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)
Update on Room 845:
Good morning to everyone. I wanted to share the following video with everyone this morning. It was sent to us via a comment on the blog and it is an amazing song. It goes out to all those suffering with the pain of RSD, but also for everyone who is battling lyme disease or other illnesses and suffering with pain as well! It is so uplifting and the story behind the song is so inspiring! Enjoy!
Update:
Jessica is responding to the new antibiotic - targocid. This is an antibiotic that targets gram-positive infections. The fevers have lessened and are only low-grade now! The plan is for her to complete the IV treatment and then hopefully transition out of the hospital within a week or so. Praise God and praise you all for your continued prayers for Jessica and this incredible journey! It has been a "crazy" time here in Monterrey - both emotionally & physically as we try to make this "transition" happen. God has indeed been with us each and every day and from Him comes our strength. Also, please know, that ALL of you have been such a tremendous source of strength and compassion to us --- we are humbled by you all!
On another note - As you know Katherine is here with us and she began experiencing difficulties with her wisdom teeth. We had a consultation with an oral surgeon and he has advised us to remove all four wisdom teeth. This was something that was supposed to have been done in N.Y. but was put "on hold" while I have been here in Monterrey with Jessica. So, the plan is for her to have surgery here on Monday. I guess I will have two patients to look after now! Life is always interesting with our family! Please pray for Katherine as well and that all goes well with the extractions!
With God's love always,
Sarah Gina*
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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!
9 comments:
You continue to have all of my prayers! May God strengthen all of you as you prepare for surgeries, heal and move. So much going on! I will cover you with prayer and so glad we had a chance to chat yesterday. May God give you more sunshne to enjoy today and may Jessica feel the kiss of an angel on her cheek that marks the end of this set of infections and the beginning of a new chapter!
What a wonderful song! Thanks for sharing!
Praise God! We are so glad to hear the new antibiotics are working for Jessica!
We will also pray that all goes well for Katherine.
May God heal both your beautiful daughters quickly.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Katherine
Good luck.
It is annoying and painful for a few days and then you are back to normal.
Jessica
Prayers for your strength.
Gina
Love and Prayers
Linda
Tonite I am busy helping the health aide get roger's mom (94) who has no strength to sit stand eat or anything today. As we bathed her in the wheelchair she kept sliding out. Finally, funniest home videos came to laugh at the crazy way we got her into bed. Yes Lord, give us all strength.
Linda in Saratoga
Dearest Jessica, Katherine, and Gina, Wow! There has been a lot going on there! Jess, I am so glad that the antibiotics are working and that you are able to work towards transitioning out soon! Katherine, good luck with the wisdom teeth removal tomorrow. You will have your mommy there to take care of you! Gina, you will be able to take care of your Katherine while she recovers from her oral surgery! I know that that makes you happy. The very most important thing to you has always been your family, and it comes shining through in every word of your blog too! You are such a good mom and friend, so strong and encouraging, smart and kind, and we are all blessed to be your friends! Hang in there ladies, and good luck tomorrow!! Love always, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxo
Hello from VA! Sending lots of love and prayers to all of you. Good luck to Katherine tomorrow.
Hi ladies,
By now Katherine is on the road to recovery..just as Jessica is!
Prayers for comfort and healing and thank you for the wonderful song!
Up Up and AWAY.... (*;*)
Love you all!
Nancy
QUESTION...QUESTION!!
Hi from an RSD MOM in Va. that knows you through the Caparelli's.
You are in my daily talks with God and you have been in my heart for two years because of the blessing of this wonderful blog and the grace of God.
If I may, I have a question.... My daughter with RSD has a rash after getting a tick bite two days ago, so, BECAUSE OF YOUR EDUCATION TO US, I KNOW HOW SERIOUSLY THAT I NEED TO TREAT THIS!
My QUESTION: What type of specialist is truly knowledgeable about testing and treating lyme and how it affects RSD?
"But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel"
Gen 49:24
In His grace and by His grace,
Sarah, Jessica and Katherine,
I hadn't read the blog for a few days and so I trust that Katherine is healing well from her surgery. That is amazing to get that done in Mexico while you are there! We are praying for you to recover quickly.
Jessica, we continue to pray for you that the infection will be totally gone and that you can move into your apartment.
Sarah, may God continue to give you His strength, patience, love, grace, peace, and fortitude.
Kathy
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