Dear Family & Friends,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
First, I would like to say THANK YOU for all of your comments and well wishes on the blog yesterday for my birthday - they all meant so very much to me!
All the doctors and nurses wished me a Happy Birthday and they said I didn't look a day over 30 (haha)! Dr. Cantu's wife Gloria sent me a beautiful mustard-colored scarf - I love it! Also, Dr. Rainbow came over with her husband Manuel and Clarissa and Eugenio (two of her grandchildren) to wish me well and to meet Jessica. They brought over a giant balloon, birthday signs, personalized stationery, wine, and a homemade flan (my favorite dessert after tiramisu)! Rick Brown, Justin's Dad bought me pistachios - one of my weaknesses! Also, Angeles, one of Jessica's nurses gave me a beautiful bracelet. So, all in all, my 51st birthday, in the Hospital San Jose Tec de Monterrey, was pretty nice indeed! THANK YOU TO ALL!!!
I am now in a countdown to my sweet Jessica's 22nd birthday which is in 4 days - on Friday, January 15th! Don't forget my wish - for her to receive the most comments on the blog that day!!! I know my fellow bloggers will come through for me!!!
Update on Jessica:
She is still fighting 3 infections and still running fevers. She is currently on 2 antibiotics - tigecycline & levaquin - as they are the ones that are sensitive for her infections. Also, the day before my birthday she had to have her central catheter changed as it became infected as well. Please pray for Jessica to feel better for her birthday on Friday! God is in control, this we know, so we patiently await for His miracles to continue to unfold!
Also, my husband David did finally leave the hospital yesterday in N.Y. It was determined that he indeed was having a flare-up of his Crohn's disease, and so he will be on a more regimented course of Remicade infusions to keep his illness under control.
Once again, Thank You All for all your love and support and birthday wishes for me yesterday - I am honored to have you all as "family & friends".
Special Happy Birthday to Jodi from Team Jessica - who turns 5o! today, and also to my friend Paulette in N.Y!
In God's love,
Sarah Gina*
"He will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart".
(Ecclesiastes 5:20)
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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!
7 comments:
I am thrilled to hear that you indeed had a wonderful birthday and were showered with love, locally.
Another great gift was that David was allowed to return home from the hospital! Sorry to hear that he will need more intensive treatment for a while but glad he was able to join you for Christmas and maybe that made it all worthwhile.
Jessica, it is my sincerest hope that you will be feeling infection free by your birthday and that these next few days bring you some relief. It is not an easy ride, but thankfully you have faith in a God who moves mountains and will ultimately win this battle over you!
This morning I will be heading to the hospital myself. I will be getting a booster that I hope is strong enough to do me some good. I will think of both of you while I am there.
May God guide you today.
Fern
Happy to hear David is feeling better. Happy Belated Birthday! I did'nt forget but was out of the country with work :) Faithful In Prayer, Crystal
Psalm 5
3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
I read this and thought of you sitting next to Jessica's bed every day waiting in expectation.
May He bless your faith and heal your sweet Jessica and your husband, David. May He continue to strengthen you as you wait patiently for His miracles to unfold!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
You are sooooo sweet to think of me on my B.day with all that you have going on.So very happy Davids better.My prayers continue for Jessica's health & life to return to some sort of normalcy.I'm happy to hear there are great people everywhere & with you in Mexico to make your day special.You deserve all the best!!!
Gods Peace,Jodi
Happy belated birthday, Mrs. Stevens and great news about Mr. Stevens. My thoughts are with you all.
What a great birthday party your Amigos threw for YOU!! Like Jessica said, "Now I'm of their culture!" You too sweet Sarah Gina, the BEST Mommy in the WORLD!!
God speed healing to Jessica for her birthday and beyond!!!!
Love the Sustersics
Jessica, I hope that Friday will be a wonderful day for you. May Jesus relieve your pain and infections and bring you joy. Best wishes to you and to your loving Mom.
Barbara in Naples
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