Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: April 17, 2017: Day 147

Monday, April 17, 2017

April 17, 2017: Day 147

Easter Day was a wonderfully full day. Doug was able to attend church with me in the morning. It is still a lot of work to get him in and out of the car but we were able to do it and when we got to church we had help from Will and Fr. Dave. We spent time after the service visiting with friends. It was very nice for Doug to see so many friends and to be able visit with people.

After church we came home and my sister, my daughter Angie and her family and my son-in-law's parents came over for an Easter celebration. Doug had been really looking forward to this celebration. He was excited to eat delicious food and have a day with family. It was the first time we have had a normal family gathering for a very long time. It was nice to have things feel normal.

Grandson Cole and Foster Grandson Jordan
hunting for eggs with their new Easterr bunnies.

Thelma and Henry, Tom's parents, brought me a prayer shawl, blessed by their congregation. It is beautiful. I told Thelma I will wear the shawl each night as I write this blog. It will remind me of the prayers that surround us. Just as we keep our quilt close by that was blessed for Doug before leaving for Mexico. The prayers of so many have sustained us and brought us to this Easter season. It is truly a miracle that Doug lived and that one day soon he will walk again.

While Doug was tired from such a big day, he was able to stay awake all day and go to bed at a normal time. This is a big step forward. And today after such a big day, he was not anymore tired then he might be on a normal day. With MS, the day after a big day can be really tiring. I think it is a good sign that Doug was able to participate in all his therapies today and is going to bed at a normal time.

Today he surprised me by being able to put on his own pants and his own shirt while laying in bed. He then brushed his own teeth, washed his face and combed his hair. This is a big step forward.
He is still moving forward.

The Easter season is 5 weeks. During this time we will focus on practicing resurrection. I told Doug today when he was trying to get in the car and it is so difficult that our job is to focus on moving forward. What happened to him when he was very sick is over. We now work on developing new skills and new life. We have much to be thankful for. He has healed so much from those early days of January. He still has a ways to go but I am grateful everyday he gets skills back. It is time now to start planning for the future and to live.

God of New Life, we give thanks for your presence in our lives and the gift of new life. During this Easter season help us to die to those parts of our lives that are not bearing fruit and to open ourselves to new possibilities and new life. Help us to believe in things we cannot see. Help us to keep moving forward in faith and hope. 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!

Monday, April 17, 2017

April 17, 2017: Day 147

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