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!
10 comments:
AMEN!! To Sarah Gina and Jessica.
Thank you Pastor Browning!
Thanks to Pastor Browning from Jessica's family in the states. Mere words could not express our gratitude for your guidance and prayers. My sister Sarah Gina is truly one of a kind. I miss her and Jessica EACH AND EVERY DAY. Our hope is that thjey will be home with us very soon. Jessica is the strogest young lady anyone will ever meet. I respectg her and am in awe of her courage....Love Aunt Carol
Thanks to Pastor Browning from Jessica's family in the states. Mere words could not express our gratitude for your guidance and prayers. My sister Sarah Gina is truly one of a kind. I miss her and Jessica EACH AND EVERY DAY. Our hope is that thjey will be home with us very soon. Jessica is the strogest young lady anyone will ever meet. I respectg her and am in awe of her courage....Love Aunt Carol
What a wonderful witness to our faith that Pastor Browning traveled to Mexico to pray by Jessica's and Sarah Gina's side. It's wonderful to hear of the progress going on in Rm 845 for our extended family!! Keep up the wonderful vision of life free of pain!!
Can not wait to hear of the wonderful surprise coming...I'm in!!
Love Nancy
A Double Amen!!!! Stay Strong, Jessica! Crystal
How wonderful to be surrounded by so much love! I am confident that God's richest blessings are being doled out to you right now. It is in our darkest times that God can minister to us the most. Many times throughout my illness I have experienced the generosity and love of strangers, friends an family. Those are moments I would never trade! God is able to work through so may and those of us who need the affirmation that He is indeed working, feel truly blessed by seeing it!
I am so glad to hear that there have been slight improvements and continue to pray that you will experience many more and much more quickly in the days ahead.
May you find strength in all that is good and my God sit by your bedsides and hold you ever so close in the days ahead
God bless you,
Fern Kwantes
Jessica,
I have your beautiful picture from the newspaper up in my office. I see your shining face everyday on my bulletin board and it reminds me how connected people can be.
We pray for you and your family and think of you every day. Keep on truckin' - you never know when a huge breakthrough will occur. We have seen it. Olivia still struggles but we try and keep perspective on what can be ~ the unknown potential keeps us going.
Positive thoughts and energy are coming your way,
Your special friends in Marco -
Stephanie, Bruce, Natalie , Olivia and Ever Davis
Hi Ladies,
Hope all is well!!!!
Checking your blog every day & always keeping you both in my prayers!!!
Jodi
How wonderful to hear the Pastor saw a great deal of progress! It is hard when you are dealing with it day to day to see the improvements.
We will continue to pray for your complete healing! With God all things are possible!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Dear Jessica,
You are in our prayers.
The DeMarco Family
Resurrection, Garden City
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