My Dearest Jessica,
What can I say to a daughter that continues to amaze me everyday? From the moment you were just a little baby and you spoke your first words of "whats thatttt" at the age of 4 months (we have the video to prove it) to the time when you were 9 months old and took your first steps into my arms, I have known what a special gift from God you are!!! Do you remember how you were so determined to ride your two-wheeler and you became the first one on Huntington Road to do it? How about all of the things you wanted to do growing up and had to try them all - like - ballet, piano, soccer, girl scouts, lacrosse, to name only a few! Fast forward to just four years ago , when you joined the varsity tennis team and also began your first job as a hostess/manager at an upscale restaurant during the first half of your senior year in high school - all while still going to school --- that's just the kind of person you are! Smart, determined, loving, amazing --- my one and only Jessica!!!!!!!
Now today Jessica, that little girl that tried and excelled in everything you have done, will once again take a journey that only you can do and that only you can win - and you will emerge victorious - because this journey will bring you the healing and restoring of your body back to that little girl that was able to do and accomplish so many wonderful things, my dearest Jessica!
Jessica, please know that Mommy will be with you every step of the way today and in the hard days ahead, just as you and I have taken the steps of this past 3 1/2 years together, as only you can know! Stay strong with the hope and faith and knowledge that you can do anything with the good Lord who strengthens you and heals you!
Sweet dreams today as you go into the coma and know that with the certainty of your mothers' love, the wisdom of the doctors, and the peace of the Lord that passeth all understanding - I will be waiting for you with open arms to say to you - Jessica, you made it, I knew you would, and I LOVE YOU more than you can ever know..........
All my love, always , Mom
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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!
21 comments:
Dearest Jessica...sweet dreams...awake refreshed and pain free! Sarah Gina...strength and love to you! What a team you make!
We're praying like crazy!!
:) Nancy & Joe & Team Jessica
Dear Jessica... Remember to think of Molly break dancing...to put a smile on your face. After today there will be no more pain. I am praying for you and mom. We love you with all of our hearts.
Aunt Carol & Uncle Anthony
hey jessica or wessie, i love you very much u r the best sister anyone can ask for. katherine is finally going to college who thought that she would make i was sure that she was going to have 12 kids and live in a trailer!! hahaha well do you remember when mommy said look girls its cattle beef cattle because she was trying to be so smart and then do you remember on april fools day we put the rubberband on the sprayer and it squirted all over mommy??? hahaha good times without katherine and then do you remember me saying "didi has a honker snoze" good times .... i just want you to know that i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
you so much and i cant wait to see you walking!! yay jessica i love you !!!!
love,
michelle or mini me and wessie!!!
Jessica and Gina, I am praying for you on this important day! My thoughts are with you both. You are two amazing women whose faith is an inspiration. Hang in there! I will always be here for you, for whatever you need, no matter what. Love always, Angel
Sarah and Jessica, we love you and pray for you every day. Miss you lots.
Your cousins, Diane, Brooke and Taylor
Jessica this song is for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5SQPOgy5c
I love you so much. No matter what happens it has been an honor and a privilege to be your Dad.
I will see you on the other side of the coma. Either in this life or the next.
Love Dad.
Dear Jessica, I am so glad I got to see you last Sat., and your Mom. My prayers to the Blessed Mother for the past 31/2 years will be answered. Your road to recovery will be filled with many blessings from Her. Your Mom,Dad, and your sisters and all your friends and relatives(including myself) will see you back home where you will continue to recover. I love You, Aunt Rosie,cousin Debbie and Davey, and Spike and Sabrina
Dear Gina and Jessica Good Bless you weare all praying for you
Love Cecilia and Staff
Jessica,
You're in our thoughts and prayers. Continue to be strong. Good luck and God bless you and your family.
Love, the Jermains
hola jessica, (get it, cause your in mexico haha)..ok anyways, theres not much that i can say that you dont already know, i could write a book about things that i could say about you. you are brave, courageous, strong, beautiful, smart, hilarious, loving, slow to anger ans quick to forgive, and you are everything that i one day strive to be. ill see you when you get out of the coma, and once youre better you can come visit me in college and ill hook u up with some hotties woo
i love you very very much and you will make it, i have no doubt.
love katherine
Dear Jessica,
Sweet dreams. We are praying and God is watching over you, your Mom and family. I know you will wake up pain free and on the road to recovery.
Cuz, get some rest. Jessica is in good hands. I so admire your strength. I'm always here for you.
Love, Carol & Ray ♥♥ XXOO
Jessica and Gina ~
Please stay strong through these tough weeks ahead and know that we are all praying for you. We miss you and can't wait to talk to you when you are out of the coma.
Love,
Pat, Fred, Amanda, Olivia and Christina
xoxox
Hola Jessica now you are in Mexico with la Virgentia de Guadalupe she will do de milagro have sweet dreams love! Cookie Candy wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo And Cecilia
Still keeping Jessica, you, and your family in my prayers.
"If God sees the sparrow's fall,
Paints the lilies short and tall,
Gives the skies their azure hue,
Will He not then care for you?"
Anon.
He will care for you, Jessica!
And you too, Gina!
May GOD bless and keep you safe.
Dear Jessica and Gina
We are praying for you on this very special day. You are truly an amazing duo. Jessica you are always in our hearts and prayers. Gina you are truly amazing.Our throughts are with you. Keep fighting Jessica you will be rewarded. We have told everyone we know to keep praying.
Love Ashley
Paula, Ray and Kevin
Im sending this to let you know I think of you each day,and pray for your recovery,hoping soon you will be okay.You're going through a lot right now;your treatments can be trying;remember while you do them its you're problem you're defying.Hold on to your possitive attitude,and when things get harder to bear,know that I am here for you,Remember that I care.And when you're well and flourishing,look back and realize,you learned what you are made of;That's a reward that satisfies.........love your uncle Vinnie And Aunt Judy
Dear Jessica,
Today is the first day of the rest of your life!! I know that God's angels will be holding you every step of the way over these next few days. Can't wait to hug you.
Sarah Gina,
I know that God's angels are holding you too. You are the most incredible woman I have ever met and I am honored to be your friend. Every ounce of you defines the true definition of "Mother". You are my inspiration.
See you in a few days.
Love you.
Nita
Dear Jessica ,
Me and my family are praying for you every night. I know that the coma is going to make you feel so much better. God is with you all the time and he is going to be with you every step of the way.
Love,
Lisa
Dear Gina,
I am so very sorry and sad, I didn't get to see you and Jessica before leaving to Mexico. Gina, you and Jessica and your family are all in our thoughts and prays. We understand how very hard this all is. Please contunie to have faith in God and we will all pray for a miracle for dear Jessica.
Love and miss you,
Lynn
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