Hi to All,
Just had to share the following with all of you who have been so supportive and loving, but I only have a minute, so here goes:
JESSICA MOVED HER LEGS.......SHE MOVED HER LEGS..........
MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING......PRAY FOR JESSICA AS SHE AWAKENS FROM THE COMA........JESSICA MOVED HER LEGS
Till tomorrow.......its only a day away.......
Love and praise be to God always,
Jessica's Mom
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!
28 comments:
OH MY GOD AMAZING JOY AND HAPPINESS YOUR SWEET DREAMS REALLY CAME TRUE
G O D B L E S S J E S S I C A
Gina,
Amazing! One more step on Jessica's journey to her new beginning.
YES!!!!! What wonderful news!!!!!! Our prayers have been answered. We"ll keep them coming!
Carol & Ray. XXOO
So good to hear all the amazing progress. I am so excited for you!!! Keep up the good work as you wake up from your slumber. Its very exciting to see the updates as we follow along with you in your journey. Keep getting better!!! Cant wait to see you when you get back to Tampa. Till then, take care Jessica. I think about you everyday and what an inspiration you have been to me. We have been following your progress as well as bringing awareness to your journey to everyone we know. Eric and I will be ordering RSD Awareness pins this weekend to wear on our uniforms in your honor. Take care and it is such a relief to keep reading the great news thus far! take care and we hope to see you soon!!!
With love,
Jason (your personal EMT :P)
GINA: That is INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!! Blessed be God who makes miracles happen!!!!! Jessica, we will continue to keep you and your mom in our prayers every day. Sending you great big hugs and lots of love, Angel
Gina, Our God is an awesome God! This is a wonderful start to her new life! Sending great big hugs and lots of love to all!
Dearest Jessica...YOU GO GIRL!!! We all knew you could do this!! Praise be to God in the Highest!! He and we love YOU!!
(Thanks Sarah Gina and Nita for the updates)
XOXO Nancy & Joe
Molly is waiting for you to dance again with her Jessica, I think that has to be the cutest picture I've ever seen of you holding her!
Hi Jess-
Thats great news. I know you can do it! I will keep praying for you and your Mom.Love you.
XOXOXOX
Ashley
Wonderful news!!! All the support, prayers and love along with Jessica's strength have brought about such positive results!!! Keep well and strong and we will continue to pray.
Julie S.
What a MIRACLE!!!!! Crystal Ulmer
Sarah and Jess - What a miracle we are experiencing thanks to your strengh and determination. Can't believe that 5 days can bring so much happiness. I will always remember this in my life. Hope to see you soon in Tampa. Keep up the fight!
P.S. Love, Barbara
Dear Mrs. Stevens and Jessica,
I am so elated that Jessica moved her legs! What a miracle! I will continue to pray for her every step of the way. Please let her know the she is in my thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Stephanie Auer
Hello Jessica - My name is Mark Fedders, the younger brother of Emily Wilford and son of Jerry and Kathy Fedders. It seems that there has been quite a gathering of Gringo's in Mexico sharing a rather abnormal but fantastic bond with each other during this past week. I heard about you through my discussions with my parents and was able to find your blog online. I wanted to let you know that your story is an inspiration for others who have been struck with this disease and I am so glad that both of our families have been able use each other as a support system. I am confident that after the coma, both you and my sister will be doing flips in no time with the greatest of ease. Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family in hopes that this cures your pain. I wish you the best in the next few days as you are waking up and may God bless you.
Best Wishes,
Mark Fedders
Fantastic news! I was very happy to read this morning! Jessica we are praying for you !!
Love,
Bill and Marie
What glorious news! We are all praying for Jessica and your whole family. We know that she is putting up such a fight!! Keep it up!
Best always,
Cristina David and our whole office staff at DDSNY
So happy to hear your great news!
Nancy E
Praise the Lord!
We continue to pray for more great news and for Jessica's easy transition from her coma!
God Bless you Sara & Jessica
Love
John & Angela & the boys!
Jessica and Gina,
What wonderful news!
Remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."Philippians 4:13
Love,
Linda
I'm still praying very hard and trying to send my positive thoughts.........
God bless! We pray for Jessica,s full recovery!.The girls from Cecilia's hooray!!!!!!!
We are so happy to hear the news today. What a day! I know I just celebrated my "anniversary" of the day I was first induced into the coma as the start of my new life, August 26th. It looks like Jessica and I will be celebrating our anniversary's around the same time. I pray this is the beginning to a life full of joy and discoveries of all that we have missed doing for so long. Continuing to pray for you guys!
Love in Christ,
Lindsay and Sharon Spengler
hey wessie i got the good news im crying im so happy!!!!!!! you moved ur legs and im so happy for u!!!! you r the most amazing person ever and you are sooooooooooooooooooo strong i cant even explain. how is mommy? mom when u get this write back to me or call me okay!? jess i got a facebook so mayb in a lil you can go on i wrote a message to you ok bye i love you !! love wessie!!
hi sara and jesseca, we are reading your updates almost every day happy to see that she is improving,u are remembered in our prayers every day and eager to hear more of goodnews ,
if u need any help tell your husband contact us here,
how r your health? r u doing fine ?
with prayers mariam and mini
Thank you Lord for staying with us on this long journey. Keep us strong.
love
the maitans
We are so happy to hear the good news and will keep watching your blog. Our prayers have been with you and Jessica you since we have known about your trip to Mexico. Your faith and devotion has inspired us.
Love, David and Pamela Cox
What wonderful news! We continue to pray for you and hope each day gets better and better.
Love,
Rachelle Thompson and Family
To my sweet angel Jessica...you are truly a miracle. Tears of joy for your recovery... MIRACLES REALLY DO HAPPEN... YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH. Love,kisses,prayers, elation, joy, happiness, so many emotions on this day. I can picture my sister dancing in the halls of the hospital. ((I am sure that everyone there knows her already, just as they did at the Tampa hotel.) I love you both so very much... Love always Carol
P.S. Grandma sends her love. She said that she "personally' thanked each saint that she prayed to.Love andkisses. THIS IS A TRUE MIRACLE...THANK YOU DR. CANTU AND THE ENTIRE STAFF IN YOUR HOSPITAL FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY.
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