Jessica's Journey: Jessica Is Out of the Hospital!!!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Jessica Is Out of the Hospital!!!

Hi To All,

I am happy to say that Jessica and I have left the Hospital San Jose Tec once again!

We arrived safely to the apartment at 7 PM Saturday. We are both trying to adjust to life outside of the hospital once again.

I have an interesting story to tell everyone about our "exit" from the hospital:

The plan was for the ambulance to arrive at 4 PM to pick up Jessica from our room #845 at the hospital. Dr. Cantu called the ambulance company and gave them strict orders on how to handle an RSD patient, as well as instructions on going slow over the bumps and to travel very carefully and slowly with Jessica. So, the ambulance arrives late at 4:30 PM - but this is Mexico and after being here for a year you come to realize that everything goes slower here anyway.

We then all carefully place Jessica on the stretcher and proceed to say goodbye to all the nurses as they wheel her towards the elevator. We then proceed down through the ER and into the waiting ambulance and I notice that it is very hot in the ambulance! I ask them to please put on the A/C (or "climas" in spanish). They then tell me that there is no A/C today-problems with this particular ambulance. So, it is decided that we will exit this ambulance and wait for another ambulance with A/C to arrive. But, because that will be at least another 30 minutes or so, we could not stay down in the ER area(due to infection risk for Jessica) and so we had to go all the way back up to the 8th floor and back into her old room once again!

You can imagine the nurses faces when they saw Jessica coming back up to floor! When I called Dr. Cantu and jokingly told him that we had left the hospital and returned and were back in our old room, I think that everybody could hear his: WHAT????????????? coming out of the phone!

But, here comes the interesting part of the story:.

The new ambulance arrives and Jessica and I are loaded into the back and we proceed to take the trip - slowly - and carefully - back to the apartment. Jessica is laying on the stretcher and looking out of the back doors of the ambulance and seeing parts of Monterrey that she has never seen before. We proceed thru a small tunnel and as we take the main road to the apartment she notices a truck is following directly behind us and it has big writing splashed across the windshield! As she starts to read it out loud, this is what it had to say: "CHRISTO TE AMA".

This truck with this saying, which translated means: "Christ Loves You" followed us all the way to our apartment! God does work in mysterious ways - doesn't he???......................

Here is a picture of the truck that I took because I just didn't think that anyone would believe such an amazing story!

The next blog will be a special one from Jessica to everyone. I just wanted to tell you this story and to let everyone know that Jessica is out of the hospital after another stay and she is doing very well --- Praise God!

In God's Love, always
"CHRISTO TE AMA",
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)***
***To Post A Comment, CLICK On Comments Below***

14 comments:

Anonymous said...: What a beautiful story of God letting you both know how much you are loved. He does work in wonderful and mysterious ways. Had you taken the 1st ambulance, you would have never seen His message. His timing is always perfect!

We are glad to hear you are back in the apartment and that Jessica is doing VERY well (even after the ambulance ride and elevator rides)!

May God continue to pour out His blessing upon you and your family!

With love & prayers,
The Turners; October 12, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Rosemary and John said...: Dear Jessica and Sarah Gina,

Your story, the message on the van and Jessica's progress. It is all truly His Amazing Grace! These are the messages we've all been waiting to hear. May God continue to bless you in this journey as he leads you back home. We await to learn His plan for Jessica and know that it will be worth all you have endured! God bless you both and keep you safe, healthy and able to create new and happy memories to share with all of us!

Much love always,

Rosemary & John; October 12, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Fern said...: That is so funny! God does work in such marvelous ways and the reminder will be a highlight in your memories forever, I am sure. Praise the Lord for the way He has consistently amazed us and for always making sure that you are unquestionably, not alone in this journey! :); October 12, 2010 at 6:40 PM
Anonymous said...: The Miracles of the Lord.
So glad the you are on the road to recovery while on the road of God's love!
I was in Naples helping my mom celbrate her 90th birthday. (wished you guys were there so I could visit) What a special treat for me to have my mom and dad for so many years.
The Lord is good.
Enjoy your private time and continue to get strong!
Love from Saratoga
Linda; October 12, 2010 at 6:48 PM
Anonymous said...: MIGHTY TO SAVE LYRICS - HILLSONG AUSTRALIA

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave; October 13, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Anonymous said...: congrats, jessica, on leaving the hospital (again). you've made a huge step in recovery.
God bless you!
your coma buddy,
emily; October 13, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Nancy said...: What a God Message!! I'm thinking in the story you're going to say the message was DRIVE on the Wild Side with Geiko or something and the driver would hear Jessica and put the peddle to the metal and WHEEEEE. Your message from God was so much better than we could ever imagine. GOD IS GREAT and his love is ever present!! So are YOU and in our hearts!

Love from Nancy on Marco; October 13, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Nancy said...: What a God Message!! I'm thinking in the story you're going to say the message was DRIVE on the Wild Side with Geiko or something and the driver would hear Jessica and put the peddle to the metal and WHEEEEE. Your message from God was so much better than we could ever imagine. GOD IS GREAT and his love is ever present!! So are YOU and in our hearts!

Love from Nancy on Marco; October 13, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Marianne Caparrelli said...: Our God is an awesome God! We are so happy to hear you are safely back in the apartment. Sending you both lots of love from VA!; October 14, 2010 at 7:30 AM
Anonymous said...: Tears of joy once again...

Hang in there Jessica!!!! =0; October 15, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Thinking and praying for you ...

You Are God Alone
Lyrics - Phillips Craig & Dean

You are not a God
Created by human hands
You are not a God
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a God
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

[chorus]
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You were on the throne
You are God alone

You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that's just the way it is

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what You are; October 17, 2010 at 9:58 AM
Anonymous said...: Dearest Jessica and Gina, LOVE IT!!! The message has been received and taken to heart! Christ loves you and has never left your side. He has faith in you as you have faith in Him!! I am so glad that you are back in the casita and are feeling so much better. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there!! Love always, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo; October 18, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Anonymous said...: James 5:15-17

15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Psalm 143:1
O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.; October 20, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi,
Just saw your story on youtube and found your blog.
Im so happy to hear you are doing well. Your story is very touching. I really hope you make a full recovery and are able to live life to the fullest. I am going to keep and eye on this.

You are a very brave girl.

Get well soon
Regards
Lorcan, all the way from Dublin Ireland; October 21, 2010 at 12:22 PM

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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 ill

The 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 lesions

Jessica'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 camp

Four 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 rash

If it wasn’t for her doctor, Dr. Liegner, and his expertise with complex cases of Lyme, and his determination to try any means in getting her well, by getting a “team” of doctors on her case, we wouldn’t be here today, still fighting. We owe him a deep sense of gratitude for all he does for Jessica!

During 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. Kirkpatrick

Upon 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!

What is RSD?

Imagine what it would be like to endure a burning sensation so intense that the most potent pain relievers are completely ineffective, leaving you with the feeling that your body is actually on fire...

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a painful & debilitating chronic neurological disorder that occurs when the nervous system malfunctions in response to a injury or illness- in Jessica's case- Lyme disease.

RSD is characterized by: Continuous sharp, stabbing & burning pain; Extreme sensitivity to touch; Severe headaches; Painful skin ulcers; Intense muscle spams; Softening of bones; Dystonia; Skin temperature & color changes; Hair/nail growth changes; Muscle atrophy; Vascular & Autonomic dysfunction; Sensitivity to lights & sounds and Paralysis.

This rare condition is a mystery to scientists & often is misdiagnosed. Much more research is needed to find the cause of RSD and ways to treat and prevent it.

Ketamine Coma Study

The Ketamine Coma Study is a clinical trial procedure being conducted in both Germany and Mexico, that is considered for patients with the most severe, intractable cases, who have exhausted all other reasonable treatment options.

During this procedure, patients are put into a ketamine-induced coma-- essentially shutting the body down & giving it time to "reset" the nerves, brain and spinal cord. Patients are supported by a ventilator and monitored in the ICU.

So far, only about 100 patients have taken part in the study. For many, it has been miraculous!
However, like any treatment, there are no guarantees. There are also significant risks, especially in Jessica's fragile condition.

The Ketamine Coma shows great promise as a treatment for severe RSD- the key is going to be more research.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a central nervous system depressant that produces a rapid-acting dissociative effect, blocking signals to the conscious mind from other parts of the brain. It was developed in the 1970s as a medical anesthetic for both humans and animals.

There are currently three kinds of ketamine treatments: The Awake technique (continuous low dosage for 4-5 days), the Outpatient low-dose infusion (4-5 hours a day for two weeks, then gradually-lower doses), and the Coma technique (continuous high dosage for about a week).

The hypothesis is that ketamine blocks the neurons and manipulates NMDA receptors which might reboot aberrant brain activity, the coma shuts down the nervous system, allowing damaged nerves cells to heal and "reboots" the patient's brain, much like a computer.

Ketamine can have some nasty side effects. Especially when emerging from the coma, patients may experience hallucinations, lack of body awareness, visual distortions, confusion, and weakness.

Why Mexico?

There is a popular misconception that medical care in Mexico is of inferior quality. However, this is not (always) the case. In fact, many facilities in Mexico are state of the art, with top notch care.

Because Ketamine is considered a schedule 3 drug in the U.S., only a small amount of ketamine is legally allowed for medical treatment according to federal law. The high doses required for the Ketamine coma are currently only legally available in other countries.

Jessica's doctor, Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, is one of only a few specialists involved with this study in the U.S. He has teamed up with Dr. Fernando Cantu and his team in Mexico to perform the Ketamine Coma.