Jessica's Journey: The Christian Alphabet

Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Christian Alphabet

Hi to All,

To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:

htt p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8

I found this poem on the internet the other day. Thought you all might enjoy it!
The Christian Alphabet

The Christian Alphabet Poem

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be

K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command

U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Author Unknown

***Please keep the prayers going for Jessica today. She has been having a rough time with fighting the infections and with the increasing burning pain. The fevers are finally gone again, but she remains on antibiotics to be sure the infections stay away. She will probably be receiving another ketamine booster today with Dr. Cantu. Please pray for Dr. Cantu, Dr. Kirkpatrick, and Dr. Schwartzmann. These doctors have devoted their lives to this horrible disease called RSD. We thank them for all their tireless efforts into treating this disease and for all of their research into ultimately finding a cure for it as well. Also pray for all of the people that suffer their own trials each day with this illness. The above poem is dedicated to all people suffering with ill health today. Hang in there! God is in control!

In God's love,
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)*

***To post a Comment, CLICK on Comments Below***

13 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Gina/Jessica-

I pray for you both often and though of you wnen i saw an interview on a talk show about someone with RSD. They have an interesting website "Rock out to knock out RSD" www.tkorsds.org

Continued Strength,
Maria (Nicole's mom); January 30, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Anonymous said...: Great poem - thanks for sharing!

We are so grateful to hear the fevers are gone and that your sweet Jessica will be receiving another booster today.

We pray that it will help relieve her pain and get her moving forward in her healing.

With love & prayers,
The Turners; January 30, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Song
Praise you in the Storm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU; January 30, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Anonymous said...: This is from the "Little Blue Book" prayers.
After 3 days they found Him--
"When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
In her later years after Jesus had died, risen and ascended, perhaps Mary looked back to the events surrounding his birth and thought of all that was told to her by the Angel Gariel, Elizabeth etc. perhaps she thought of the things she was not told.
THEY DIDN'T TELL ME
*about those three awful days when we lost our child, and I couldn't eat or sleep, wondering if I ever would see him again.
* that my husband would die, and I'd be left alone to raise my son.
*people in my town would try to kill my son
*He would be arrested, convicted as a criminal, and condemned to the worst death anyone could die.

We ourselves had expectations and intuitions of what our life would be like. We all have our share of THEY DIDN'T TELL Me's...."
The booklet then suggests that maybe it is time to have a conversation with Mary.

The phrase"why do bad things happen to good people" just popped into my mind.
Wow! if the Blessed Mother had them....
And I am sure Mary looked at the glorious days especially His birth.

Peace and love

Linda in below freezing Saratoga
(looking forward to going to visit my folks in Naples, Fla in two weeks); January 30, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Joanne Hartman, Naples said...: Dear Jessica and Gina,

Our daily prayers continue for Jessica's healing. We also pray for you, Gina, and your family still in the States, that you continue to be healthy and strong. I often wake up suddenly around 4AM with Jessica full on my mind. I usually go out by the pool and with the stars and moon above and the perfect stillness of the night spend an hour or so praying for Jessica's health to return so she will once again be an active young woman, free of this illness. Of course you are included in these prayers for health and strength, wisdom and peace. I was amused to read that you also send your petitions to God at 4AM. Perhaps there is a world full of prayer warriers - active at 4AM - for Jessica, you, and your entire family.

We know that God ALWAYS answers prayer, in His time, and His timing is perfect. His love for us is perfect.

We are so grateful that Jessica's fevers are gone and hope that she will continue her improvement with her next booster.

God bless you all, Jessica, Gina and the whole family!; January 31, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Dearest Jessica and Gina, I was thinking about you at church today when we read the second reading. It was the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, the one about love. I know you know the one: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." I thought of you because you are showing all of us what true love is. You are a wonderful example of the power of love and the strength of its bond. And, God's love is even endlessly more strong and loving than ours on Earth could ever be! When you sign your blog entries with "In God's love", Gina, it is easy to see how connected you are to Him. You are working together to bring healing to Jessica in any way that it can come. The reading at Mass ended with, "At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Your faith, hope and love are enduring and powerful. I continue to pray for you for healing and grace to surround you and David, Katherine, and Michelle. Hang in there! Love always, Angel; January 31, 2010 at 2:14 PM
JennKurz said...: Hi Sarah Gina

The poem has me in tears - but tears of joy. I'm going to print it and frame it.

My prayers are with Jessica as she continues to battle RSD. I'm battling Medicare in hopes of having them fill my morphine pump before it depletes. My burning continues to increase and I am reminded everyday that Jessica is in Mexico fighting the battle of her life. I think of her and her strength and it helps me get through the day.

I will pray that her burning subsides and that the infections stay away.

Please tell her that her friends at Resurrection are all praying for her and that we are having an auction on Friday Feb 5th to raise money for Jessica'a Journey and our 2nd site , The Life Church. I'm pleased to tell you that we have sold over 250 tickets and that those who attend will all have Jessica in their hearts and mind and will be praying for her!

God Bless,
Jenn; January 31, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Anonymous said...: May God continue to bless and guide you and your doctors and family. Jim McGuffey; February 9, 2010 at 4:40 PM
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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 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.