Hello to Our Family, Friends, and Bloggers,
I can't believe that this post is my 200th Post! --- and it couldn't come at a better time. My 200th Post during Hurricane Alex!!!
We are in the apartment only 10 days and we have been battling a hurricane or "huella" as they say in Mexico.
It has been 20 years since the likes of a storm such that we are now experiencing as even touched Monterrey, this beautiful city, that before now was always protected by the Sierra Madre Mountains on one side and the Sierra de la Silla Mountains on the other.
There is a famous river - Santa Catarina - which only two days ago was completely dry, and has been dry for 20 years!!! The last storm to hit this area was 20 years ago - Hurricane Gilberto. This river is now overflowing!
As I sit here posting this blog I have been busy all day placing towels and pots by the windows as water is coming in from every angle. Even though we are in a new apartment building, these structures are not made to withstand these type of storms, nor this amount of rain - over 15 inches I think! It has been a hectic day to say the least!
Dr. Cantu just left our apartment. He came to visit Jessica and adjust some of her medications. He is like the "mailman" - neither sleet, nor snow, or even a hurricane can keep him from his appointed duties!
Jessica is still trying to adjust to the new surroundings and the new hospital bed. Just a few days ago we received a better type hospital bed for her. It is on loan from a fellow RSD sufferer named Olga. We met her before we left the hospital and we quickly became friends - there is definitely a very special connection! She and her husband and friend Blanca delivered the bed before the storm and we are so grateful to them for all of their help, love and support.
Please pray for the city of Monterrey - to be able to bounce back quickly after this tremendous storm.
Please pray for the wonderful people of Monterrey - many of whom we now call our "family".
Please pray for Dr. Cantu - that all his travels to and fro are safe.
Please pray for Jessica - for her to find that inner strength and determination that has so become a part of her daily struggle.
Please pray also for Elana, Fern, and Blair - fellow RSD coma patients who are currently in Mexico for their boosters.
Please pray also for a safe journey for Jessica's Dad and sister Michelle. They are due to arrive here late Sunday - July 4th - weather permitting!!!
In God's love, always,
Sarah Gina & Jessica*
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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!
4 comments:
Never a dull moment! May God keep you all safe through this storm!
We will keep praying for you and all the RSD patients.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
So good to hear from you ladies! May our wonderful Lord protect the people and city of Monterrey! Can't wait to hear of David and Michelle's safe arrival. It won't be long until we are all celebrating our FREEDOM together again in the great USA! I'm betting Carol and Ray will light the barbee for us all.
Stay strong sweet Jessica and one more memory for your Journal that will help change the world of progress on RSD.
Love and blessings,
Nancy & Firecracker Joe
Sarah,
How amazing to have this storm in Monterrey. Sounds and looks like a terrible time over there. At least you are in one place and I am thankful to hear that Dr. Cantu could get to your apt.
We will pray that your husband and daughter get in safely tomorrow.
Blessings to you both,
Kathy
Sara you need to write a book on all the amazing events in your life. So glad you got thru it OK and Dr. Cantu can make it to your apt. Please give Jessica our love and tell her our prayers are continuos.
Hope you all have a great family visit. Enjoy and please, Sara, sinc dad and sister are there....you go to the spa!
Love & Blessings
Angela & family xoxoxoxo
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