Yesterday our Mom surprised us and we went on a little day trip to Obispado! El Obispado is a museum of historical Mexican military artifacts (swords, guns, cannon balls, uniforms, etc) and some religious artwork as well.
We didn’t go there to see any of that though. We actually didn’t even go inside the museum at all! See, El Obispado is located high up in the hills of Monterrey and we have been told by our friends that the panoramic view of the entire city that you can see from up there was quite incredible.
Oh my gosh! They were right!!
Stunning.
Words will never do it justice.
We just sat there, smiling, speechless. Completely in awe of what we saw.
I looked around me- the Sierra Madre mountain range in front of me, the Cerro de la silla next to me, the glowing sky above me, my mom and sister, smiling behind me.
Surreal.
I tried to take a mental snapshot while praying I would never ever be able to forget this moment… of literally, being on top of the world!
I than decided to wheel closer to the ledge and look over- down at the city of Monterrey below.
My eyes found it immediately- the helicopter landing pad that signifies a hospital.
There it was. Hospital San Jose. Right beneath my feet!
I counted up to the 8th floor and found my room.
At first I got very, very excited, “Oh my god!!! Look mom!! Look!! That’s my room!! How cool is that?! Take a picture of me!!!”
I may have even started waving, rapidly while screaming (very) loudly “Hiiiiii Dr. Cantuuuu!!!!!!” …As if he could see, or hear me from the hospital or something.
Oh boy. I guess that is what 5 years of isolation, trapped sick indoors can do to a person?? Wow. How embarrassing. :)
However once I got over my initial excitement (and took a few dozen pictures) I was quickly brought right back into that room. The memories of the very long year of laying in there staring out of that very window up at this very hill… not knowing when, how, or if, I would ever get on the outside again…
I never thought I’d ever be seeing this view of the hospital. From up high, looking down. From the outside, looking in.
So many emotions became very real and overwhelming.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Katherine asked. “Are you crying because you’re happy, or sad?”
“I don’t know! I don’t think either… I’m just so thankful.”
I was feeling a lot of things in that special moment with my mom and sister yesterday, but the feeling of thankfulness was definitely felt the strongest.
Thankful for this moment, this family, this time, this place, these doctors, this experience, this life, this God… all of it.
I never could have visualized or imagined this day, my first time out with my sister Katherine in over 5 years! It was perfect and I hope we never forget this feeling of literally being “on top of the world”!
We made it through the valley to stand upon the mountain! Thank you Jesus!
"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!" Psalm 121
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33 comments:
I had to laugh as I pictured you waving at Dr. Cantu from the top of the mountain. I probably would have done the same! LOL
What an absolutely exhilerating feeling it must have been to be on top of that mountain looking at the WHOLE city. It is like being freed from a prison and enjoying complete freedom!
Not that long ago, Your view of the world was only what you could see from your hospital window and when they opened the door to your hospital room.
And now you can go in and out of buildings, drive around in cars, go outside and inside, go to the top of the mountain or down into the city, eat, cook, pay games, visit with people, laugh, hug, it is endless.
All these things most of us take for granted had been temporarily removed from you and now it has been restored. Freedom.
Reminds me of that song (Newsboys: I am free) ... I am free to dance, I am free to live for you, I am free.
Katherine must be so amazed at what God has done for your family. She must be able to see so much change. I bet she has not stopped ginning either. :)
Through Him everything was made and we have our being. It makes me realize how much we have to be thankful for every day.
Great update, Jess! We are so happy for you! There is more to come.
With love, prayers and deep gratitude to Him who can do more than what we can imagine or ask,
The Turners
Sorry, Katherine has not stopped GRINNING (not ginning).
My sweet Jessica,
It continues to be my honor to watch your progress through your blog. It is like an ever unfolding MIRACLE!! I was so happy to read about the lunch adventure but now a mountain!! I remember seeing that mountain as I came into Monterrey to be with you and your Mom (almost two years ago now!!). I remember praying toward that mountain, knowing that God is everywhere but that He must have had a clear shot of you from the top. I am so happy that Katherine was able to get back there with you. What an incredible time you guys all had. You and your beautiful family continue to touch my heart and the hearts of so many!! Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers every day. Thank you for showing us what loving life and God is really all about!! Hugs to all of you. Nita
INCREDIBLE! Thank you for your updates. We appreciate how you've opened your lives and shared the journey of your recovery that you and your family have taken these past two years. Your walk of faith is such a blessing. You are a blessing. We stand in awe of your progress. Keep going!
Hi Jess, Katherine, and Gina, Your post, so beautiful and moving, just goes to show that we can never never never lose our faith in God and His Powerful Might. You are living the words of Psalm 23... He is bringing you through the valley to the peaceful waters (and the majestic mountain!) and we are humbled at the miracle of what is happening. You are on the healing path! You are teaching us to appreciate the miracles present in every day, and literally showing us with your example how to never give up because of a bad day (even a VERY bad one) because the next day may be a good, even a great, one. I am so happy for you!!! Love, hugs, smiles, and happy tears, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxo
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!
GOD IS GOOD.
WE LOVE YOU!!!!
EACH DAY IS A BLESSING AND IM REALLY GLADE TO SEE YOU ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
HANG IN THERE, YOU ARE A AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN!
You're the epitome of God's grace. I can see His gentle Spirit in your eyes and His strength in your face. You're a living testimony of what faith is and what it can do for those who believe. Upon reading your post, I'm so thankful for the life He's giving back to you and the normalcy you are regaining. We serve an awesome God and there's no doubt that this is just the beginning of all He has in store for you! I truly believe He is honoring your faithfulness and will use you in ways that will amaze us all. Continue on, sweet girl, and allow God to shine through you in all you do. We love you!!!
Many blessings to you Jessica. By the way, I love your pictures... Keem em coming! :)
I found this poem on Brett's blog and thought of you .... http://brettcole.blogspot.com/
The Weaver
My life is but a weaving, between my God and me.
I do not choose the colors, he worketh steadily.
Oft times he weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
Forget he sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the looms are silent, and the shuttles cease to fly.
Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reasons why,
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful weavers hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern he has planned.
by benjamin malacia franklin
I can hear your gratefulness all the way over here! I am so thrilled for you! I was smiling the whole time I read your post. God has done some miraculous work in you and in your family. You are more blessed now because you have been through the hardest parts. The refining fire is never easy but it sure brings out the uniqueness in the gems! You look so good in the pictures! I look forward to the day we can spend some time together again
Dear Jessica,
I have been reading your blog from the beginning and praying for you as you recover from RSD and Lyme disease. You have given me so much inspiration as you have battled with the pain and finally found someone fantastic to help you heal.
I'm 25 and have had severe generalised RSD for 10 years and have been pretty extensively "paralysed" (apart from the pain which feels like acid, fire, you name it really) with no movement in my legs and very limited in my arms.
Seeing these pictures of you really gives me hope - and I loved the idea of you yelling down to Dr Cantu to try and say Hello! I've also spent ALOT of time in hospital so I know how lying in one bed for months in one room in one hospital building (not as bad in your own home, 1000x worse in hospital) you can end up with your world shrinking! However, you're now starting to see the whole world again and I'm so joyful for that!!
Small steps, huge advances hey?
Anyway, I just wanted to say I'm praying for you and all the best.
Love
Rosie
Dear Jessica,
Thank you again for such an uplifting story and for the great photos! What amazing memories you are all creating.
I was struck by your comment about being on "the outside looking in".
We normally equate being an "outsider" with being left out, of being excluded, of watching others enjoy seeing or doing something while we sit passive as a spectator.
However, in your situation, it is the exact opposite. Finally, you ARE on the outside! The outside of the hospital, of the confinement, of the illness that has imprisoned you for so many years. You are an outsider, and that is a good thing. No, it is a great thing, a blessed thing!!!
Thank you Lord for your mercy and compassion. Thank you Jessica and all the Stevens family for teaching us to remain Faithful, in the darkest of hours. Our prayer for you Jess is that you are never an "insider" again!
Love, Prayers and many xoxox's,
Rosemary & John
Everything that has breath
-Parachute Band
He is our God
Let all creation bow
The sovereign King most holy one
He sacrificed His life
washed and cleansed within
Portioned by faith
We're destined to win
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord
Everything that's in me
Praise the Lord
I can praise Him
On the highest mountain
Praise Him in the lowest valley
Everything that's in me
Praise the Lord
The Potter Knows the Clay
by: The Perry's
I know you are going through the fire/
Its getting hard to stand the heat/
But even harder is the wondering/
Is God’s hand still on me/
Its lonely in the flames/
When you’re counting days of pain/
Chorus
But the Potter knows the clay/
How much pressure it can take/
How many times around the wheel/
‘Til there’s submission to His will/
he’s planned a beautiful design/
but it’ll take some fire and time/
its gonna be okay/
‘cause the Potter knows the clay/
Friend I just came through that fire/
Not too very long ago/
And looking back I can see why/
And that my God was in control/
But on the hottest days I’d cry/
Oh Lord, isn’t it about time/
I just came across your blog today and I have been reading your journey wit this horrible disease, I am 15 years old and have had RSD since 2009 after a ATV accident, and now have it full body.
I just wanted to say I am glad you are doing better, I will pray that you continue to get better.
I just recently started a blog about my journey if you wanted to read it here is the link.
http://rsd-fighter.blogspot.com/
What beautiful pictures, Jessica!
I'm so happy to see you enjoying the outdoors: no glasses, no earplugs, and SMILING!
We are always thinking of you and we keep you and your family in our prayers. Please give my best to your Mom, Dad and sisters. You continue to ispire us all.
Hi, Jessica. Out of all the awesome and touching parts of this post, I love the pictures of the hugging the best.
I've just gone through another period of extensive spread of my RSD and it's getting very hard for people to touch me, & I miss the hugs the most. So as usual, your site has brought me hope when I really need it.
My PM doctor and family have been deadset against the coma treatment even though I know in my heart that the low-dose outpatient treatment along with many boosters is the only reason I'm not in bed in a dark room 24/7, using a wheelchair, not just a walker (with the upgrade to a walker rather than a cane just coming after my latest setback with both feet now affected).
I have just found out that Dr. Kirkpatrick is no longer referring patients to Monterrey, as I am going to see him next week for a consultation. And yet it seems from your posts that new patients are still going through Dr. Cantu's program. I know you have a lot going on, but anything you can e-mail me about other ways to connect to his program would be so appreciated. I think the e-mail will post with my Google account, but if not, I will re-post & include it. Maybe the answer to my prayers about the high dose treatment are "No" or "Not Yet" but I don't have that feeling in my spirit, especially after my family and doctor's dramatic turnaround.
I'm always filled with gratitude when I come to your site, think and pray for you and your family, or tell others about your amazing story. Just under 2 years ago my wise PM doctor assigned me a research project as a antidote to an uncharacteristic & tenacious depression. While web searching the assigned topic, your site came up. I was so captivated by you and Sarah Gina's faith and biblical approach to each new day's challenges, my depression was lifted instantly and has never returned in that intensity.
I had no doubt that God would unlock the doors to your physical prison, as you and your Mom kept so close to Him that you were could never be kept in a spiritual prison for long. The two are very much connected in my belief system and study of scripture.
So as you start making plans for your reclaimed life, keep the idea of becoming a physician in your heart & mind. The Lord may have another path in mind for you, and even if this is His plan for your career, it would be a journey of incredible patience and reliance on His timing. However, you could be such a blessing to those who are suffering from pain. I don't think that the revelation of the complex & intricate nervous system He designed will be completed in our lifetimes, so there will be plenty for you to accomplish!
In God's agape love, and I hope, friendship...Linda P
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