Hi everyone,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
Sorry I didn't blog yesterday but Jessica is still experiencing intestinal problems and it was not a very good day for her. Coupled with that, as you all know, she does not get much sleep at night and when you add upon that any other problems, then there is no sleep to be had at all! We have tried many different medications for sleep since we have been here, but to no avail. Also, her body reacts differently to certain meds and that really complicates the issue! So, yesterday, I hung a sign on the door which read "No visitas" or "No visitors" - except for Dr. Cantu ("Green Shirt") or Dr. Zavala("Rainbow"). Some days you have to do what you need to do to get by! I must say that Dr. Cantu is an amazing doctor and a very special man! He came back to the hospital at midnight to help Jessica with her problem after I had called to tell him she was not doing well! Jessica says he is her "hero". Dr. Cantu always comes to Jessica's rescue!!!
Special Notice About Jessica's Necklace:
I have heard from Brian Mah at Lymelinks that all the necklaces they had prepared for the beginning of Jessica's campaign have sold out!!! Amazing! Thanks to all who purchased from the first batch made! They are currently starting to make another batch. As soon as they give me the link for the new batch of necklaces I will post it on the blog. All orders received by November 23rd, should be received within one week. Keep checking back for the new link for Jessica's necklace in the coming days!!! Also, please pray for Brian's wife Michelle - apparently she was bitten by a black widow spider! She is OK, but is resting, as you can imagine! Take care Michelle! Hope you are better real soon!!!
Thank you once again for all your support, love, concerns, and continued prayers for Jessica. We are comforted by all of you and by God, as we realize that He does indeed have control of all of life. He knows the times and the seasons; he knows the predictable and the unpredictable! Our times and our trials are in HIS hands. Even when we are sad, mad, or confused, He is with us!
Whether we are on cloud nine and enjoying all of His blessings, or, caught up in a terrible predicament, He has not let us go! By His grace, He remains "for us"!
If God is for Us, who can be against us???
Romans 8:31
Happy December 1st!
Only 24 Days till Christmas!
Love always,
Sarah Gina & Jessica
***To post a Comment, CLICK on Comments Below!!!
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!
4 comments:
I will keep praying. We all know that the doctors are working tirelessly as well as you and Jessica.
What wonderful news about the necklaces! Awesome!
Jessica, hang in there. I know this can all be very discouraging. I, too, am having intestinal difficulties. Maybe we should be comparing notes! :) That way we get the benefit of all the doctors possible. I am so glad that you have Dr. Cantu to watch over you. He really is an angel sent from God.
It is my hope and prayer that in this new month you will find new found strength, determination, an ability to sleep restfully, restored vision and decreased hearing! Until then, may you feel the love I send your way and my fervent prayers for you all!
Gina, thanks for your commitment to update us regularly. I have made it a habit to check each morning for news from Mexico. You are a very special and incredible mom. May God bless you richly and afford you an added measure of wisdom, grace, strength and determination. May you all be restored as a whole family very very soon.
Fern Kwantes
Hi gals, I'm always so moved by the wonderful words of love your friends write to you! I ditto Fern's comments!
Praying also for Michelle Mah. Brian keep up the wonderful work of creating these beautiful necklace treasures for us!
Hey ladies, the final planning meeting for Jessica's Journey Holiday Bazaar & Vendor Event was last night. These ladies...Of the Fight...(for RSD Awareness & Cure) are sensational!! Tirelessly stuffing postcards in door hangers and organizing all the kids in the neighbood to hang them on mailboxes!! Making gifts to raffle and so happy to help! WHEW...what energy they have...and then there's Lisa Reber's son, who is THE BAKESALE KING of the YEAR!! I'll check, but I think she said he is 11 years old. He's making Chocolate/Chocolate Cookies. Can you smell them when you close your eyes??? I hear they are the BEST you'll ever eat. Will have to freeze some of those too with the Gobble Day Goodies, eh!
So see you Naple'ites at the fundraiser. Sunday, Dec 6th 2-5PM at Indigo Lakes Clubhouse. I hear Santa is coming to draw people in off the street!! HoHoHo...
With love,
Team Jessic
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
We will keep praying for you and sweet Jessica and all the people sufferring from CRPS.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ...
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hi Gina ( Sarah ) a little levity and trivia humor...
OK.. who was the host of the Continental Hour ( Hour de Continale' ) on WEVD radio in the 1970's... now this answer is in the Calogero/ Holmdel memory banks... no it's not Pat Cooper...
answer... Luigi Mele.... at 3pm daily... pronounced Loooooeeeeeggeeeyyyyy...a Meeeaaaalllliiiieeee... "
In good fun...
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