Hi everyone,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
One of my favorite Christian songs is "God Will Make A Way".
Here are some of the words:
God will make a way,
When there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see,
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide,
Hold me closely to His side.
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way -
He will make a way.......
You can hear a beautiful version of this song by Don Moen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhOjYR8UZT8
I bring up this song today because it has been the one song that has been constantly playing in my mind, over and over again. There have been so many times in these past four years with Jessica's illnesses that there has seemed to be "no way". And then, another day dawns, and with it, another door seems to open. These are the times when God makes his presence known to me, in ways that are too numerous to mention. He is an awesome God indeed!
Please pray for Jessica today. As her Mom and caregiver, it is my job to help her to see every day that God will make a way, somehow, some way......
She is currently still on antibiotics for the infection. It seems that for Jessica, whenever she has an infection, it causes her RSD to flare up and with that an exacerbation of her pain and neurological symptoms. Remember, her RSD was triggered by infection - Lyme disease - and so it makes sense that this would be the case for her. Dr. Cantu ("Green Shirt") returns today, for which we are so happy! Even though Dr. Luigi took good care of things while he was gone, it is comforting to know he is back. It's like in the game of football. You always want your "star" quarterback in the game, and you only rely on the "2nd string" when the "star"or "1st string" isn't available.
Remember - Where there is a will, there is a way!
Here's hoping that God will show you the "way" as well!
Till tomorrow,
Sarah Gina (Jessica's Mom)*
"But he knows the way that I take..." Job 23:10
"And now I will show you the most excellent way".
I Corinthians 12:31
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life". John 14:6
***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!
16 comments:
Beautiful song.
I am glad to hear Dr. Cantu is back.
We will pray that God will make a way for your sweet Jessica.
May He continue to give you both the strength to face each new day.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
I really lean on the songs too. Somehow, just singing the words can bring a feeling of peace and rekindle the old determinations. :)
You are an inspiration with your tenacity, your love and your compassion.
Jessica, hang in there girl. This is something that you can win! May you find comfort in songs, prayer, others. May god reach down today and show you in no uncertain terms, that he is there beside you and will never leave! May your confidence in that promise, be a sustaining force in your life.
Do you remember that Jesus and the angels often said "do not be afraid" before they said anything else? I pray that for you today!
Hi, Sarah and Jessica,
It's Gloria from Texas--previously from the Union church in Monterrey. Fyi: I found a church home and a neighborhood bible study and am asking everyone to pray for you and your lovely family. I know it's difficult, but please know how much you inspire others in your walk with our Lord. You bring me such joy when I read of your tremendous hope and faith. You are a blessing to us all. All my love and my endless prayers, Gloria
songs have gotten me through many rough seas.
"Be not afraid, I go before you always " has been helpful.
Not having fear takes guts, takes believing the Lord is carrying you through the tough times.
I remember when your husband David came to our GCh ome to help us pack to move to Mineola. I said to him, I am not nervous, just really busy with all that needs to be done. David's reply-because you are where the Lord wants you to be.
Wishing you less pain today and a little bit less tomorrow.
Linda in Saratoga
God will make a way. Prayers will be lifted up high and I know that God will make a way for Jessica. May her infections go away and the pain that she's feeling from her RSD be decreased.
as always in prayer
Jenn
Jessica, One of my favorite songs is "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.YouTube has the song. I know you're sensitive to sound so you can just read the words.One of the lines from the song is" My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to be...your dreams stay big...your worries stay small..you never have to carry more than you can hold" I'm praying everyday for you to live the life you are so deserving of. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there sweetie! Marianne C
God will may a way when there seems to be no way.
Genesis 21:17-20
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
Dearest Jessica and Gina, Hi! I am writing to you today bringing all the well wishes and prayers of the rosary group in Garden City. Not only are you in our intentions every week, but you are in our hearts and prayers every day. I have counted each rosary to be 90 prayers, and there are often at least 15 or 20 people at rosary. Just at today's group alone, there were about 20 people who said a total of 1,800 prayers with your protection and healing as a spoken intention! So many people are praying for you and your family. We all care about you and will never forget you. Well, I just wanted to send some love your way from us to you- Love always, Angel xo
Song
Open the Eyes of My Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE
To see you high and lifted up!
Shining in the light of your Glory!
Pour out your power & love!
Good morning ladies! So happy to hear Dr. Cantu is back. He like God knows Jessica's body best!
We are at a conference and 70% of it is medical. Makes me even more sure that there is a solution to build up Jessica's health!
With love and prayers, trusting in our wonderful Lord. He is the doctor that has the most healing powers of all.
Nancy & Joe
Mrs. Stevens & Jessica,
Your faith in the Lord is AMAZING! God has a plan for Jessica and sometimes we can't make sense of it, but I believe that God will heal Jessica. She has already touched so many people's lives! Crystal
Father,
We come again before you to ask for healing for Jessica. It has been a very long road. We thank you for all the improvements you have made in her body already. Please give her your strength to get through each and every day. Please keep her encouraged. Before the coma she was not getting better but she is getting better now - little by little - day by day - slow and small steps forward.
Please also strengthen and encourage her Mom, Sarah Gina, who has been sitting by Jessica's side every day, praying, hoping and waiting on you.
We also pray for her Dad, David, and her 2 sisters, Katherine & Michelle. Please keep them all healthy and encouraged. We pray that you will reunite the family soon.
Our faith is in you, God. You are the great physician, full of love & compassion. It is in you we place our trust.
We ask this in our Lord's name,
Amen
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