Hi 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)
Update on Jessica:
We are still in the hospital and it seems we will not be transitioning out of here until hopefully sometime next week.
Jessica is still running low-grade fevers and so the ID doctor has now added another IV antibiotic - Targocid - to her medications. She is currently on two antibiotics now - targocid and avelox.
Since the surgery for the mediport installation, she has not felt right. Please pray that the new antibiotic combination does the trick and the fevers go away.
Dr. Cantu is back from his trip and that is certainly comforting to her and to me as well. Things always run smoother when he is around and on top of things!
We are so happy to have Katherine here with us. As her Mom, I have truly missed her so! She has a way of lighting up the room with her "infectious smile"! She is currently sleeping on the blow-up mattress in our room. It feels a little more like "home" having her here with us. I guess the saying is true: Home is where the heart is..........
Thanks for all your continued prayers and always remember that you are all in our prayers daily and we think of you with love and affection. Stay well!
In God's love, and in His peace,
Sarah Gina (Mom to 3)*
Special thanks go out to Cindel - our new friend here in Monterrey. She is more like family to us now! She has been so helpful to me in getting our place all set up and ready for Jessica for when we ultimately transition out of the hospital. She is a very special person - like a daughter - and I could not have done all that I have done so far without her help and more importantly her compassion! God has truly blessed us with wonderful "family" here in Monterrey!
Also - special thanks to Dr. Rainbow for helping me in so many ways. She helped me look into a hospital bed for when we leave the hospital. She is like Jessica's "grandma" here in Monterrey - and we love her and her family so!
"But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declared the Lord".
Jeremiah 39:17 & 18
***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!
12 comments:
Glad to hear Dr. Cantu is back! Hopefully, he is refreshed and will have some more ideas to help your sweet Jessica and the other RSD patients.
God has truly blessed you with 3 beautiful daughters and a wonderful husband. And He continues to bless you by adding many more loving people to your growing family.
We will continue to pray for you all! Next week will be here before you know it and we are hoping and praying it will be time for you to transition out!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hello Jessica, Sarah & Katherine,
How many small and large bumps in the road have you overcome on this amazing journey?
Jessica, you will get through this latest infection as you have all the others; with the love and mercy of the Lord, the wisdom and guidence of Dr. Cantu and all his team and most certainly, your courage and grace and that of your loving, devoted family. Stay strong in mind, faith and spirit. Take it all one little step at a time. Before you know it, you will look back and see how this bump is far behind you. One baby step at a time, you are getting closer to coming home.
With all our love and prayers.
Rosemary & John
GOOD MORNING....Steven's Family!!!
Today is going to be the best day ever!
So Katherine YOU'VE become the "GIRL on the floor" now. What loving memories you will have of helping your family along the path of The Steven's Family Journey!
You and Michelle are such wonderful sisters to Jessica! What a glorious day when you are all back together again.
Stay strong sweet Jessica!! YOU are loved and indead a wonderful example of faith and hope for all of us. Buenos Diaz!
Nancita
Oh ... let's fix that line!
The Steven's Family Miracle Journey!
XOXO
It is often difficult to see God's bigger picture while we are in the midst of our pain.
Yet, ... we can trust that HE loves and cares for us and will work out His will in the middle of our circumstances.
- Dr. Henry Blackaby & Carrie Blackby Webb
I was sorry to hear that you have some infection and saddened that you are disappointed that you didn't leave the hospital. But then I knew that as always God has a plan and there is a very good reason why you are in the hospital. remember the tapestry that is in the making-the beautiful part that we cannot see. Know that the Lord is with you and that He knows when it is time for you to move to the next chapter of your book.
Wishing you everything that you wish for yourself.
Love from Saratoga
Linda M
This will make you smile. My 50 year old sister who has been engaged for 10 years is getting married in July. But the better smile is that she has been trying to adopt and just found out they will be adopting twin girls born May 14 at 2 lb 5 oz and 4 lb 10 oz. They are so excited to finally be parents.
OH LINDA...Another Miracle! Blessings on the whole family!
Josh Wilson - Before The Morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=oZDQzR8LK-c&feature=related
Psalm 91: 1-2, 14-15
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
Sarah and Jessica,
I will be praying for the infection to go away and that you can move into your apartment very soon.
Praying for God's peace to reign in your hearts.
Kathy Roosma
Well I am certainly glad that Jessica's fever is getting under control! This must seem strange to you, planning your move next week. I truly believe that everything is going to go as planned. You have worked so hard to get to this point. God Loves you and so do i, can't wait to see you in a month from now. There has not been a day that has gone by that you are not on my mind. I am so lucky to have met you, you have given me the courage to go on............
Love and Pray for all of you,
Blair.....
Post a Comment