Jessica's Journey: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I am home, celebrating Christmas with my entire family today for the first time in 5 years!! We are eating, laughing, hugging and kissing... It's incredible!

I feel like this must be a dream.... and if it is, I hope I never wake up!

I don't have the words to express my gratitude and happiness today! But, as I often say, a picture is worth 1,000 words....

So with these pictures we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, filled with love, family, happiness and health.

Happy Birthday to Jesus and Merry Christmas to all!

In His great power and love,

Jessica
.....& ALL of the Stevens family!

Together again, 2011!! AMEN! :)

*To Post a Comment click on Comments below*

10 comments:

Mariannne E .Quinn said...: Merry Christmas! Hope this Day was one of your Happiest! May You All Be Blessed with Good Health, Joy, Laughter, and Love.
With Love and Prayers,
Marianne; December 25, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Rosemary and John said...: Dearest Jessica and Stevens Family,

Merry Christmas to one amazing young woman and her family! We love all the photos and can feel your strong love and emotions across the miles. Thank you for sharing your most private and intimate family moments with those of us watching from afar. God is by your side and we give him praise and all the glory for bringing you back home!

We cannot wait to see where this new journey takes you. We are sure it in onto something amazing and awesome!

Love you (and your Mom and Family) always,

Rosemary, John and Papa
xoxoxoxo; December 25, 2011 at 11:39 PM
Anonymous said...: MERRY CHRISTMAS STEVENS FAMILY!
I am so happy you are home and looking SO well. Really... Jessica looks perfect! It's amazing! God bless you all!; December 26, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Anonymous said...: WONDERFUL!!!!!!!'!, MARVELOUS, I am so happy for you all . My love to everyone. God Bless You; December 26, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Anonymous said...: MERRY CHRISTMAS To You All!!!

Great pictures & the joy on all your faces say's it all!!

A VERY Happy & Healthy New Year!!

Peace,
Jodi; December 26, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear Jessica & Family --

WELCOME HOME!!! Be still our hearts, we couldn't be happier for you all. AND, we can't thank you enough for giving us an update & sharing your photos (which were absolutely, positively BEAUTIFUL!!) My family couldn't believe how AMAZING you look, Jessica . . . you are a true Christmas miracle!

We think of you all so often and smile from ear to ear every time we think of you & your Mom home together as a family once again! Enjoy each and every day & if possible, please keep us posted. You have become a part of our lives and knowing that your doing so well gives us all quite a skip to our step!

Merry Christmas to you and wishing you all the Happiest of New Years! We will be thinking of you all!

With our love,
The Klatt Family
XOXOXOXO; December 27, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Lenny Rivera said...: A truly awesome blog post... it is so wonderful you are home... wishing you and your family joy for the New Year! Best wishes...
Lenny Rivera & Family; December 28, 2011 at 4:25 PM
Frankie said...: I'm a complete stranger and my name is Frankie.... And I happen to be perusing the Internet and came across the video on YouTube...honestly it struck a nerve with me... Family is important and family struggles are no picnic... I guess I'm just writing this to say im glad that you are with your family and doing well... You are a strong powerful person and nothing can stop you now... Merry Christmas and have a awesome New Years!!!!!!; December 28, 2011 at 4:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Dearest Jessica and Gina, Welcome home!! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the first few precious days of being home and all together once again. I just scrolled down the page and noticed that your blog has reached 104,000 hits!!! Just imagine how many people have read your story and taken you into their hearts and prayers. You have both done so much for so many through your courage, determination and utter faith and hope. I just want to say that although you probably never meant to be examples or role models like this, thank you for showing us what it's like to stare the utmost challenge directly in the face with grace and honesty. You are remarkable and I am honored to be your friend and prayer warrior. I wish your whole family a Happy New Year and abundant blessings in the days and months ahead. Love always, Angel xoxoxoxoxoxoxo; December 31, 2011 at 1:01 AM
Alan said...: Jess,

Like many, I've been amazed by your tenacity and faith in Jesus over these past few years. Trust me when I say that you have had an eternal impact on many during your fight. Keep up the good fight! Enjoy home and family.

For Him, Alan; January 2, 2012 at 7:22 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

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.