Hello to All our Family & Friends,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
Sorry I haven't posted sooner. This past week has not gone very smoothly for Jessica. She has not been feeling well and was experiencing some intermittent low-grade fevers, as well as some other symptoms.
Yesterday, however, her fever began to rise. I called Dr. Cantu and Dr. Dillman and blood cultures and exams were taken to try and discover the source of her infection. We are awaiting results of these tests to determine what the next course of action will be. For now, the two doctors are trying to manage her on an out-patient basis. If the need should arise and depending on those exams - we may have to bring her back to the hospital.
Please continue to keep Jessica in your prayers. Pray that we can figure out the infection and with that the increasing pain and recurring lesions. Please pray that she doesn't have to return to the hospital!
I will keep you all posted.
In God's love, always,
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)*
"We don't know what tomorrow holds. There are no promises of it. But we know HE holds tomorrow!"
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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:
This is a very bumpy road.
We continue to keep you both in our prayers.
Psalm 20
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Sometimes He calms the storm, with a whisper, Peace Be Still. He can settle any sea, but it doesn't mean He will. Sometimes He holds us close & lets the wind & sea go wild. Sometimes He calms the storm, and other times He calms His child...
praying for this storm to pass....
Don't be discouraged....He's always there with you! We're praying that this will pass quickly without a hospital visit...Take care
Love & Hugs
Angela & all the boys
hoping that this is only a bump in the road.
always thinking about you and praying for the Steven's family.
love from saratoga
Linda Maitan
jessica,
my family prays for you daily. remember, God is who He says He is and God can do what he says He can do. you are in the Great Healer's hands.
blessings,
emily (your coma buddy)
Jessica & Sarah Gina,
Sorry to hear of this set back. Keep up your strength and stay positive. You are in my prayers. Here is a poem I found that I though you might enjoy.
Suzie Hyatt
"Hold On"
There have been times in my life
when all seemed lost.
Life just wasn't worth living
through another day.
Then you need to remember things
that are important to you.
For as low as we fall there is always
something or someone, somewhere,
to help pull you back
from the deep pits of darkness.
Once you feel yourself slipping
grab on to that something or someone.
We wonder why life has given us such
a bad deal. This is not to question.
Love, Hope and Faith will guide us.
Look around and find the things
you need to live for.
If we look hard enough,
we will find the place we need to be.
Hold on for your loved ones,
hold on for yourself. God will take you
when he needs you. Until then
make the most of what you have.
Give the most that you can,
love the best you can,
And never lose hope.
Each morning you wake up
Thank God you are still alive,
to live another day to find your way.
Life is truly worth living for, if you look.
Find that place you need to be
And just hold on. Poem by- Ann Taylor
Hi ladies! Today I hope and pray our Dear Lord has answered all your prayers for relief from the fevers and the pain and you are resting and he is restoring your health! Yes, as Ann Taylor's poem say..."HOLD ON"!
Love from your Beach Buddies Nancy & Joe
Jessica and Gina, you are both in my prayers. I hope that this is only a minor setback and that Jessica will be feeling better soon. God bless and keep you both in his loving hands. Bonnie
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