Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: January 22, 2017: Day + 64

Sunday, January 22, 2017

January 22, 2017: Day + 64

Today's lunch

Today Doug had his second pureed lunch. When I asked Doug what he thought I should write in the blog today he said you should as people who are reading the blog what they think I am eating, because I cannot figure it out. If you ask him if he is excited to be eating, he says "Well yes, but I don't like that pureed food. The food sucks but I eat it." You can tell by the way he frames this experience that he is not mixing words. And so I am posting a picture of his lunch and you can guess what he had for lunch. Whatever it was, I am just thankful he is eating. He did really well, no aspirating and so we hope that he will continue to move forward and it won't be long until he is eating normal food.

Fr. Dave came this afternoon to bring us communion. When Fr. Dave celebrated communion, Christmas Eve Doug was on the ventilator, and could not participate and was not aware the family was gathered around him. Last week, when Fr. Dave brought us communion Doug could only watch but not partake with the bread and wine because he could not take anything by mouth. Today, before Fr. Dave came I asked Doug's SLP, Marsha if Doug could have a small piece of the wafer and wine. She said yes and so for the first time in months Doug was able to participate in communion. It was a blessed time.

Fr. Dave and Fr. Doug

This evening, when I was helping Doug with range of motion and muscle strengthening, he started turning his right leg from left to right. This is the first time he has made this motion with his full leg. He has been able to move his foot for more than a week, but not his leg, it was a delightful surprise.

A verse from the Psalms 27 in today's lectionary reads: Harken to my voice, O Lord, when I call : have mercy on me and answer me.

O Lord, we thank you for listening to our call, hearing our cry and for your mercy. We thank you for the healing that is continuing day by day in Doug. Tonight we rest, knowing that you are doing better things for us than we can ask for or imagine. Amen

3 comments:

UnknownJanuary 23, 2017 at 9:00 AM
How thrilling to hear the mews.the food looks like brown mashed potatoes with gravy. I suppose he can't add salt. One small step forward.thanks be to God. My cousin was on a feeding tube for over six month's. Eileen, many prayers for your surgery tomorrow. I get to go sit with Doug tomorrow.
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UnknownJanuary 23, 2017 at 12:36 PM
Hmm, tough one. I am guessing pureed buffalo burger for the brown, pureed slugs for the green and pureed banana peels with white food coloring for the white. Do I get a prize if I am right?
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UnknownJanuary 23, 2017 at 12:48 PM
Hmm, tough one. I am guessing pureed buffalo burger for the brown, pureed slugs for the green and pureed banana peels with white food coloring for the white. Do I get a prize if I am right?
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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, January 22, 2017

January 22, 2017: Day + 64

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