Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: December 2, 2016: +13

Friday, December 2, 2016

December 2, 2016: +13

A few of Puebla from the top of the Ferris Wheel

Today is our last day in Puebla. Before coming here we had read quite a bit about the HSCT experience at Clinical Ruiz and the city of Puebla. It is so interesting how we think we know things, but in truth the richness of experiencing things is different then just reading about it.

Today we prepared to leave. Preparations included cleaning out the refrigerator and the cupboards, completing the laundry and delivering tips to all that helped us. It was a day for final goodbyes to our security staff, outpatient services and to the remaining members of our group. We will always cherish and appreciate those we shared this past month with.

This afternoon, Angel our driver picked our group up and took us to the giant Ferris Wheel. It is an icon of Puebla. We see it from our apartments. It seemed liked something that we should all experience together. We wanted to be "on top of the world" together. It was wonderful. We were able to look out and see all the places we had traveled to and heard about during this past month in Puebla.

After our 30 minute Ferris Wheel ride we went to the The New Yorker outdoor coffee shop for something to drink and to share some time together. I had a yummy Irish Coffee. It was not like any other Irish Coffee I have had. It came in a wine class, with a sugar rim and a cherry on the side. It was very tasty. I might have to try this at home.

Mexican Irish Coffee

We talked about our experience in Puebla and our time together. We are all thankful to have a group that got along so well and to have the support of one another. We all agree that having a group to share each step of this experience with made the treatment easier, tolerable and more enjoyable. We talked about how small the world is. Tonight our group represented Norway, Australia, and the US. But no matter where we come from we want the same things. We want health and life.

Group 1: Our final night together

Upon arriving back at our apartment I had a message from our airline

carrier that there is bad weather in Houston and our flight could be delayed or that our we may need to be rerouted. Our driver is picking us up at 6:30 in the morning. At this time, I can't get any more information from the airline. So hopefully, we won't be getting up early, to be delivered back at the apartment an hour later. Tomorrow could be an interesting day. Traveling is not easy on Doug, we we are hopeful that everything will go as smoothly as it can.

And so, farewell Puebla.

Puebla Ferris Wheel

Holy One, we give you thanks for this wonderful experience. We thank you for the opportunity to be with good people. We thank you for the opportunity to have medical treatment to end this ugly disease. Be with us now as we travel home. Watch over us. Make our path clear. Be with Doug in his weakness that he might have the strength he needs to enjoy this trip home. In your name we ask it. Amen

2 comments:

Sherry K-BarrettDecember 3, 2016 at 6:11 AM
Our prayers travel with you. Hope all is as smooth as possible. Love, good thoughts and hugs. S
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UnknownDecember 4, 2016 at 9:20 AM
Sooooooo loved meeting you two, until we do again, be well and happy and as we'd say in Australia, I hope that MS 'Buggers Off' . X
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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!

Friday, December 2, 2016

December 2, 2016: +13

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