Hi to All,
To order Jessica's necklace, Click on NEW Link Below:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35743111.
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
SPECIAL PRAYERS NEEDED:
As you know from the blog, Jessica has been having a rough time these past few weeks. Yesterday, it was decided by Dr. Cantu that it would be necessary to put her in ICU for a few days, to give her body a chance to get some well needed rest. Please keep her in your prayers. She is the strongest person I know and she has had to deal with a lot, more than anyone should have to, but she will make it through this! The hope is to maybe bring her back up to the regular floor by Wednesday.
I will keep you all posted!
"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up". Psalm 71:20
With love,
Jessica's Mom*
***To post a comment, CLICK on comments below***
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 illThe 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 lesionsJessica'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 campFour 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 rashDuring 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. KirkpatrickUpon 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!
12 comments:
Hello Jessica.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you from Ceres Fire Station 1.
Your a very strong person to be going though this.
Dont give up. !!!!
Hi Jessica
We are sad to hear you are having a rough time. We will keep you in our prayers today. Better days are definately ahead. You are an amazing person and we know you will be able to follow your hopes and dreams soon.Much love to you and all of your family.
Paula, Ray, Ashley and Kevin
Gina,
I read this in a book and it certainly applies to you!
"To be able to see the hand of God at work in the world is one of the greatest assets one can have. When the shadows are gathering for life's darker moments, the person (YOU) who can still see God's hand at work, even in unfavorable circumstances, will be master of any situation life may impose upon him (you)."
Gina, you are truly an amazing person and a very special Mom!
Your faith and hope in God will get you and Jessica through this all. You two are in my thoughts and prayers. Today at church, I will pray extra hard for Jessica's healing.
God bless you both especially today and every day!
Madelon
Gina,
I read this in a book and it certainly applies to you!
"To be able to see the hand of God at work in the world is one of the greatest assets one can have. When the shadows are gathering for life's darker moments, the person (YOU) who can still see God's hand at work, even in unfavorable circumstances, will be master of any situation life may impose upon him (you)."
Gina, you are truly an amazing person and a very special Mom!
Your faith and hope in God will get you and Jessica through this all. You two are in my thoughts and prayers. Today at church, I will pray extra hard for Jessica's healing.
God bless you both especially today and every day!
Madelon
Jessica and Gina, I will pray "extra" hard today. I hope you both get some needed rest. May God continue to shine his blessings upon you. Love , Marianne XXOO
Dear Gina and Jessica
I'm sorry to hear that Jessica has to go back to the ICU. I do hope that it gives Jessica some needed rest and reprieve from her pain.
My prayers are with you and will pray that Jessica comes out of ICU on Wednesday feeling a little stronger and more rested.
God Bless you all,
Jenn
I hope the rest does her some real healing! Dr. Cantu is a wise and caring doctor. May this be a step in the right direction.
I will send you an email later today and catch you up on this end.
Fern
Trust in the Lord and He will help us through times like this. I have an organization that may be able to donate to Jessica. Please let me know how the check should be made out and mailed.
lmaitan1@aol.com ( that is L and one at the end)
Peace and prayers,
Linda
From Don Moen:
I am the God that
Healeth thee
I am the Lord
Your healer
I sent My word
And I healed your disease
I am the Lord
Your healer
You are the God that
Healeth me
You are the Lord
My healer
You sent Your word
And You healed my disease
You are the Lord
My healer
You sent Your word
And You healed
My disease
You are the Lord
My healer
You sent Your word
And You healed
My disease
You are the Lord
My healer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnweb6-PCYI&feature=related
Just wanted to offer my prayers and love for Jesscia, my deepest empathy, I have dystonia and am in pain every day, however, no where close to what Jessica is suffering and the tragedy of her youth, but I do believe in a powerful God that will use this pain that is beyond our understanding to bless Jessica in ways that we do not know yet...God bless you all, I will keep you all in my prayers daily. XO Keke
Jessica my prayers are with you.
Love Jacquie
Stay strong Gina. Your family will be there soon. I know Jessica will come out of ICU very soon.Give her a kiss for me. Love, Bonnie
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