Upcoming Fundraiser in Garden City, NY

Hello To All,

UPCOMING FUNDRAISER FOR JESSICA'S JOURNEY:

Resurrection To Host Art And Memorabilia Auction

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Garden City, N.Y. will host an Art & Memorabilia Auction, Friday, Feb. 4, starting at 7 PM. The fund-raiser will assist with two important causes. Monies raised will go toward medical expenses for Jessica Stevens, a member of Resurrection who is battling severe complications from Reflex Sympathetic Dstrophy(RSD) & Lyme Disease. Funds will also support The Mission of Resurrection & The Life Church.

An Art Preview will begin at 7 p.m. when guests may view the art and memorabilia for auction, while enjoying an array of hors d’oeuvres and beverages from many local restaurants.

At 8 p.m., a professional auctioneer from Marlin Art will open bids on a vast selection of fine art and items from sports, music and entertainment. The event also includes a Door Prizes and a Silent Auction for gift baskets packed with exquisite prizes.

Rev. Jeff Browning, Pastor of Resurrection, said this is the second such fund-raiser Resurrection will host to benefit the Stevens family. “Jessica and the Stevens family are such special people. We are thrilled to be able to do whatever we can for them.”

The evening will conclude with coffee and desserts, featuring sweet delicacies made by many of the church’s finest bakers.

Resurrection & The Life Church is a Christian community of faith, with their main campus located at 420 Stewart Ave., near Clinton Rd., in Garden City. For more information, call 516.746.4426, or visit resgc.org or thelifeny.org.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Pastor Browning and the entire congregational family at The Lutheran CHurch of the Resurrection for ALL of their continued efforts in fund-raising, their donations, and mostly ALL of their love, support, and prayers offered on behalf of Jessica and our family! We could not have taken this journey towards wellness without you ALL!!!

In God's Love,always,

Sarah Gina

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HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY JESSICA!!!

Jessica & Dr. Green Shirt (aka Cantu)

Blessings To ALL,

Today is Jessica's 23rd Birthday and oh what a difference a year has made! Last year on this day, she was in the hospital going on 5 months, had a 104 fever and was fighting infections and many obstacles! This year, although we are still here in Monterrey, she is out of the hospital after being there for over a year, and her journey of hope seems that much brighter! Praise God!

" The appearance of a beautiful and magnificent Rainbow was God's promise of Hope to Noah and his family. It was a sign of peace, comfort and joy."
"The Rainbow is a sign of God's promise that He will guide us thru any storm, that He will ease all our troubles, no matter what their form!"

My Dearest Daughter Jessica,

This journey that you and I began together, has been one incredible journey -- many highs, many lows; many obstacles, many miracles. But, through it all, you have never given up Hope. It was and is that hope you had and continue to have in God, in your doctors, in prayers, in miracles, and in yourself, that has been the focus of your journey to having a life again. Jessica - never let go of hope. One day you will see that it All has come together and what you wished and prayed for has finally come to be! You will look back one day at what has passed and you will ask yourself "How did I ever get through All of that?"

Jessica, my hopes for your birthday are:

That you wake up in the morning with a big smile on your face...
That the sun is shining just for you... and the birds are singing their very best songs...
That your day is filled with lovely surprises, and that family & friends call or write you just to say "Hi"...
That everything goes your way...and everything is well with your world...

I hope that you enjoy all that you can do... and that you can laugh and talk to your heart's content...
That you have all that you wish for yourself and those dear to you, and that ALL your dreams come true...

And, at the end of this day, I wish you a perfect moon above the Monterrey mountains, shining just for you...
and a snug and cozy bed with the softest of pillows, so that you can sleep like a baby with a smile on your face...

I hope you have a perfect end to a perfect day... and I hope that every day is just as wonderful in its own way...

So, Jessica, think of Mommy's Hopes for you, and let them turn on the sunshine inside of You! That's my Birthday Hope for You!!!

I Love you Jessica and always will...
You have my heart forever...
Happy 23rd Birthday!!!

Love,
Mommy
xoxoxo

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MESSAGES FROM HOME:

Dear Jessica,

The fact that you are turning 23 is wonderful. The fact that you're turning 23 in Mexico is cool and the fact that you're turning 23 and feeling good is just amazing and a miracle!

You are definitely the strongest person in faith, resolve and courage that I know.

I hope you have a special day on your Special Day.

When I saw you recently, I saw for the first time in over four years the daughter I used to know. I saw my oldest daughter who is funny, witty and beautiful.

And, I know that you will eventually WALK out of Mexico.

So have a Happy Birthday.

May God, continue to bless you, keep you and strengthen you.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jessica,

Today is your 23^rd birthday, YAY!!! When I think of birthdays the first thing that comes to my mind is the cake, the parties, the presents and most importantly the wish that the person makes when they blow out the candles. I know that your last couples of birthdays haven’t been fun for you; I think they were mostly reminders that you were still sick. This birthday, however, is so much different!! I’m sooo happy that you will finally have a birthday that you can really enjoy! You’re doing so amazingly great and I am beyond proud of you! I thank God everyday for these wonderful blessings that have happened to you this year.

Your last healthy birthday was when you turned 18 years old. The whole family went to a nice restaurant together and then afterwards you went downtown with your friends. We never knew that birthday would be your last happy one for a few years, but we also never knew that your 23^rd birthday would be one of the best that you have had in a long time!! You amaze me more and more everyday and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you’ll be even better by your 24^th!!

Most people’s role models are their parents or maybe some famous old person, but my role model is a young, beautiful, intelligent 23 year old...Can you guess who that is?..YOU! You have taught me so many life lessons that you didn’t even know you were teaching me and I am so grateful to have you as my older sister!

So, as I was saying before, people make wishes on their birthdays and when I think about it most wishes really don’t come true. But on rare occasions, when the time is right, and maybe if the wish is not just a wish but somewhat more of a hope or a prayer that wish may just come true. I know this. I know this because every wish that I’ve made for my last 5 birthdays were all the same thing: “Please bless Jessica to be healthy, please bless this to be the year.” My wish finally came true and I couldn’t be happier! I love you with all of my heart and I will never stop loving you no matter what.

Happy Birthday!
Love, your sister Katherine

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Dear Jessica,

HAPPY 23^rd BIRTHDAY! I cannot believe how far you have come in one year! Your 22^nd birthday was only last year. Last year was a year of troubles and recovery! To think that only one year ago, only 365 days, you were in the hospital, that we thought that would be the only room you would see, room 845.

Now, the new year has brought a whole new time filled with happiness and joy. Birthdays are entertaining and filled with laughs, birthday cake and balloons. And after someone’s birthday what do they think of? How fast it went. Some of the fun of a birthday is the anticipation, well this birthday couldn’t have come sooner.

For my whole life, I have called you my wessie. You have been like a second mom and role model to me. I used to always think, “This will be the year, this will be the day”. Finally that day, and that year has come. Ever since I started to talk you’ve been my wessie, because as you know, I couldn’t say Jessica or “Jessie” so I called you “Wessie”. This birthday will be the best one in five years and I am so proud of you! I hope this birthday is the best one! Happy 23^rd! Love you my wessie!

Love, your mini-wessie,
Michelle

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HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY JESSICA - WE LOVE YOU & ADMIRE YOU!!!
P.S. MOLLY -your beloved dog- says "Woof-Woof" to You Too!!!

*****

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Tomorrow is Jessica's Birthday!

Hello to All our Family, Friends, and Bloggers,


Tomorrow - January 15th - is Jessica's 23rd birthday!

I will be posting special letters to her in honor of her day!

When I think of what a difference a year has made........She truly is a very courageous young woman. I am honored to have her as my daughter!

Look for the special posting to the blog tomorrow and feel free to send her your well wishes also. We look forward to all of your comments!

In God's love, always,
Sarah Gina
(Jessica's Mom)
xoxo

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

"To the world you may be one person...but to one person, you may be the world."

Dear Mommy,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Having you as my mother has definitely been the greatest gift and biggest advantage God could have ever given me. I don't think that there are many other mothers out there who could have endured what you have with me during this past year alone-- especially with such amazing grace, incredible strength and unshakable faith!

Unconditional and absolute love is the greatest gift a parent can give to their child and you have given yours to me in abundance! You have been the purest example of Christ's unconditional love for me and it has been this love and devotion that has enabled me to fight through these past years of illness. I am certain that without you by my side I never could or would have made it through!

I really don't know how I can ever tell you in words just how much I love you and appreciate everything that you have done and continue to do for me, every day. But, today, on your special day, I just wanted to say thank you...

Thank you for putting your own life on hold for the past 5 years to take care of me. No mother should ever have to see her child suffer in the ways that you have had to, I know how hard this has been for you too, yet, you continually put my needs before your own.

Thank you for researching and learning everything that you could about Lyme disease and RSD, for locating and bringing me to see the best doctors and for being my biggest advocate through it all.

Thank you for being there to hold my hand through so many painful tests and procedures, for comforting me afterward, for being so strong for me, always.

Thank you for not allowing me to give up, even when at times I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. For always having hope, even when I had none left.

Thank you for being there for me, when others didn't know what to do with me, or for me. For loving me through all of this, even when I felt unlovable.

Thank you for always making me laugh, for continuing to be your crazy, funny self, even through the hardest times.

Thank you for everything you have done for me, for everything you have said, and for all of the times you said nothing and just listened to me.

Thank you for being my hero, my inspiration, my biggest cheerleader, my best friend, my nurse and my doctor.

Thank you... for everything! There are sooo many more things... small things and big things...

Mom, I love you so much and I know I don't tell you nearly enough just how much I appreciate your love, support, friendship & patience... but... just so you know... I think that you are the perfect, most amazing mother and I thank God, every day, for giving me the honor of being your daughter. I don't know what I would do without you!

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me strength 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am because you loved me...




HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

Love always,
Jessica

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Happy New Year & Happy Birthdays!!

New Year Blessings to All,

Today is January 8th, 2011 and in 2 days it will be my birthday and then on the 15th it will be Jessica's 23rd birthday!

When I think about how last year began here in Mexico and how this year is unfolding, I am simply amazed at what a big difference a year can make!

Last year the one word that became a major focus for this journey that Jessica has been taking towards having a life again without constant pain and sickness was "HOPE". I remember one of my postings last year about the word "hope". I said then that, for me, hope is defined as the following:

H aving
O nly
P ositive
E xpectations

This past year, Jessica's journey has been about hope and about trying to remain positive, even when all around you is so negative. Quite honestly, it is sometimes a very hard thing to do!

Before arriving to Monterrey with Jessica, our "hope" was to give Jessica a fighting chance at a better life. We knew that the chances were great that we could lose Jessica in Mexico due to the severity of her case. I remembered being asked first by Dr. Kirkpatrick in Tampa and then by Dr. Cantu in Monterrey, if I, as her Mom, was prepared for that in the event that it happened? As you can imagine it is the type of question no mother wants to think about, let alone even answer!!! But, I remember vividly my answer. I said the same response to Dr. K in Tampa, as I then said later to Dr. Cantu in Monterrey. My response was: "I came here with the full knowledge that this could happen! My "hope" is that God will answer my prayers for Jessica, but, quite honestly, if that is not His plan, then, Yes, I am prepared for that, because she doesn't have a life anyway!!!

Even writing that now brings with it a lot of different emotions. But, I am saying this to you today, that, in life, we have to remain "hopeful"! We have to try to think positively, because by doing so, we all can ultimately have the "miracle"we "hope" for! It is all possible with God, his grace, his love, and in His timing!

So...Peace, Love, and most of all Hope, for the New Year!

With hope and in God's love,
Sarita ( my name in Spanish)

" May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
Psalm 33:22

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"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."
Psalm 39:7

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