Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: May 14, 2017: Day +174

Sunday, May 14, 2017

May 14, 2017: Day +174

It was a wonderful Mother's Day. One of the best Mother's Day ever for so many reasons. Doug was worried that he could not get me anything for Mother's Day. I told him it was fine, it did not matter. But he did the best he could. He woke early and got himself dressed. At church everyone was invited to wear a hat in memory of all our mothers that could not be with us today. Doug insisted on wearing a hat. He was not letting me out of the house without one. It turned out that he was the only man who wore a hat. We took pictures after church with everyone who had a hat and Doug was our honorary man. More important though was the moment we took to remember our moms. Doug loved his mom and he was glad to honor her today.

My daughter-in-law Corinne surprised me this week with a gift. She sent me an album with all the the activities of the boys and Dan and Corinne. I love it! With them in San Diego we don't get to participate in their lives. It is really wonderful to have the album to enjoy all of their adventures. And they so sweetly sent me a check to do something for me. I am blessed.

We enjoyed going to church with Angie and Tom and the kids including our foster grandsons, and Tom's parents. After church we had a first, we all went to McDonald's. The kid's got to play on the playground and moms eat free on Mother's Day. Wow! No mimosas, but it was easy, no fuss and fun for everyone. Angie and Tom gave me a lovely bottle of wine, lovely smelling herbs to plant and a darling card with pictures of all the kids with sweet notes from all of them. Lovely.

Then my sister Kate, came by this afternoon with a check in hand. She wanted to pay off the rest of our loan for Doug's HSCT. What a blessing and an end to a perfect day. No more worries about stretching dollars to pay for Doug's current care and paying off his stem cell transplant. Heart warming.

It was a big day. Doug was tired by this evening. He is snoring softly right now. But before saying good-night, my last thoughts are of our mothers. Of all they did for us and gave to us. We loved them and miss them. They will forever be in our hearts. Grateful.

God of Grace, Mother of us all, thank you for the tender mercies of this day. Thank you for a beautiful family. Thank you for friends to share the day and memories with. How grateful I am to be a mother, a mother-in-law, a step-mother, a grandmother, a foster grandmother, a sister, an aunt and a daughter. I am so grateful for all the women in our lives that mother in all of its manifestations. I am so grateful for my own mother. Thank you God for tenderly loving us, caring for us, nourishing us and showing us how to love one another. Watch over those we love, protect them with your open arms and loving embrace. 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, May 14, 2017

May 14, 2017: Day +174

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