Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: April 5, 2017: Day +135

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

April 5, 2017: Day +135

We are home. We left for Mexico on November 4. Doug had 4 days at home in December before he was admitted to the hospital in December. He has essentially been away from home for 5 months. He was so ready to come home.

The PT asked me to come at 1:00 this afternoon to practice with Doug using his new slider board. We practiced with the car. Three weeks ago they were telling me that I would need to pay for special transportation home because Doug could not get in a car. Well, using the slider board we were able to get Doug in the car and out of the car.

Doug enjoyed the ride home, taking in everything, noticing the new development. When we got home I asked him if it felt normal to be home. He said not yet. He spent some time just looking around taking everything in.

Our son-in-law Tom, was at the house when we got home. He had a beautiful Easter Lily, card and Oreos for Doug. He also bought Doug a favored dinner of fried chicken, macaroni and potato salad and baked beans. Doug was so happy. Doug drove his wheelchair up to the table. We were able to eat a regular meal together at our dinner table. I have not eaten dinner at home since Christmas. It felt great for both us. After dinner we watched TV with no one coming in and interrupting the show. Our schedule was our own. It was so weird.

There were lots of adjustments. We had to use the Hoyer lift to move Doug to his chair and bed. I was breaking out in a sweat trying to get him ready for bed and moved around in bed. We have much to do to come up with a routine and for both of us to feel comfortable at home. But hopefully after the next few days that will come. I am grateful to be home. There is much to do to arrange his care, but for tonight, I am letting that go and just resting into our next new normal.

Let us pray:

God of Comfort, thank you for moments of rest in the midst of much change. Thank you for the gift of home our refuge on the journey. The journey has been long and we are tired. The hills we have needed to climb have seemed endless. Today we give thanks for rest and we give thanks for Doug's continuous improvements that have brought us to this day. We give thanks for our friends who continuously bolster us up when we are discouraged, who recommend resources, hold us in prayerand make us laugh. Your presence is seen in so many faces and so many comments that are left for us. How grateful we are for the body of Christ that surrounds. Grant us peace this night as we sleep. Help us to awaken refreshed and prepared for the new day. Amen

2 comments:

UnknownApril 6, 2017 at 6:51 AM
Halleluia and just in time for Easter. I am so happy for both of you. I can't even imagine how you must feel Try to rest.
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UnknownApril 6, 2017 at 9:14 AM
Happy Doug Day!!! Keep the faith and do not worry. You are both strong believers. Praying for you both that your life together will continue to get better.Love Henry and Thelma
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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!

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

April 5, 2017: Day +135

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