Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: March 3, 2017: Day +104

Friday, March 3, 2017

March 3, 2017: Day +104

Lee Ortiz: Owner of Salon Che'

The thing about blessings is that you never know where they will come from. Today I had an appointment to get my hair cut and colored at Salon Che' by my friend Lee Ortivez. I known Lee for many years now. When I get in for a hair appointment, never as often as I should, we spend time talking about religion, spirituality and politics. I always enjoy this time. I also love hearing about what Lee is up to because he is such a creative person and he always has a new adventure he is working on.

Some of you may remember that Lee cut Doug's hair before we left for Mexico. He did such a fabulous job. We knew that Doug would loose his hair from the chemo therapy. But instead of shaving Doug's head, Lee styled it very short and told Doug that as he brushed it he would loose it slowly and it would not be so dramatic or noticeable. And so it was that with his hair cut, it was not very traumatic it came out slowly, little by little.

Lee has been following this blog since we left for Mexico and knows about the struggles we have been through these past few months. He told me he wanted to do something to help. Both Doug and I are really touched by his concern and generosity. In talking, I told him some of our worries are with still having $10,000 to pay on the loan we took out for Doug's HSCT treatment and now with hospital expenses from 3 different facilities, missing work and with more expenses coming with adaptations we need to make to the house and very possibly needing to hire help at home. Doug will also need follow-up chemotherapy treatment to assure his immune system does not start attacking his T and B cells. We don't want his system to remember the M.S. The purpose of HSCT was to erase the memory for M.S.

A few of Lee's products

Lee is a fabulous hair stylest and he has been making his own line of lotions, soaps and oils that are all natural and made with essential oils. I have been using his oils on Doug since the first of January to massage his muscles. Lee has offered to donate 50% of any service to Dollars for Doug for anyone who comes in with a signed copy of his business card or a copy of this blog. He also said he would donate 20% of any of his essential oil products. And so my friends, if you are looking for a fabulous hair stylist or would like to purchase some of his all natural essential oil products please make an appointment with him at:
http://salonche.com/ or call him at 208-466-5500

If you would like to order products, I can help get them to you.

You will love his products and his hair styling skills and your support will be a big help to us.

And so we pray:

God of Hope, we are so grateful for the help and support that comes into our lives in unexpected ways. We give you thanks for the good will of our friends. Be with Doug now as he works so hard to regain strength. Encourage him and help him to keep a vision of walking. And be with all who care for him. Be with them in planning his treatment and carry out their plans each day. And may this time of Lent, be truly transformational for Doug and and all of us walking this path towards Easter. 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!

Friday, March 3, 2017

March 3, 2017: Day +104

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