Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: December 26, 2016: Day +37

Monday, December 26, 2016

December 26, 2016: Day +37

This morning I arrived at the hospital and Doug was more alert than any day in the past 10 days. He had his eyes open more today. He did not respond to a request to squeeze my hand or move a finger, but he did seem to see me. His urine output is normal. His kidneys are not working as well as we would hope: he is retaining a lot of fluids however his urine output with Lasix (Corinne told me how to spell it. :) is good. He has blisters forming on his body from to much water in his system which cannot be comfortable. His blood pressure was better again today and his heart rate is down. He is initiating breaths on his own. The doctors have taken him off all the sedation medication. When he is awake enough they will remove the breathing tube. They need to be sure he is awake enough to swallow and breath.

We had visits from our friends Norm, Fr. David, and Fr. Bill, and my sister Kate. It is really nice to have so much support and to be able to share this journey. We are so appreciative of all the prayers from our visitors and from people reading the blog. It makes the journey lighter

I left the hospital to go to my sister's house around 5:30 for a family gathering and dinner. We talked, ate dinner and then had a rousing game of spoons with the whole family including the grand kids. Everyone had fun laughing and playing together.

Then Dan and I went back to the hospital to see Doug and spend a couple more hours with him before returning home to go to bed.

Tomorrow may be a big day if they are able to remove the tube. We won''t know if that will happen until morning. I hope he can get it removed tomorrow. He looks so sad and it can't feel good.

It is time to pray:

Holy and Life Giving God, be with Doug this night. Help him to feel safe and secure as he comes out of this sedation. Give him your peace and confidence that he is being healed. Hold him tight and comfort him as he waits in expectation for new life and comfort. Give me and his care providers direction as we continue to attend to his healing. And thank you Lord for the many angels you sent to us this day in the way of friends, hospital staff and family. For all this we give you thanks and praise. Amen

2 comments:

UnknownDecember 27, 2016 at 5:04 PM
I pray Doug was able to have the breathing tube removed today. Our family's prayers have been with you each and every day. Peace be with you. Lisa, Dou, Anna, and Will
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UnknownDecember 27, 2016 at 5:16 PM
I am praying every time I think of you and Doug. May we have healing.
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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!

Monday, December 26, 2016

December 26, 2016: Day +37

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