Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: May 19, 2017: Day 179

Friday, May 19, 2017

May 19, 2017: Day 179

Today Doug is celebrating his 6 month, 1/2 year birthday, since his Stem Cell Transplant. What a journey it has been. The first days after Doug's transplant he showed some immediate improvement. His walking got much easier and he much more easily stood-up and sat-down. Then just 3 weeks after his transplant he was hospitalized. And 3 weeks after that he was taken off the ventilator and awoke paralyzed. It has been a long fight back. I look at him and think of how far he has come and it feels good to see the improvements. And other times I am reminded of how disabled he is. Rolling over is very difficult, he can't stand without support, he does not have consistent bowl control, he needs help to shower and he wears out easily when trying to be more active. But he is alive and with that he feels more alive each day. The journey has been long and there is a long way to go.

We spent a lot of time this afternoon checking in with his nurse and doctor. We finally got hold of the doctor covering for his regular doctor and got a new prescription to bring down Doug's heart rate. It was higher today, between 111 and 121. Hopefully, we will see his heart rate come down by morning. The good news is that he is not displaying any symptoms with his higher heart rate.

Just a word of thanks and thanksgiving. My son-in-law Tom came over last night and helped me out. I was having trouble getting my new printer to print with my new computer. I felt better when it took Tom a while to figure it out. Tom has a Master's in Technology. It is handy having a son-in-law with this background. While he was here he also helped me to set-up some headphones with our TV so that Doug can listen to the TV and I can have a little quiet. That was a big help. I feel grateful to have help when I need it. We love Tom and it is always nice to have him around.

And so we pray:

Our God who gives us life and love, we are so thankful for things to celebrate and the blessings that come to us each day. We thank you for the opportunity for Doug to have HSCT and for his 6 month anniversary. We thank you for continuing progress and the hope of better days to come. And we are thankful for Tom. We are blessed with a wonderful, talented family who reach out and care for each other. We pray for continued blessing. May Doug continue his healing and may he walk one day soon. 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!

Friday, May 19, 2017

May 19, 2017: Day 179

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