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 ill
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 lesions
Jessica, age 15, at summer camp
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 rash
Jessica getting into the air-ambulance to go see Dr. Kirkpatrick
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:
Happy Happy Birthday Michelle!! We miss you!
Love, Carol & Ray xxoo
Happy Birthday Michelle!
This is a day to celebrate; the day that God brought you into this world and gave you your amaazing family so full of love for you and each other! You are a special yound lady and we are happy and honored to know you. Enjoy your special day knowing that all who love you, near or far are always with you in spirit and are only a phonecall away.
Love, Rosemary and John
Happy birthday Michelle! May you feel God's warm embrace ever more today and may you ofeel how special and loved you are by so many! Have a wonderful day and celebrate another year!
Happy 14th Birthday Michelle!!
What a wonderful young lady you have become. Your Mom paints the picture of you that we all know so well of the heart you have and the love and warmth you show to everyone. You are an Angel.
It's hard to believe it's been a year since your Mom and Jessica and I celebrated your 13th birthday from Mexico. It broke our hearts as we said prayers of love and joy for you that your day be wonderful and know everyone would be together again. I can only imagine how hard it's been for you to be so far away at this tender age. What a blessing that you could spend your summer in Mexico. It's so nice to see the great pictures of you with your Big Sis! You are loved from all over the world for the amazing person you are.
Big hugs, and have a piece of cake for me!! Kiss Daddy and Katherine!
Nancy & Joe
PS: Thanks Sarah Gina for the pics. We are so excited for Jessica to be on the road to recovery!! Go Jessica Go!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY MICHELLE!!!!!
i love you so much michelle, i cant believe youre already 14 years old! you may be younger then but youre definitley taller!! Youre one of the best sisters in the world! (besides jessica!) i love you soo much xoxoxo
Happy Birthday to you.
May the good Lord grant you a wonderful year.
Linda in Saratoga
Happy Birthday, Michelle!
Jessica/Sarah,
Came across this the other day and thought you might find this of interest:
Silveron
http://honestmedicine.typepad.com/National-Brain-Tumor-Foundation-Article.pdf
This is part of the article:
He asked me if I had ever heard of Silverlon. “Silver what?” I inquired. He explained that
Silverlon was a healing system
comprised of pieces of material made with silver ions which, when wet,caused many of the worst nonhealing wounds to heal. He had used it successfully on several patients with nonhealing diabetic wounds. And it was FDA approved, which meant it had passed all tests for safety.
A big Blessed Happy Belated birthday to Miss Michelle and many many more...we wish you all of God's best especially in the year ahead...may al your wishes come true!!
Love
John, Angela & the boys.
Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment, If you can provide me more details please email me.
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