Hola from Mexico to all,
Update on Jessica: Jessica received her 2nd ketamine booster yesterday. Her symptoms are slowly improving and the doctors are confident that soon they should be diminishing even more. When you receive the ketamine boosters it usually takes about 2 hours. The other girl from the USA - Devon - from Connecticut - also received her infusion at the same time. Each patient, though, is very different. As Devon was receiving hers in her room, she fell fast asleep. As Jessica was receiving hers, she was talking, asking for me, squeezing my hand, etc. I joked with Dr. Cantu and asked him why this was? He said that my daughter "drinks" the ketamine and her body metabolizes it differently! Even with this, Jessica is different, or should I say "special". She will be receiving more of the boosters as Dr. Cantu figures out how many she will need and the appropriate timing for them as well!
Now the story about Dr. "Rainbow" (aka Dr. Zavala):
Dr. Zavala came into Jessica's room and into our lives @ 10 days ago. It occurred on the first day of the unnerving symptoms. Jessica was so sick and she cried out: "Get a doctor"!!! As I ran to the door and opened it to go find a doctor, there stood Dr. Zavala!!! We feel that she was sent to us by God and is like our special "angel". When she first walked into the room she had an uncanny resemblance to Jessica's grandma - Nanny Ro-Ro ( as she was affectionately called ). You see, 3 months ago Nanny Ro-Ro ( my husband David's mother ) passed away at the ripe old age of 95. When Dr. Zavala walked in that day, looking like her Nanny who had just passed away, only how she had looked in her 60's, it was almost a bit unnerving & unbelievable. Not only did she look like her, she dressed like her, smelled like her, had the same hairdo and make-up as her and, unbelievably, wore the same pin(a butterfly) on her jacket - the same pin that Jessica had chosen from a bag of jewelry that had been retrieved from her Nanny's apartment in the days following her death!
On the following day, Jessica decided to call Dr. Zavala - Dr. "Rainbow" because of the colorful outfit she had on. Her visits are so comforting to Jessica and she looks forward to them everyday. She speaks to her in a calm and reassuring voice and she has been here from the beginning of the unnerving symptoms that were occurring in Jessica's body post the interaction she had with a medication. Dr. "Rainbow" you see, was a practicing doctor for 47 years with her specialty being in neurosurgery and decided on the day before she met Jessica to join the RSD team here as a volunteer to aid the families from abroad that come here for this treatment protocol. If you ask Jessica, she feels she was sent from God above to be here for her especially; I feel the same way also!
Another interesting note: Dr. "Rainbow" and her husband have three grown children, and they are all very successful here in Monterrey. It was one of her sons, who came back from a trip to Italy last week, with a bracelet as a present for his mom. When Dr. "Rainbow" saw the type of bracelet it was, she knew in an instant she was meant to give it to Jessica. You see, without her son knowing anything about Jessica, he came back with a bracelet from Italy, that contained beads - each one a different color of the "rainbow"!!! Even more significantly, it came with a card that identified what each colored bead stood for!!! Here is what it said:
Red - is for the blood that was shed by Christ for our salvation
Blue - is for the heavens above and for the Holy Spirit
Yellow - is for the light of God that brings us to the Cross
Green - is for the hope we have in eternal life thru Christ Jesus
Pink - is for the purification of our souls thru Christ Jesus
Black - is for sin and the human condition
I will leave you with that story to draw your own conclusions. For us, we know as we have always known, that God does work in many mysterious ways and I think we have to look for these "signs" in our everyday lives. They are there and God is here!!! Call upon him, he will answer your call!
In God's love, always,
Jessica's Mom
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What a wonderful story about Dr. Rainbow and Jessica's new bracelet! I agree with you and Jessica, I believe Dr. Zavala was sent by God to light the way - God knew that with all the likenesses to Jessica's beloved Nanny Ro Ro, she would bring you both some comfort. So many people around the world are touched by your story, Jessica. You are changing lives even before you become a doctor! God bless you! Sweet dreams, Joanne
ReplyDeleteI always like the story about the reason for the seasons. it describes how some are meant to be in our lives for a short time while others for longer and some even longer.
ReplyDeletewhen you look back, although missing some friends, you understand why they are no longer in your life and it is okay.
Gina and Jessica you both have touched so many and have been touched by many. do not be upset when they are no longer about. We are all foolowing a pay from the Lord and we must move were HE tells us.
Keep on improving Jessica. We did it in Math you certainly can do it with your body.
peace and sleep,
Linda M.
What a story!!
ReplyDeleteLove that Dr. Rainbow!!
We have the band Rainbow Bracelets at our Marco Lutheran Church and when a visitor comes we give them a Beach Safe Box(that hangs around your neck to keep your keys/cash/valuable in when you're at the beach) to thank them for visiting. It has the information about the meaning just as you said. When we sent you the box, awhile back, I don't think we had them at that time.
Be SAFE in knowing God has GREAT plans for you dear Jessica!
We're off to church and will pray extra hard for today to be a day of grand progress.
Love,
Joe and Nancy
I BELIVE DR. RAINBOW WAS IN PERFECT ALIGNMENT FOR JESSICA'S RECOVERY. HAVING 3 GRANDMOTHERS I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE 2 LIVING NEAR US. THEY WERE ALWAYS A SOURCE OF COMFORT FOR ME. BEFORE CHICKEN SOUP SERIES, I SHE WAS RESPOSIBLE IN HER CHURCH TO HAVE UPLIFTING MESSAGES FOR EACH CHURCH SERVICE. SHE COMPILED THEM IN A BOOK IN 1978 WHICH SAID TO MY CHILDREN,AND THEIR CHILDREN AND TO THEIR CHILDREN WITH MY LOVE GRAMMY. SHE CALLED IT SOUL FOOD.
ReplyDeleteHERE IS ONE ENTRY
HOW TO BE MATURE BY DR. HYMAN JUDAH SCHACHTEL AUTHOR OF "THE REAL ENJOYMENT OF LIVING"
WHEN IT IS DARK ENOUGH, MAN SEES THE STARS
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
EMERSON'S WORDS ARE ECHOED BY AN OLD ORIENTAL PROVERB WHICH GOES LIKE THIS: ALL SUNSHINE MAKES A DESERT."
WHAT THIESE SAYINGS EXPRESS IS NOT AN EXCUSE, NOT COVERING UP FOR THE TRAGIC SIDE OF LIFE. RATHER, I THINK THEY SPEAK THE TRUTH AND GIVE US STRENGTH. I THINK THEY GO DEEP INTO THE UNDERSTANDING OF OF THE REAL NATURE OF OUR LIVES.
MATURE PEOPLE ARE MADE NOT OUT OF GOOD TIMES BUT OUT OF GOOD TIMES BUT OUT OF BAD TIMES. MAN'S EXTREMITY IIS GOD'S OPPORTUNITY. IT IS IN A CRISIS THAT THE BEST IN US COMES TO THE FORE.THIS VERY AGE IN WHICH WE LIVE, WHICH IS SO TURBULENT, SO CONFUSING, SO UNCERTAIN, IS AN ANVIL UPON WHICH GOD CAN REMAKE US FOR THE GOOD, FOR THE BETTER.
IT IS IN THE ENCIRCLING GLOOM THAT WE COME TO REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING LED BY THE KINDLY LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL ONE. AS EMERSON SAYS, IT IS IN THE NIGHT THAT WE CAN SEE THE STARS WHICH ARE INVISIBLE BY THE DAY.WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS A MATURE OUTLOOK, REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS, A CALM AND STEADFAST MIND AND THE PATIENCE WITH WHICH TO MEET WHATEVER COMES WITH THE COURAGE AND FAITH IN GOD. IT IS A POWERFUL FORCE. IT CAN PROVIDE ADVANTAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CLOSED TO THOSE WHO DO NOT POSSESS IT OR UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
I CALL IT GRACE.
WITH MUCH LOVE AND PRAYERS
LIZ O'CONNOR FRIEND OF JOANNE'S
Dear Sarah and family,
ReplyDeleteI knew Jessica was ill but never knew the extent of her illness. My heart and prayers go out to all of you. I will petition the carmelite nuns, who pray for those in serious need to pray for Jessica and for her recovery. Please know that you are never far from my thoughts. There have been many miracles that have happened to friends and family ; things that just can't be explained except as God's gifts. I'm sure they will come to you as well.
Marilyn