Hi to All,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
Yesterday was another rough day for Jessica. She is still battling the infections and still having fevers and with that increasing pain. She was put back on a continuous IV infusion of ketamine, along with another medication for the pain. Also, another doctor was called in to try to figure out the proper antibiotics that will work for her infections. My wish is for her to feel somewhat better for her birthday which is this Friday - January 15th. She is a fighter and I am amazed everyday at her perseverance and strength, but we do ask God to "lighten her load" a little bit today!
Hope this day finds you all well!
Till tomorrow,
Jessica's Mom*
"Frequently remind yourself that God is with you, that He will never fail you, that you can count on Him!. Say these words: "GOD IS WITH ME, HELPING ME!"
A quote from: Norman Vincent Peale
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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!
9 comments:
I was reading some Psalms the other day. Here are some verses I took from various Psalms:
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken thos who seek you.
Arise, Lord! Lift up you hand O God. Do not forget the helpless.
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.
I trust in your unfailing love,
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Keep me safe, O God for in your I take refuge. I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayers.
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress.
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
These verses just reminded me of who God is. I thought they might encourage you as you wait on Him.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
AHH Girl it's almost your birthday!!!! I miss you so much and I know that you are such a fighter. I can't wait til you and your mom come home so that we can hang out again.
FEEL better love!
Remember all the sleepover birthdays you would have at your house? They were soooo much fun!!!
I can't wait to celebrate your next birthday together when you come home.
XOXOXOOXOXOX
Hi, Sarah and Jessica,
I'm writing from Magnolia, TX. I made it home and am setting up house. I've been following your progress on the blog and I pray for your family each day. Happy Birthday, Sarah. Happy upcoming birthday, Jessica. My prayer for you is to be painfree and to bask in the love you have for each other and for the Lord.
Hi Jessica and Gina
I want to wish you Gina a belated Happpy Birthday and wish Jessica an early birthday. I will be sure to blog on her actual birthday with many wishes for a wonderful day.
I will continue to pray for healing for you Jessica. Your strength is amazing and your faith is never failing. Be strong and know that your God is there.
God Bless,
Jenn
WOW!!!!! 4 more days and Jessica will be 22! I pray for a turning point on that day for beautiful Jessica. No one deserves it more than she does. You are both in my prayers every day. God Bless and keep you in the palm of his hand. LOVE and HUGS, Bonnie
Hi there! It's Angela from Channel 7! I've emailed you several times but have gotten no response.
First of all, happy birthday to you and happy birthday to our beautiful Jessica! Mine was January 11th... so we are all within a few days of each other!
Any word on when you guys can come home? I am still praying for Jessica and waiting for her return so we can report on her recovery!
LOVE YOU!
Angela Caraway
Hey Jessica,
Happy Birthday from LI Jean Eschmann and Jen Gibbons CCD class continue to pray for you and your mom. We will sing a special Happy birthday song this week for you. You are in our hearts and prayers. You are an incrediable young lady who I wish I could wave a wond and have you home to eat cake, but instead I will be praying for your miracle to come. "I trust in Jesus" is my saying everyday. I trust he is with you and loves you. Happy Birthday.
Love The Boys in 7th grade, and Henry .
Birthday hugs and kisses to both of you. Will be sure to connect on Friday, Jessica's day. Sarah Gina, I want to be sure that you got my email about the infection control expert. I think she can share some helpful thoughts and sugestions. Let me know.
Love you guys.
Nita
To,Sarah:First off,"Happy Belated, 29+,Birthday".I wish you + Jessica,that this year,"2010", will be,a very special one.Since,it is the beginning of a new decade,Technology has come so far,since the,1900's. If Jessica, Devon,and the rest of the RSD patients, had this disease, way back then, doctors would have sent you right home,and probably would, have just given them, "An Aspirin". So,even though,I am not a medical person,I thought,maybe this story,I wrote,would keep your spirits,up. Love,Nicole E.
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