Hi everyone,
To Order Jessica's Journey Necklace, Click On Link :
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41687962
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
To view New Vemma Product Video, Click on Link Below:
http://bonusbiz.vemma.com/v.asp?IDNum=A4FAA92D%2D2723%2D425D%2DB822%2DF6E131A6817A&CO_LA=US_EN
(Sales of Vemma Products also help Jessica's Journey-for more info contact Nancy @ (419)350-9058)
I hope that all the Moms out there had a beautiful day! For me, it was my first time out of the hospital and in a restaurant!
Dr. Rainbow and her lovely family picked me up from the hospital and we all went out to "La Catarina" - here in Monterrey.
The food was delicious and all the Moms were serenaded by strolling Mariachi singers during lunch. I had red snapper with tomatoes, onions & olives, served with rice and a delicious salad. For dessert we all shared churros and a cake made with elote (corn). A fun time was had by all and I was honored to accept their invitation to lunch and enjoy their company.
Dr. & Mrs. Zavala and their family have come to mean so much to Jessica and I, they are "family" to us and have helped us in so many ways! God has certainly provided for us while here in Mexico and blessed us with so many wonderful people and we are so thankful to Him!
I would also like to especially thank Dr. Cantu for arranging to give Jessica her booster at that time, so that I could leave the hospital with a "clear head" knowing that he was with her! That was truly a special gift that I will treasure always!
Update on Jessica:
Jessica has been having low-grade fevers, but all cultures have come back negative, so for now she is infection-free for the first time in a long time! Dr. Febricula (aka Dillman) is going to keep her on an oral antibiotic prophylactic for now. She continues taking her small steps needed to hopefully transition out of the hospital one day. We are both so encouraged at how far she has come here in Monterrey. We are ever so mindful of that and we praise God for Dr. Cantu and all that he has done and continues to do for her. Please keep praying for all these steps to continue in a forward motion. Also, please pray for Elana who leaves to go back home after her series of boosters. Pray also for all of the patients we have met here that struggle every day with RSD. They have come to mean so much to us!
On a special note - we would like to congratulate Shannon Stocker and her husband Greg on the birth of their 2nd baby tonight. The baby's name is Tye and he is the 2nd "ketamine coma baby" born to the Stocker family. He joins his sister Cassidy. Shannon is featured in the same Fox News TV report that Jessica was in back in August and can be seen on YouTube at the above link. It is the hope of our family, as well as all the families that undergo the coma treatment, to realize the same "fullness" of life one day!
Congratulations and may God bless the Stocker Family!!!
As I have said so many times on this journey --- God ultimately has a plan for all of us and I believe and trust in the fact that He is a good God and His plan is for us to have life and have it abundantly. That is the HOPE that we have in Him. Let us count our blessings today and praise His holy name!
WATCH THIS VIDEO: BLESSED BE THE NAME:
In God's Love,
Sarah Gina*
xoxoxo
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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!
8 comments:
Sounds like everything came together well for your Mother's Day treat. I am very happy for you that you could go and that for Jessica she could be in such good hands at the same time.
I look forward to seeing you soon and catdching up with you. May you feel God's nearness today in a very clear and definite way.
Please say goodbye to Elana from me and tell her that she is in my prayers.
God does provide and abundantly too! What a compassionate and gracious God we serve!
What wonderful news to hear you are getting closer to transitioning out of the hospital! Jessica, you have come so far and we are so HAPPY for you both!
Blessed be His name!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hi Sarita! I can just see you with the sombrero on your head too. It's wonderful that you were able to enjoy your special day with Dr. Rainbow's family! When I think of Dr. Cantu loving sitting with, and watching over Jessica while you were out, I see GOD in all his Glory!
What a wonderful video, thank you!
Kisses to sweet Jessica!
Hi Sara.. Wow you've inspired me so much by all you wrote on your post for Mother's Day...You however deserve the prize and crown. Of all the many mother's I know...as good as everyone is you are tops...I could never go thru all the reasons... but you are extordinary and the best for all you've done for Jessica from day one. You've inspired so many of us thru your journey and continue to do so. We are fervently praying for Jessica's healing and your both returning home asap.
Keep the faith and always know He cares for you!!!
So glad you had a great Mother's Day lunch.
Hugs and kisses to you and Jessica.
God Bless...xoxoxoxoxo
Love
Angela & family
continued prayers from Saratoga.
Love
Linda
Sarah
So glad to hear that you could get out for Mother's Day. You are such an amazing and dedicated Mother and I am glad that you could celebrate and have some rest and fun. And eat some good and different food than hospital food!
I thought I would be coming with Fern but Theo is coming instead. That's good for Theo to come again but I will miss seeing you and all the others at the hospital.
Prayers are being offered for you and for Jessica, even though I don't write on here that often.
Blessings on this day,
Kathy R.
That is wonderful news about Dr. Shannon Stocker and her husband, Greg!
There are a few other coma patients who were also blessed with children after undergoing the ketamine coma. With God all things are possible!
Ephesians 3:20-21
20Now 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, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hi, my name is Diane..I am a 20 year Lyme disease sufferer, near death at one point...I have a suggestion for you: The best thing i ever tried was a process called Advanced Cell Training..you can google them..it is a Lyme treatment where you don't leave your home, you don't take any pills at all..It was a miracle cure for me...You can do it in conjunction with any treatment you're on...If you'd like to find out more you can contact me: Diane 631-355-3485..May God help this find you
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