still high. He is refusing to eat or drink. He has started developing some edema and so the doctor took away the IV fluids. When I was able to meet with the doctor I asked him to return the IV because Doug is not drinking. I think his throat is sore and often when he swallows he begins coughing. When I explained to the doctor how dehydrated he had been, he restarted the IV fluids and agreed that it would be best to slowly reduce the amount of fluids he is receiving.

There are lots of concerns and worries. He has been very sick. Things do look a little better, but we are not out of the woods yet. I don't think they really know the source of the infection. They are giving him very strong antibiotics that should kill about anything he has.. It is also a worry that he is not eating or drinking. I pray that tomorrow he will feel better and that his heart rate will be down so that he will feel like eating and drinking again.

Many of you have offered concern for me. So here is a little update on me. Tuesday night I twisted my knee when I was trying to get Doug up and off the floor after a fall. By Friday morning it was really hurting and I decided I needed to walk across the parking lot to Quick Care and get it checked. It was a rough walk with the icy parking lot, but I made it. They did an x-ray and found nothing is broken. And so they braced it, gave me ibuprofen and recommended I see a specialist next week. It feels much better with the brace. I am hoping that it is just a sprain and will be better soon.

Dan leaves tomorrow morning. It has been really nice to have him here. I wish that Doug could have visited more with him, however he has been really too sick to visit. He has been good company for me and helpful in trying to interpret and understand what is going on with his Dad. It is nice too, to have his wife Corinne on the end of the phone when we need her. Corinne is an internal medicine doctor who has been a hospital doctor. Her expertise and Dan's molecular biology and pharmaceutical background are a Godsend.

We have been blessed in many ways over the years. We have done things right and done things wrong. But for some reason we have been blessed with wonderful kids. I thank God that we have adult kids who are smart, caring and intelligent. They are great people to be with and they make our lives better. Corinne sent me an early Christmas present. It is a beautiful Celtic quilt that she and our grandsons made together. It will be a great comfort to me. Especially during this challenging time.

Handmade quilt by my daughter-in-law and grandsons

Tonight we pray:

Holy God, be with us this night. Strengthen our hope and give us peace. We give you thanks and praise for the caring of our family and friends and for the continued care of health professionals. We pray that Doug will be healed, and his body be made strong. Be with all who are caring for him. Help them to find answers to our questions and treatments that will heal Doug's body. Be with Dan as he travels home tomorrow. Amen

1 comment:

UnknownDecember 12, 2016 at 3:47 AM
I am praying for you Eileen and Doug. Certainly deeply challenging days. Please know of all of us at KSD thinking and praying for you also.
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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!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

December 11, 2016:Day =+22

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