Sunday, November 1, 2009

19,000 VIEWS OF BLOG!


Hi everyone,

TO VIEW JESSICA ON FOX TV - CLICK ON LINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8

Yesterday was Halloween and yes, I did put on my "coma patient costume" and I begged Jessica to wear her green shirt so that I wouldn't look like a fool all by myself. I had a sign on my costume that read: "Llame al medico Cantu - Subito!" which translated said: "Call Dr. Cantu - Quickly!" You see, he is a real hit here with all the nurses (and Moms as well) because he is handsome and very easy to look at! We all had a good laugh about it!

Jessica unfortunately had a problem with her central catheter, in that it infiltrated and wasn't working properly, so she had to be brought down quickly for a mini-surgery to remove that catheter and have another one implanted on the other side of her chest. I guess her Halloween had more "trick" than "treat"! Thank God Dr. Cantu and Dr. Rainbow were both here at the time it happened! God worked that out just right. Never a dull moment when you are in a hospital with Jessica! Today she will be receiving another ketamine booster to help with her recovery. Dr. "Green Shirt" is also going to be doing an MRI this coming week on Jessica's brain to see what may be going on with her headaches and possibly vision problems. Thanks for all your continued prayers!

I also gave Dr. Cynthia "Lyme" her coma patient bear that I made for her. Hers is a lime-green colored bear because she has a great interest and has also done her thesis work on Lyme disease and is very interested in the RSD/Lyme component of Jessica's illness. It is very cute and she loved it. One day, as soon as Jessica is able to see, I know she will be able to publish the photos on the blog for all to see!


Upcoming Fundraisers in Naples, Fl.:
Wed. - Nov. 4th - 4-9 PM
@ Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Pineridge Rd. & Airport Rd.
Naples, Fl.
"Great Food for a Great Cause"
Also:
Thur - Nov. 5th - 5PM
@ Uno's
Vanderbilt Beach Rd. & Airport Rd.
Naples, Fl.
"Bling" Happy Hour - Sip & Shop"
Special Drink to be Served:
"MONTERREY VERVE SUNSET"

Call Nancy @ cell-(419)350-9058 for Details

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ALSO: There is some exciting news about a very special fundraising item that is due to be launched really soon! As soon as I have all the correct information, I will blog it to all of you. So keep looking for this "Special News!"
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With love,
Jessica's Mom

***To post a comment, CLICK on comments below***

3 comments:

Nancy said...

Good morning gals! Again Dr. Cantu was a lifesaver!! Hang onto his strength and belief! God has given him to you as a friend and doctor to guide you in your journey!

Today my church friends sent the most beautiful prayer email called "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Bocelli. I hope the link works. Enjoy!!!
I especially love the first line.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prayer_(Celine_Dion_and_Andrea_Bocelli_song)

I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe

La luce che tu hai
I pray we'll find your light
nel cuore rester�
and hold it in our hearts.
a ricordarci che
When stars go out each night,
eterna stella sei


The light you have
I pray we'll find your light
will be in the heart
and hold it in our hearts.
to remember us that
When stars go out each night,
you are eternal star
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
quanta fede c'�
when shadows fill our day


How much faith there's
Let this be our prayer
in my prayer
when shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza pi� violenza
un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, di fraternit�


We dream a world without violence
a world of justice and faith.
Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours
Symbol of peace, of fraternity
La forza che ci d�
We ask that life be kind
� il desiderio che
and watch us from above
ognuno trovi amor
We hope each soul will find
intorno e dentro s�
another soul to love


The force his gives us
We ask that life be kind
is wish that
and watch us from above
everyone finds love
We hope each soul will find
around and inside
another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
Need to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe

� la fede che
hai acceso in noi,
sento che ci salver�


It's the faith
you light in us
I feel it will save us

MICHELLE<333 said...

hi jessica i love you soooooo much and i love my ketamine coma bear!!!!!!<3 THANKS MOM! I LOVE YOU WESSIE!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Jessica, Happy Halloween! I have been praying for you. I check your site daily for your updates. Stay Strong! Crystal


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 ill

The 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 lesions

Jessica'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 camp

Four 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 rash

If it wasn’t for her doctor, Dr. Liegner, and his expertise with complex cases of Lyme, and his determination to try any means in getting her well, by getting a “team” of doctors on her case, we wouldn’t be here today, still fighting. We owe him a deep sense of gratitude for all he does for Jessica!

During 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. Kirkpatrick

Upon 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!