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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2018)
LOCAL 3 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAy, DECEMbER 19, 2018 Hermiston man deals with tough diagnosis By KATHY ANEY STAFF WRITER Hearing he had five years left to live jolted Jeff Sepulveda. The Hermiston man and wife Rebecca got the grim prediction from his doc- tor in October at the Ore- gon Health & Science Uni- versity Hospital in Portland. Sepulveda has scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy tissue. Peo- ple 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 function has dropped to 46 percent as the fibrosis in his lungs worsens. The couple digested the dev- astating news as they drove home to Hermiston after the doctor’s appointment. “It hit me and my wife pretty hard,” he said. “It was a quiet ride home.” They looked for options, but found few. Sepulveda takes a drug called mycophe- nolate 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.” Other treatments show promise but are still consid- ered experimental by insur- ance companies. Stem cell transplantation seemed to offer the most hope. Jeff’s stem cells would be collected. He would undergo chemotherapy to destroy his malfunctioning immune system and then the collected stem cells would be returned to his body. The process takes several excru- ciating months and the out- come isn’t assured. The added life expectancy could only be a few years, even if all goes well. “It’s not a for sure deal,” he said. “It may take or it may not.” The procedure is expen- sive. Sepulveda will have to provide roughly $200,000 out of pocket. Friends and family are working to raise the money. The 37-year-old has a lot to live for — his wife, two young daughters, a close extended family, a good job at Les Schwab Tires and 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. 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. unfinished dreams. “My priority right now is being here for my wife and kids as long as I can,” he said. Rebecca is focused on Jeff. “He’s pretty quiet and super hard working. He’s a great dad to our kids,” she said. “This has all been a big shock to us.” About 300,000 Amer- icans have scleroderma, according to the Sclero- derma Foundation. The dis- ease, which is difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with other auto- immune diseases, typically comes on between the ages of 25 to 35. Outwardly, Jeff looks fairly healthy. One can imag- By JADE MCDOWELL STAFF WRITER The cities of Umatilla, Stanfield and Echo are join- ing forces to study housing needs. The cities received a grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to develop a housing needs analysis. They will work with consultant Angelo Planning Group. According to a news release, while the city of Hermiston has been partic- ipating in discussions with the other three cities about addressing housing shortages in the west end of Umatilla County, Hermiston will not be part of the project because it already completed a very similar housing analysis in 2017. Umatilla community development director Tamra Mabbott said the project will include a look at hous- ing needs now and 20 years down the road, an examina- tion of residential land avail- able for development and a study of barriers to that development. It will culmi- nate in a set of recommenda- tions for the cities. Mabbott said those rec- ommendations may be pol- icy changes for the city coun- cil to implement, or zoning changes an expansion of the urban growth boundary or other strategies. “It’s important to have a set of recommendations in place because it sets the stage for other work that needs to be done,” she said. Mabbott said there will be multiple public meetings set for sometime in January, where developers, homeless advocates and other stake- holders can give feedback on housing needs in the area. She said the report will likely be wrapped up by June. linked with scleroderma. Despite the grim reality WORSHIP COMMUNITY Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Give the Gift of Outdoor Space Holiday Special! 15% Off Solar Shades ! West-end cities get grant for housing study ine him hefting tires and fix- ing brakes at the Hermis- ton Les Schwab. Growing up in Boardman, he loved long-distance running and continued to run and bike for exercise as an adult. So far, Jeff says life hasn’t changed too much, although he’s had to dial it down. He is taking off the winter from work because the cold air affects his lungs. It takes longer to complete physi- cal tasks such as mowing the lawn. A close look at his hands shows purple fingers, a symptom of Raynaud’s dis- ease, which he’s had for the past 16 years. Raynaud’s is Offer Expires: 12/31/18 FREE ESTIMATES! 541-720-0772 102 E Columbia Dr. Kennewick, WA 99336 For the Holidays! Pergolas · Patio Covers Patio & Solar Shades Solar Screens · Screen Rooms · Retractable Awnings & More! Call for showroom hours www.mybackyardbydesignor.com License #188965 The Full Gospel Home Church 235 SW 3rd Phone 567-7678 Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker Sunday: Sunday School........10:00 am Worship...................11:00 am Evening Service........7:00 pm Wednesday Service..7:00 pm “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7 First United Methodist Church Hermiston 191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR Check wildhorseresort.com for showtimes $5 Matinee Classics Every Wednesday Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 “Proclaiming the Message of Hope, Living the Gospel of Love” Sunday School 9:15am Worship Service 10:30am 567-3013 775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston St. Johns Episcopal Church Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus. Scripture, Tradition and Reason Worship Livestream at herfumc.com Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston t. PH: 567-6672 We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all. 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 PM Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Family service 9am Sunday NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 10:30 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Pastor J.C. Barnett Children’s Church & Nursery Available 700 West Orchard Avenue P.O. Box 933 Hermiston, Oregon 541-567-8441 Seventh-day Adventist Church Credit & Debit Cards accepted Cineplex gift cards available 541-966-1850 First Christian Church Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002 Nursery available Check us out on Face Book Grace Baptist Church 5 Theater Cineplex of his condition, at least out- wardly, Jeff’s outlook seems as bright as the tree that glows in his living room. He and Rebecca are humbled by the supporters who are work- ing to raise funds for the stem cell transplant or just offer- ing words of encouragement. “It has been amazing,” Rebecca said. “People near and far have reached out to us.” Flyers hanging around town list several options for those interested in helping. Look for donation boxes at Les Schwab, Shell stations or Ace Hardware, deposit to the “Donations for Jeff Sep- ulveda” account at Bank of Eastern Oregon branches, go to www.gofundme. com/jeffs-scleroderma-bat- tle, pay five dollars for a “Fight for Jeff” wristband or attend a fundraising dinner at 5 p.m., Feb. 9 at the Port of Morrow Conference Cen- ter. To purchase tickets or donate an auction item, call Tia Sepulveda at 541-314- 3509 or Dawn Coleman at 509-308-3666. 1520 W ORCHARD AVE Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE www.hermistonnazarene.org Saturdays Sabbath School........9:30 a.m. Worship Service......11:00 a.m. English & Spanish Services 567-8241 Hermiston Jr. Academy 1300 NW Academy Lane, • Hermiston Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 565 W. HERMISTON AVE. DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday ...............................English 7:00 am Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm ...............................Spanish 7:00 pm SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am ..........................Bilingual 11:00 am ..............................Spanish 1:00 pm Offi ce..............................567-5812 To share your worship times call 541-278-2678
