Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: June 22, 2017: Day +213

Thursday, June 22, 2017

June 22, 2017: Day +213

We have been going through electronics this spring. Seems like we are flipping everything in our lives. Doug and I both are people who have always enjoyed change and innovation, but these past 6 months it has been a bit much. While trying to deal with all of the different medical facilities, doctors, therapist and all of Doug's limitations we have also been changing up our electronics. In March I got Doug an IPAD so that he could use it to read and listen to books and magazines as well as look at emails. Then when we got home in April our printer died and so we had to get a new printer. After getting the printer set-up we discovered it would not work with our computer because our computer was too old and so we had to get another computer. Yesterday, my phone decided to crash. Once the battery died I could not get the battery to charge again. I went to Verizon today, and the guy told me that probably went I updated my operating system, it caused the phone to crash. And so today, I had to get another phone. OK...that should take care of all electronics, but I almost hate to say that.

Doug went with me to the Dog Park this afternoon. This is the first time he has wanted to go with me to the Dog Park in years. We took Trixie to run and play with the other dogs and to play in the water. She had a wonderful time and it was great for Doug to get outside for an hour and enjoy watching Trixie and the other dogs.

Tomorrow we are going to Cascade for the weekend. We will have our second weekend away. We are excited to take Trixie to Cascade. She will love it. And we are excited to have a weekend away to rest and refresh. Doug is less anxious then the last time we went. This time he seems to feel a little more confident. We may not have much of a connection to upload a blog and so I may not post until Sunday.

And so we pray:

God of Refreshment, we give you thanks for beautiful summer days and time to enjoy the outdoors. We give thanks that Doug is more and more feeling like getting out and regaining some of his life. Be with us as we travel, and we pray and hope that Doug will feel confident in different surroundings and at the end of the weekend return refreshed and filled with hope for continued improvement. Amen

1 comment:

Debbie of BoiseJune 23, 2017 at 7:19 AM
So glad you and Doug are getting out of town to a beautiful place. I also know that when electronics die, it is a really pain for the owners. Enjoy your new electrics, though. Blessings and traveling mercies to you, Doug and Trixie!
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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!

Thursday, June 22, 2017

June 22, 2017: Day +213

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