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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2018)
FARM BILL A BREAKTHROUGH FOR HEMP HERMISTON WINS MCC WRESTLING DUALS REGION, A3 SPORTS, B1 E O AST 143rd year, No. 42 REGONIAN Friday, december 14, 2018 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Your Weekend HERMISTON • “The Grinch” matinee, Pendleton • Living Nativity, Pendleton and Hermiston • Christmas Music Fest, Heppner FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS CHECK COMING EVENTS, A5 Weekend Weather FRI SAT SUN 49/35 47/38 49/42 St. Anthony ends hospice care, Dec. 31 By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian citing budgetary concerns, Pendleton’s only hospital is ending hospice care. in early december, St. anthony Hospital began adver- tising the hospice’s dec. 31 clo- sure and sending out letters to patients and bereaved family members. in a letter to the bereaved obtained by the East Oregonian, the hospital declines to pro- vide a reason for the closure and advises patients to seek care with other nearby hospice centers. “it’s been a great pleasure and an honor to serve you,” the letter concludes. “We wish you well.” St. anthony Hospital Presi- dent Harry Geller said it was a tough decision to cut the end-of- life care program, but the hos- pital didn’t have the budget to continue that service. in anticipation of the clo- sure, Geller said St. anthony has been transitioning most of the hospital hospice’s approxi- mately 40 patients to home hos- pice care. Geller said the St. anthony hospice is no longer accepting new patients and has only four patients remaining, which the hospital will either continue to care for past the dec. 31 dead- line or transition to another hos- pice care facility. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Jeff Sepulveda of Hermiston was diagnosed with scleroderma, a fatal autoimmune disease that attacks a person’s lungs, this summer and was told by his doctor he had five years to live. No cure, but hope Stem cell transplant carries high price tag By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian earing he had five years left to live jolted Jeff Sepulveda. The Hermiston man and wife rebecca got the grim prediction from his doctor in Octo- ber at the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland. Sep- ulveda has scleroderma, an autoim- mune disease that attacks healthy tis- sue. People with scleroderma often experience stiffening and tightening of the skin and connective tissue, the feeling of slowly turning to stone. in Sepulveda’s case, the disease affects his lungs. Pulmonary func- tion has dropped to 46 percent as the fibrosis in his lungs worsens. The couple digested the devastating news as they drove home to Hermiston after the doctor’s appointment. “it hit me and my wife pretty H Staff photo by E.J. Harris Poor circulation in the extremities was Jeff Sepulveda’s first sign that something was wrong after he was diagnosed with Raynaud’s disease. hard,” he said. “it was a quiet ride home.” They looked for options, but found few. Sepulveda takes a drug called mycophenolate to keep the disease at bay, but it’s not a cure. “it slows the process down,” he said. “it’s not a cure by any means.” See Hope, Page A8 conservation measures can lower electric bills See Hospital, Page A2 By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Staff photo by Kathy Aney Christmas characters glow this week from Pete Rosenberg’s yard. The Hermiston man pays about $20 extra each month to light his Christmas display. as electric rates go up, consumers have the power to lower their energy bills through conservation. December, however, can be a difficult month to conserve power. christmas decorations suck up elec- tricity. The onset of cold weather makes people want to turn up the heat. christ- mas vacations can mean more time at home, translating to more time running the television and other appliances. and any houseguests for the holidays means extra dishes, laundry and showers. Some people see an increased electric bill as just another part of their christ- mas budget. Pete rosenberg of Hermis- ton said the collection of inflatables and lights in his front yard add about $20 to $30 to his december electric bill each year, but that’s “not too bad.” “The joy outweighs the price,” he said. rosenberg said he enjoys seeing the lights in his yard and in other yards this See Electricity, Page A8 CHI St. Anthony Hospital Family Clinic is recognized as a Patient -Centered Primary Care Home. What does that mean for you? • Better-coordinated care. • Healthcare providers who will help connect you • Listening to your concerns and answering with the care you need in a safe and timely way. questions. • Healthcare providers who play an active role in your health. • After-hours nurse consultation. 844.724.8632 3001 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG Mon through Thurs, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.