Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: February 23, 2017: Day +96

Thursday, February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017: Day +96

Today, I was delighted to see a post from Doug's first O.T. at St. Al's. His name is Knox. When Doug was at St. Al's and they took him off the ventilator, St Al's was contracting with Knox to provide Occupational Therapy services. I was so thankful to have Knox provide therapy because he was such a skilled professional. He got right to work with Doug, establishing a relationship with him and finding activities that would get him moving. In his post yesterday, he reminded me how excited we both were when Doug moved his wrist on his right arm by himself. That was the first week of January. Now he is eating, brushing his teeth and reaching for items. It was so good to have such a skilled professional work with Doug and to share the journey with me when Doug had lost so many skills. Knox taught me the things I could do to help Doug and I continued to do those things weeks after we left St. Al's.

I am so thankful for the staff that we have had like Knox that have brought their best to the therapy sessions and to Doug's medical care. It is wonderful when we have the support of a great team. Doug had a lot of therapies today. I am glad that I have the opportunity to watch some of his therapies. I am also glad that that this facility is goal oriented. That is why we selected it. Today in there team meeting they set March 16 as a tentative discharge date. We knew they would set a goal for him to leave the Elks, but were really surprised it would be only 3 weeks from now. He has a long way to go in the next 3 weeks but it will be wonderful if he could be walking by then.

We give thanks for the great therapists who make a significant difference in people's lives everyday.

Holy and Life Giving God: We give you thanks for the professionals who dedicate their lives to the health and well being of others. We give you thanks for the dedication of therapists who bring new life to those they serve. We give you thanks for so many who have entered into our lives these past weeks who given us hope and joy. We pray that in the weeks to come that the therapists that Doug will work with will have a clear vision of what he needs to recover and regain his skills and his life. In your name we ask it. Amen

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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!

Thursday, February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017: Day +96

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