Blessings To All,
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)
Jessica had surgery yesterday to implant a Medi-port in her chest for access for medications and continuing treatments here in Monterrey. These mediports or portacaths are used for long term venous access and have a much lower infection risk than other types of catheters. This is such a big step for Jessica and one that she has been looking forward to - as it signals her transitioning from the hospital within the next week or so! We will be staying here in Monterrey for a while to continue treatments with Dr. Cantu. I will keep you all posted, but please keep us all in your daily prayers as we try to take this huge step forward!
Please pray that Jessica remains infection-free and that all the plans go ahead smoothly. Katherine, Jessica's sister, is coming from N.Y. to help us and to spend some time with us as well. We are so looking forward to her coming as we haven't seen her since Christmas! She will be so happy to see the changes that Jessica has made since coming to the Hospital San Jose Tec!
What I have learned as a mother since beginning this journey with Jessica is that God is fully trustworthy. That whatever I entrust to Him, he can take care of better than I can. That nothing under his control can really be out of control, even though it may seem that way at times! That He is able to supply all our needs, to guide us, to start, to stop, to sustain, to correct, and to change things in His time and for His purposes.
In God's love, always
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)*
"May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."
2 Thessalonians 3:5
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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!
13 comments:
Wow, this is incredible news! We are so happy for you and your family!
It will be so wonderful for you both to have Katherine there with you. I bet she will see HUGE changes in Jessica!
One small step at a time and look, Jessica, how far you have come! What an incredible testimony of God's faithfulness, love & mercy.
May He continue to richly bless you and your family. May He bring complete healing to your sweet Jessica!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Marvelous!!! God is GREAT!! You are such a sweet gal Jessica and can't wait to hear all the news of Katherine's trip and your MOVING ON UP to the GOOD TIMES!!
With Love and hugs,
Nancy
We will keep praying that our faithful God will uphold you both as you make this big transition. He IS good- all the time. All the time, God is good.
Thankful that you know that and will cling to it always.
Kathy
Dear Jessica & Sarah,
Amazing! We are witnessing a true miracle and God's mercy. We are humbled to know you both. Words cannot describe how happy we are for you as you look forwrad to the next phase of your recovery. With God and Dr. Cantu by your side, you will continue to make progress and we look forward to reading your updates. You are both so incredibly strong and inspirational. We hold you very close in thoughts and prayers.
Enjoy every second of your time with Katherine!
Much love,
Rosemary & John
This is certainly the greatest news ever! I am still keeping all of you in my prayers and you are prayed for at my meditation group as well! They will love to hear this great news!
God is so good and faithful! God bless you, Jessica!
Your coma buddy,
Emily
Dear Jessica and Gina,
What wonderful news! God has blessed you and will continue to bless you as you take these new steps. My prayer for you is that God will sustain you in these changes and help you adapt and thrive. With God's assistance, you can do anything!
With love,
Linda Wardley
both NOW and forevermore:
Psalm 113:2
Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalm 131:3
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
hi jess, I feel happy for you!!! I'm prayer for you and you family, I know that you CAN, you have the hope in yourself!!! all personal hospital San Jose Tec de Mty are with you!!! remember that the power is within you :)(espero entiendas lo que escribo hahaha)and with the help GOD everything is possible, of course with the care of your mom. take care, love Angeles nurse.
pd. I will visit you!!!:)
Dearest Jessica and Gina- Jess, great news about the Medi-port! It will make a big difference, both physically as you transition from the hospital, and emotionally, as you have been looking forward to this for a long time. It will also be so nice for you to spend time with Katherine, and it will be so nice for her to spend time with you!! I keep you and David, Katherine, and Michelle in my prayers every day, and our rosary group in GC continues to pray for you by name every week as well. We all hold you in our hearts. Good luck with the transitions, and hang in there!!!! Love always, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxo
I said a prayer for you today
I know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart,
Although He spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame:
I knew you wouldn't mind.
I asked Him to send treasures
of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you
at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share the way.
I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care
I prayed for most of all.
love from Saratoga,
Linda
(i wrote the other day but my computer doesn't show you received it)
Miracle Pets: Cat & Crow
God sometimes works in mysterious ways!
http://www.slide.com/r/hD6DvyAOxD9ClUhvUpVcUMABW9QzpGnQ
This is cute!
Enjoy!
Psalm 145:18-20
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
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