MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS 

& MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

It's the season of miracles, so I thought I would share a big one with you all...

On 12/12/12, I stood up for the first time in SEVEN (7!!!) YEARS!!!! 

...And in Monterrey, Mexico! The birthplace of my miracle!

For the past year, I have kept a list. Not a 'bucket list' per say, but a list of things I want to accomplish, do and experience now that I have been given a new life.

Some things on my list are big, longer-term, future things, some are smaller goals of things that I can do now or in the near future, and some are just random, fun things I want to do just to say I did :)

But really, to me, they're all big things! Over this past year I have been blessed to be quickly crossing so many things off of my list, that I had to keep revising it and adding more! 

Up until 2 weeks ago, one of the bigger things still remained on my list and I was determined to have it crossed off by my 25th birthday. I just didn't know how to even attempt it without getting seriously hurt.

So, while I was down in Monterrey, I decided to take my chances and ask Dr. Cantu his thoughts.

The conversation went something like this-

"Hey, Dr. Cantu! Can I ask you something?"

"Oh no" (smiling) "Ok, sure."

"I want to try and stand up!"

---Long silence.--

"Well, What do you think...Can I???"

--Big deer-in-headlights stare.--

Followed by, "Well, Jessi, you know your bones are-"

"Fragile. I know. But I am ready!! I have been working so hard all year going  in the pool and I am a lot stronger now. I think I can do it."

--More silence. Dr. Cantu begins looking at his iphone and avoiding my eye-contact. (great....)--

"I really want to do this as a Christmas present for my grandma. She has prayed non stop for my miracle. She's 89 years old and she is losing her vision quickly.... I want her to see me stand, you know, while she still can..."

Well, That did it!

He looked up from his phone, smiling and shaking his head. And he finally gave in!

"Ok. Ok! You can try. BUT--this has to be done safely and under supervision. You haven't stood in years, so your brain needs to be taught. If I just let you stand here, now, you will get hurt."

Dr. Cantu said he would set up a time with Dr. Garza, a rehab physician at AVE for the very next day!

"We will see what he says. Dr. Garza will show you what to do and you will have to agree to do what he says and not push beyond that... Ok?"

"Yay! Agreed!Thank you!!!!!!!"

"...Oh, And please wear a Green Shirt tomorrow so I can take a picture standing with you!" :) 

For the rest of the day I was so excited. I probably said to my mom close to 1,000 times, "Can you believe I am going to stand tomorrow?! Mom, can you believe that?! And on 12/12/12!!" Poor mom, she's a saint. Really.

The next day mom and I went to the AVE Clinic, where I receive all of my treatments and met with Drs. Garza, Balli and Cantu (who was wearing one of the many green shirts we have gifted him :) 

Dr. Garza did a quick evaluation and decided that the best way for me to try and stand would be using parallel bars so that I could hold my weight with my arms, which he said were very strong! He told me that I could put as much pressure as I was comfortable with on my left leg when I stood up. I was told that for now, I should not put any weight at all on my weak right leg.

Dr. Cantu and Dr. Garza adjusted the parallel bars to the correct height while Dr. Balli wheeled me into position.

For the first try, all three of them would hold onto me and lift me up. If that went well, I could sit down, rest, and try again on my own!

As the doctors grabbed my arms, I couldn't contain my excitement. My hands starting sweating and shaking.

The overly-cautious part of me turned on and I decided I wanted to see someone else "test" out these bars for sturdiness before I put my full weight on them!

Dr. Cantu, as usual, stepped up to the task. When he didn't fall flat on his face, I felt safe to proceed!

 I looked up and said, "ok, I'm ready...but don't let me fall!"

They promised not to let go and up I went!!!

The first words out of my mouth when I stood up were " Look Mom!! Oh wow!! This is so cool!!"

I felt like I was flying! I thought I would get dizzy, but I was perfectly fine. It felt almost natural!

I then turned to my left and saw Dr. Cantu at eye-level for the first time!! He actually looks a lot different from up at that angle! Everything looked different seeing it vertically!

 "Hey Dr. Green Shirt, I am taller than you!!!"  Hahaha

I then was feeling very confident and said, "ok, you can all let go now!"

My crazy mom, who was dual taping and photographing every second of this, yelled out, " ummm no way Jess! Guys, don't you dare let go of her!"

"Are you really sure?" Dr. Cantu asked me.

"Yes!! I've got it! Let go!"

So they did!!

And I stood on my own for about 30 seconds!!

I sat down, rested, and stood up again 2 more times, until my legs were shaking too much to try again! We decided to call it a day.

It was one of the most fantastic days of my life! Every 'first' has been miraculous and so special, eating my first food, sitting up, swimming, etc, but standing definitely ranks very highly on that list! And I know walking one day will rank most high!

(I AM taller!)

Dr. Garza said right now I have about 5% of the strength needed in my legs to walk. 5% may not sound like a lot, but it actually is!

After spending 6 years in a bed, & 3 of those years completely paralyzed, unable to move my legs at all, I was told by so many doctors I would never have use of my legs back, ever. And look!! I am standing!!! That in itself is a miracle!

Christmas 2010 my dad and sister Michelle came to visit me in Monterrey and saw me sitting up in a recliner chair for the first time! The looks on their faces were of pure joy, shock and amazement.

Tonight, on the eve of Jesus' birth, I will stand using my walker in front of my entire family for the first time! I can't wait to see their reactions, especially my grandma's face!!

I know it sounds cliche, but we must not forget the reason for the season! All of the glory, honor and praise for every part of my recovery goes directly to the birthday boy, my healer, savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ! We believe in miracles because of His birth! We only live because of His life! May we love and adore Him like it's Christmas everyday!

Thank you to everyone who prayed this moment into being. Your prayers have been, and are still, being answered!

All I can say is look out 2013...  My list is recently revised again and God willing, I will soon be crossing off many more things! :)

Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad to all!

Happy birthday Jesus!

In God's love,
Jessica

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." Isaiah 58:8

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