Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: October 22, 2017: Day 338

Sunday, October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017: Day 338

These past few days have felt like a roller coaster. One day the conversation is to move Doug to a rehabilitation facility and the next day he is coming home. Today I learned when I got to the hospital that they had decided to put a PIC line in Doug's arm so that he could receive his antibiotics at home.

The infectious disease doctor met with us and said that Doug would need the IV antibiotic for 2 weeks. During this time it is anticipated that the stone will pass and the stent will be removed. Where he gets the antibiotic will depend on the insurance. He may need to go daily to an infusion center or hospital for the infusion, or he may be able to have it at home. If he gets it at home, I will likely be trained in giving him the medication.

No one seems to believe me when I say I am not the nurse. I just keep getting more training and more skills. Anyhow it was decided that I can take care of Doug and that he can come home. Home Health will not be set-up until sometime this week. They will probably only help with PT. I am not sure the referral was ever formally made on Friday. The good news is that Doug is doing better than he was last spring when he came home. I helped him to transfer because he is still weak. We are using the gait belt. He was able to get undressed for bed on his own and get around in the push wheelchair at home. I think he might have been a little surprised and happy with what he could do. We both feel more hopeful about his recovery of skills.

So many people wished me a Happy Birthday today. Thank you so much for the love, care, and best wishes. We did not celebrate, we were pretty task oriented. Me with getting things done at home that needed to be done and then getting Doug home. And so all the warm thoughts were much appreciated. And so many prayers have been answered with Doug's recovery. We are thankful for that.

And so we pray:

God of Promise and Patience, thank you for the healing that Doug is experiencing. Thank you for the care he has been provided by the nurses, doctors, CNAs and other staff. Such careful care has helped us both to heal, in body, mind and spirit. Thank you for birthdays and the reminder they bring, telling us that we are so lucky to have life. I am thankful for health. Watch over Doug in the next days as he continues to heal. May that stone pass quickly and painlessly. 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, October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017: Day 338

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