Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: May 15, 2017: Day +175

Monday, May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017: Day +175

I guess we are not out of the woods yet. The physical therapist called me at work today. She said that she had measured Doug's heart rate a couple of times and that it was beating at about 120 beats a minute. She had called the doctor. Our doctor is not in the office today. The doctor taking her calls recommended bringing him down to the E.R. Doug said he was feeling fine and the physical therapist said he was not presenting with any other symptoms. I told her that I thought we should we wait and that I would take his heart rate again when I got home. And sure enough when I took it when I got home it was 120 bpm.

I am not too surprised by this raise in his heart rate. His doctor has been weaning him from taking metoprolol. This medication has been given him for blood preasure and heart rate since he was very sick in December. It had been lowering his heart rate too much. And so she gave him half the dossage and then took him completely off it, with Saturday being his last day. It looks to me like he will need to start it again.

Neither Doug or I felt like he needed to go to the E.R. His blood preasure is good. I will call his doctor first thing again in the moring. Hopefully we can get this all figured out again by tomorrow afternoon. I am disappointed that his heart rate has climbed back up. I was really hoping that everything would be back to normal with his heart and he would not need this medication anymore.

And so we pray:

God of Comfort and Healing, be with Doug this night, tomorrow and in the days to come. Slow the beating of his heart. Give him comfort and confidence in your healing power. Be with his doctor as she works to find the right medications for him that will return him to wellness. And be with us as we sleep this time. Give us your comfort. May our sleep be peaceful, resting in your strength and the power of your will. Amen

2 comments:

MarieMay 16, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Treat the patient not the numbers 👏👏👏
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MarieMay 16, 2017 at 9:54 PM
Is there any particular audiobook Doug would like to have? Or credits for Audible if he's a member? I come to Nampa a lot. I'd like to warn you ahead of time in case you'd like me to pick up or do something. I'm fairly disabled but not as dire as you all.
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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, May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017: Day +175

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