Jessica's Journey: Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy."
~Psalm 126:3

Blessings To All,

We wanted to wish everyone a very special Thanksgiving Day!

Jessica and I will be spending the day with her doctors as I prepare for them a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We have much to be thankful for this day and wanted to show them how appreciative we are to them for all they have done and continue to do for the both of us!

Till then, we hope and pray that you all have a great day today and we are ever mindful of all of God's blessings in our lives and especially for ALL of you!!!

Here is the prayer that I will be saying at dinner today:

We Give Thanks

Our Father In Heaven
We give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this most special Thanksgiving.

We give thanks for the food we are about to eat and for the loving hands that prepared it.

We give thanks for life and the freedom to enjoy it all.

We give thanks for so many blessings!

As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength to carry on, as we try to live our lives as You would have us.

We thank you for the mixture of our cultures, blending us all into one people under God.

We remember those who are less fortunate than we.

We pray you bless all those who gather here and all our families not present with us.

We are thankful right now to be surrounded by those whose lives touch us more than they'll ever possibly know!

So, please, Heavenly Father, bless this food you've provided and bless each and every one invited!

All this we ask in Jesus' name, AMEN!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!,
All our love and thanks, always,
Sarah Gina and Jessica
xoxoxo

***To Post A Comment, CLICK on Comments Below***

8 comments:

Anonymous said...: Amen!

Sounds delicious!

May God bless your time together with the doctors. May He continue to strength and bless them and you both as you continue on your road to recovery!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Jessica & Sarah!

We give thanks to God for your lives, shining so brightly like a light on a hilltop.

With love & prayers,
The Turners; November 25, 2010 at 11:07 AM
adriaxxita said...: Hey!!! I'm really happy that Jessica is recovering!
I remember last year's pumpkin pie (that was my first pumpkin pie ever)
And I hope this year you have one too!!!

Hugs
Adriana; November 25, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear Jessica and Family,
You may not remember us, but we answer the phones for Dr. K. We have been keeping up on your progress and just wanted you to know how very proud we are of you for your braveness and courage. We have you in our daily prayers and continue to do so. May God continue to bless you and may each day find you in better health!
Our prayer is that God, all the saints,and your Guardian Angels remain with you forever and keep you in their loving hands.
We love you and wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
Mary and Maureen; November 25, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Dearest Jessica and Gina, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and send love and hugs across the miles!! I am so thankful for the amazing progress that you are making. It is such a blessing- I run into so many people here in town that excitedly say to me, "Did you read Jessica's blog? Jessica is doing better! Did you hear the great news about Jessica?" People keep you both in their hearts and prayers every day. We are all so happy for you!! Enjoy your turkey day!! Love always, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxoxo; November 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Nancy said...: Sweet Jessica and Sarah Gina,
We give thanks... for our prayers continue to be answered and those small steps are becoming bigger and bigger!

Can't wait to see the pictures, Thanks....you HOT ITALIAN~MEXICAN MOMMACITA Chef!
Praise be to God for He is Grand!!

Love from Nancy and Joe; November 26, 2010 at 5:58 AM
Rosemary and John said...: Dear Jessica and Sarah Gina,

We are certain Thanksgiving Day 2010 exceeded your most fervent prayers and your most incredible dreams!

Who among us could have imagined that so soon after coming home from the hospital, you and your special doctors would all gather together under YOUR roof, to share a meal prepared by your Mom with so much love and gratitude? We are so very happy for you! We thank God for answering the thousands of prayers all who love you have said and for bringing you to this point of healing.

Enjoy making all these happy and special memories. We have a feeling 2011 is going to be YOUR year Jessica!

Love always,

Rosemary and John; November 27, 2010 at 8:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Peace on Earth
by Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh0-t2kyLeQ; November 30, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Anonymous said...: Song
Mary did you know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1oHJR2g7Tw

Enjoy!; December 12, 2010 at 10:40 AM

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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.