Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: April 9, 2017: Day +139

Sunday, April 9, 2017

April 9, 2017: Day +139

Today being Palm Sunday, we enter Jerusalem with Jesus. We enter Holy Week. Jesus enters triumphant, yet humbly. The crowd that gatherer's has great expectation and great hope. No one knows what is about to unfold in the days to come. Such is the spiritual journey. We take our first steps in our pilgrimage filled with hope and expectation. We often don't want to entertain the darker side: the bumps, mountain cliffs, the steep grades, the loneliness, the unpredictability. These are all part of the pilgrim's journey. After Jesus enters the city, the week will be filled with celebration, disillusionment, sadness, helplessness and finally triumph. The pilgrims journey is no different. Ultimately, as we journey to God, our own paths will be no more predictable, no more certain and no less challenging.

What brings me to this reflection this night? I am sitting quietly reflecting on Holy Week and preparing my heart for resurrection and transformation. To have made it this far on our pilgrimage we have had to rely on our relationship with God, in our hope in the resurrection and in the importance of the journey. It is a journey of hope and it is a journey of trust. Coming home is presenting it's own challenges. Doug feels more frustrated, because he can not do the things he did before going into the hospital. He is dependent on me for most things. That is not easy on either of us. To live through this time we have to keep our eye on the destination, not the present moment. We have to move toward Jerusalem, toward transformation. We have to live into joy.

And so we pray:

God of Transformation, we give thanks for the gift of home and thanks for the gift of time. Be with us as we move through the struggles of this new transition. Help us to trust in our capacity to meet the challenges of the day and to trust in your presence in all circumstances. Help us to live in the liminal space between triumphant entrance and crucifiction and finally transforamtion. By grace, may we find joy in each space. And God we continue to pray for Doug to be healed, for him to walk and for him to serve you. 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!

Sunday, April 9, 2017

April 9, 2017: Day +139

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