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!
7 comments:
hi mom and jess!!
i havent commented in a while so i figured id do one today!...jessica, youre moving your leg!! thats amazing and i know that it will only keep getting better! and mom, you are so strong and wonderful and there is no other mom like you! i love you both so much
Happy to know that you are both keeping up your spirits!Jessica sounds determined,I love that because positive thinking can & will bring positive results! So keep up the spirits girl!
I'm with you Sara Gina,please God would you please,please,please speed it up a bit!!!
Always in my prayers,
Jodi
I'm with all you gals....Little speeding it up would be really really exciting!!! We thank you Dear Lord for the Blessings!!
:0)) from Marco Island!
"The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."Deuteronomy 31:6
We will ask him to hurry up.
With love,
Linda Wardley
Hello Jessica and Gina...I had a thought today, that I've actually had probably at least a hundred times since you guys were living with Jimmy & Cecilia, and for whatever reason, I don't think I've ever shared the following: Jessica, you have changed my life in so many ways and have continued to do so, and it's crazy to think I never told you before but, I do want you to know that because of you and your mom, I have such an appreciation for my life in a way I didn't have before. I appreciate the little great things a lot more and, if I even think to sweat the stuff I used to think was so important, I no longer let myself. I think about you and how much you've been through. I think you are the most courageous hero in my life (sorry to my mom, she may have gotten bumped down a spot). So when I'm faced with my own daily struggles, I ask myself, is it worth it to spend my energy on this when I have so much to be grateful for? And so you know, your experience has reminded mem to ask myself this question a lot!I remind myself how ridiculous it is to get angry or sad about the things that don't really matter, and I continue to learn that lessen everytime I think of you. You have no idea how much of an influence you've had on my life these last few years. You are an inspiration in so many ways and for that I thank YOU. Every wish I make is for you. Thought I'd let you know =)....Sandra
Dearest Jessica and Gina, You may never know in this lifetime how many people like Sandra and me that you are influencing by your example. This in itself is amazing and something we could have never seen beforehand. In doing everything that you can to fight for your health and future you are letting us fight with you and helping us appreciate more in our own lives. What incredible women you are. Thank you for being in my life and all of our lives. I will continue to pray for you. Hang in there!! Love always, Angel
St. Anthony, St Anthony
Pleas look around
Jessica's sight is lost and cannot be found.
Please help Jessica find her sight.
May St. Anthony answer your prayer.
Love from Saratga
Linda
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