I can't believe that in 4 more days we will be leaving Tampa for Mexico with high hopes and expectations for Jessica. It is amazing to me to think about her journey so far and how much she has had to endure and face. She is the strongest person I know. She will emerge from this coma victorious because of her sheer will and determination to get better and get her life back!
One of Jessica's ambulance paramedics, Jeff, once wrote the following for her:
Joy and
Elation when
Sickness
Stops
In the
Cure
Ahead......
With God's love, always, Jessica's Mom
POST A COMMENT
Jessica's Journey to Getting Her Life Back
By Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)
As we begin this journey toward renewed health we would like to express our sincere heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick and all the work he has done and continues to do in order to bring patients like my daughter Jessica back to a more meaningful life and restored from this devastating illness. Also, special thanks to Dr. Fernando Cantu and his team of doctors in Mexico for taking on a difficult case like my daughters, Words cannot express the renewed sense of hope that we have that one day, our Jessica, can regain her life that has been taken away from her – God Bless you all!
Jessica’s Story
Once an A+ student who loved school, was involved in many extracurricular activities, played varsity tennis, lacrosse and gymnastics and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, our daughter Jessica has spent the last 3 years incapacitated, paralyzed, unable to sit or walk and eat. She spends her days confined to a hospital bed, wearing sunglasses and noise-canceling headphones, due to severe light and sound sensitivity.
Jessica and her sisters, 2 mos. before becoming illThe pain she feels is indescribable and all attempted treatments have not even come close to relieving her suffering.
She has seen many doctors, undergone numerous painful tests and procedures, has been prescribed various medications, and has been hospitalized frequently including being intubated and on a ventilator. She is severely debilitated and currently is only 92 pounds. This is certainly no life for a 21 year old young woman!
Jessica is suffering from neurologic Lyme disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a severely debilitating and painful neuromuscular disorder. She suffers daily with constant sharp, stabbing, tingling and burning pain; throughout her body; severe headaches; paralysis; intense muscle spasms; gastroparesis; seizures; twisting of her limbs (dystonia); sensitivity to any touch (allodynia); extreme sensitivity to lights and sounds; excessive sweating; swelling; fevers; softening of bones; decreased hair growth; redness and discoloration of the limbs; and painful skin ulcers. The pain is constant and unrelenting, but despite her suffering, her faith in God remains and she still has hope for her future.
Jessica's painful skin lesionsJessica's journey began in 1999, when she was only 11 years old. She became very ill with Mono and was bed bound for 3 months. She subsequently developed RSD (stage 1) of the lower right leg. She received early intervention and returned to playing sports and enjoying her life.
Jessica, age 15, at summer campFour years later, in 2003, while away at a sleep-away camp, she developed a rash behind her right knee, coincidentally in the same leg that previously had RSD!
At the time, the camps nurse & doctor told her that it was “duck rash” – a rash from swimming in the lake with duck feces. However, Jessica was able to obtain photos from camp from another camper which shows the classic “bulls-eye” rash from Lyme disease! It wasn’t until much later and only after developing symptoms and becoming very ill, was the diagnosis of Lyme disease and Babesiosis (another tick-borne infection) made.
Most people (and doctors!) have no idea how serious Lyme disease can become and no clue how to properly diagnose it. Unfortunately, if she would have been promptly diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease, the RSD would not have been triggered and she would not be suffering.
July 2003, Jessica's Lyme disease rashDuring these past three years and with the pain becoming more intense and unbearable she has been seeing Dr. Finkelstein for pain management. He has even made house calls to spare her the pain of coming by ambulance to his office. Jessica has been treated with multiple pain medications, at the highest possible doses, as well as an implanted dilaudid pain pump, which delivers potent medication straight into her spine. Many doctors have told us that with the amount of medications Jessica was taking would be enough to “kill a horse”—yet they had little to no effect on her. If it wasn’t for Dr. Finkelstein trying to alleviate her constant, severe, unrelenting pain, I don’t know how she would have managed. He is very special to us as well.
Recently Jessica was transported by air ambulance to Tampa, Florida to see Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, a world renowned RSD expert. Dr. Kirkpatrick told us that Jessica is one of the most debilitated patients he has ever seen.
Jessica getting into the air-ambulance to go see Dr. KirkpatrickUpon his testing and because Jessica's condition is so severe, Dr. Kirkpatrick is recommending the only treatment available that can possibly help relieve her suffering, and afford her some semblance of a “normal” life - the Ketamine Coma Procedure - a clinical trial that is being conducted in Monterrey, Mexico.
During this procedure Jessica will be put into a coma , with the hope that her nerves, brain and spinal cord will “reset” -so that her nervous system sends the correct signals to her brain.
Yes, this is a radical, scary treatment, however, for Jessica, "scary" is thinking that she could spend the rest of her life in this condition, unable to walk, eat, or take care of herself. Since all reasonable treatments have failed to help her, we feel we must try everything possible to help Jessica regain her life.
We understand that due to Jessica’s fragile condition, there is a high risk associated with this procedure. We are also aware that other patients with severe RSD like Jessica's have had success.
Jessica’s goal is to one day become a doctor. Our hope is that with this study she can have that chance. As her Mom, I know that she will be a great doctor because when a patient presents in her office and says “Doctor, I am in pain and words cannot express how bad it is” – my daughter –Dr. Jessica– will be able to say - :I know how you feel, I’ve been there too. So, take a seat and let me tell you a story”….
We are so thankful and feel so blessed to have been led to Dr. Kirkpatrick.
God is good and with his help guiding Dr. Cantu and Dr. Kirkpatrick, our hope is for Jessica to be able to return to us whole again and pain-free!
8 comments:
Dear Gina and Jessica, I just read your blog. I will continue to pray for you. I remember Jessica as a child at Resurrec tion. Her faith is so strong, much more than mine is I am sure. I wish you well on your journey to Mexica. God Bless you. Dorothy Schoen
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God" ~ corrie ten boom
Hi Jessica, Mrs & Mr. Stevens, Katherine, and Michelle,
I just read your whole blog and watched all the videos you have posted. This has truly touched me. You guys are the strongest people I know, and I am so hopeful this procedure will work for Jessica! I believe it will work and I'm excited for her recovery! Jessica, I miss you so much I hope all the best for you and that in the highest hopes one day we will be lounging on the beach together soon! Looking through old pictures of us from high school all the way back to your mom being our daisy leader really reminds me of the good times we've had! Mrs. Stevens, you are truly an amazing person. Your strength through this whole journey has been incredile you can really say you are the best mom ever!
Everyone here is praying for you.
I love you so much.
Best of luck,
Brittany <3333
Dear Jessica, The big day is almost here! We are all praying for you over here. I will be saying a dedicated novena for you starting on August 20. The rosary group that I belong to will be (and has been) praying for you also. We're storming Heaven with prayer for you, Jessica!!! Hang in there and please say hi to your amazing mom for me! Love always, Angel
Dear Jessica and Gina,
We just want you to know we are keeping you close to our hearts and praying for your family. Continue to trust in God. All things are possible!
Dear Jessica and Gina,
Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Continue to be brave and have faith.
Love, Robin
You are in our hearts and our prayers. May this coma relieve the constant burn.
May you and your family feel God's presence and loving mercy during this difficult time.
The Turners
Diet pills and body fat binding pills for example unique hoodia and proactol arent always the healthy method to slim down, while options for example african mango weight loss supplements can provide an even more healthy solution.Sooner or later, this heres an example could be like this. My spouse and i actually do not follow this move backward.I am just racking your brains on exactly how uniquehoodia meets to all that. Alli unlike other hoodia products that contains almost 400mg or less hoodia, this unique product contains around 495mg of the purest available hoodia. If you have been searching for ephedra unique hoodia fusion scam. Unique hoodia gordonii diet pills hoodia gordonii diet pills mobile phones, used cars, health products, property for sale, computer accessories.
Post a Comment