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
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Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
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Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace”
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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
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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
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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
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541-966-1850
First Christian
Church
Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002
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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