Hi everyone!
Happy belated Halloween :)
Before I was sick, my family used to go all out for Halloween. We were always the first house on our street to have our decorations up and my mom was notorious for her clever costume ideas she came up with for my sisters and I. I have many good memories!
So, even though it is not widely celebrated here in Mexico, Yesterday I celebrated my first Halloween in over 5 years!
We made a “Haunted” Gingerbread house…
And I carved a pumpkin!!!
My nurse who has become one of my close friends, Angeles, came over and made Halloween cupcakes with me!
It was her first time ever celebrating Halloween!
My crazy mom agreed to dress up with me and we went trick-or-treating (giving out the cupcakes) to the people we have gotten friendly with in our apartment building!
We were a doctor and a patient.
So original, I know…
(Thanks to Dr. Rainbow for letting my mom borrow her doctors coat! …My costume was obviously courtesy of Hospital San Jose. :)
Later last night a few friends came over to see our costumes, take pictures and eat candy with me!!
It was a great day and my most special Halloween yet!
...Which brings me to today. November 1st.
November is RSD Awareness month, and as I continue to make great progress in my recovery and experience all of these new, happy memories in my life I continually find myself thinking about all of the people who are still suffering and fighting with the horrible pain this disorder causes every minute of every single day… Especially those I’ve come to know and love through my journey here.
Last November I posted this blog about RSD along with this video, which I think deserves to be re-posted and re-watched-
Much of what I wrote at this time last year remains the same...
RSD is still a horribly painful, complex, mysterious and very confusing disease. There are still more questions than there are answers for many RSD patients.
We still need more awareness. We still need more research on the causes, prevention and treatment options for RSD… We still desperately need a cure.
However, this year, I write with much more hope and confidence that we are getting closer.
I have seen firsthand how far the wisdom, compassion, knowledge and dedication of the right doctor can go to bring even a patient with one of the worst cases of RSD, like me, back to the level and quality of life that I am now blessed to enjoy.
My hope and my prayer is that there will continue to be more answers, for all of us, who are dealing with this illness and for continued perseverance and understanding for the doctors who I know are working so hard on our behalf to lead us back to better, less-painful lives- especially Dr. Cantu and his team here!
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Tomorrow I will be going back into the hospital for treatment to strengthen my bones. This is a new treatment for me (probably one of the only medications in the world that I have never had before!) so please pray that I tolerate the infusions well with no adverse effects so that my time in the hospital will be minimal and I will be strong enough to come home!!
Thank you for continuing to check my progress and keep me in your prayers. I will update again in a day or two from the hospital and be posting more information about RSD during awareness month.
God bless!
Jessica
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
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Hi Jessica and Sarita,
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
Wow, oh wow...what a blog! What a special holiday you enjoyed with each other and your close Mexican friends. We are sure it was as special for them as it was for you. We just LOVE the cupcakes and the costumes. Your Mom is a real hoot!
So many memories, so many blessings this past year. You have really come so far Jessica! Many prayers are coming your way that the new treatment for your bones will be very successful, go smoothly and without any adverse events.
May God continue to shine His blessings upon all of you, including Dr. Cantu. It is so clear to those who suffer from this disease what Dr. Cantu's "calling in life" was meant to be.
Please send our love and regards to all your health care team!
Much love and many kisses always,
Rosemary and John
You ladies sure know how to enjoy life!
ReplyDeleteWe will pray that these infusions would go very well and get you to where you need to be so you can return home with strong bones. I bet your family is so excited to see your return.
You are right in there has been much progress and learning about this illness. Many patients, who are somewhat better, are raising awareness such as Barby Ingle, http://www.powerofpain.org/, Sandra Martineau who has a RSD/CRPS research and development page on FB, https://www.facebook.com/pages/RSDCRPS-Research-and-Developements/172242468621?ref=ts, and Nancy Cotterman, Ketamine Klub for RSD/CRPS Patients https://www.facebook.com/groups/92620002470/
You are right, we still desperately need a cure and we are getting closer.
Thanks for continuing to raise awareness and being such a beacon of hope for those of us still suffering.
We pray God will make a way to eradicate this illness from the face of the earth.
With love and prayers,
The Turners
Hey Jessica --
ReplyDeleteWe were so happy to hear from you today & to see your beautiful photos! Both you and your mom look absolutely AMAZING . . . reading your blog and seeing the pictures made our day.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you each and every day . . . and especially while you are getting your treatments this week. We know that you are one step closer to coming home. We are waiting patiently by the computer to hear from you! Until then . . .
With love,
The Klatts
Jessica you look great, I love your cake, it looks amazing... Your Mum is just the best how she does everything with you. You look so happy, so pretty, just great. I always followed your blog. Praying that your infusions go well...
ReplyDeletePlease contact me daniela.c.seiler@gmail.com we might meet
What Faith Can Do (Lyrics)
ReplyDeleteEverybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise
There is this one area that you have to slide-duck in order Keep the verbiage to a minimum. Arunachal Pradesh is the ideal place for many adventure sports activities like water rafting, boating, kayaking and angling. cut them off.(25) And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless To determine how much the cloth has got left, observe whether or not the metal is shining.
ReplyDelete