Dear Family & Friends,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
This is the time in the early morning (@ 4:00 AM) that I have found is my most special prayer time with God. It is a quiet time, especially when you are in a hospital. As I look outside the window here on the 8th floor I can see such a stillness in the darkness. Even the mountains that have such a majestic appearance during the day seem to fade away in the darkness. There isn't any activity, except for the occasional passing car that appears on the road. It is during these quiet moments that I have had my most revealing and inspiring and moving "times" with the Lord. These "quiet" times when it is just me, God, and no one else!
As I begin these "moments" with God, I first thank Him for his mercy, his unending love and his amazing grace. I thank him for another day. I thank him for his continued blessings upon Jessica, my husband David, and my other daughters Katherine and Michelle. I thank him for watching over my immediate family, my friends, the doctors, nurses and also for all of you!
I then begin to pray. I start out with "special" prayers - for example - today was for all the people that have been affected by the earthquake in Haiti. I pray that they know that God has not forsaken them; that he holds them in the palms of His hands. That He will take care of them! I then offer special prayers for special people that I know personally who are facing their own private trials right now either with illnesses or other things. And I pray for God to watch over my family and friends and keep them safe and well!
I then get into the "serious" prayers - the ones that require immediate attention. Today they focus on Jessica and these pressing requests: For the infection to clear and with that the low-grade fevers, so that she can get off the antibiotics and continue the "small steps" towards recovery. For the burning pain she is experiencing to "quiet down" and go away - Now! For the few lesions that have resurfaced to go away. For her to continue to persevere with the knowledge that God is in control and his timing is perfect. For Dr. Cantu to return because things run smoother when he is here. For Dr. Rainbow, who won't be able to come every day as in the past, may she know how deeply Thankful we are to her for ALL she has meant to us. She has become like a "Grandma" to Jessica in more ways than one! Also, we pray for ALL of you - our God-given support system. It is all of you, along with your prayers and daily comments on the blog, that enable us to move forward every day - Thank You! Also, we pray for Fern Kwantes, a former coma patient, as she returns in the beginning of February for the much needed boosters she requires and can't obtain in Canada. And for Justin Brown, may his re-acclimation back home be smooth and uneventful. All these things I ask, in Jesus' name, AMEN.
In God's love, always
Sarah Gina (Mom to 3)*
"You have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith...may be found to result in praise & glory".
I Peter I 6-7
"When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you".
Matthew 6:6
Special thanks to Silvia who came on Sunday with a plate of homemade lasagna from the Union Church. She is a very special person and seems to always show up at the hospital when needed the most. (Thank you God for that).
Also, to Betty from Union Church who came by a few days ago with a book and a magazine to read. The people of Union Church, along with their Pastor David Long - are simply unbelievable - God Bless Them All!
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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!
12 comments:
You were up very early. Are you onn the side that gets the sunrise? I am always in awe of God's awesomeness and eye for beauty in the sunrises and sunsets, in the rainbows that prove his promises and in the people that he places on our path at just the right moments to lift our spirits or walk with us a spell. How truly grateful I am that you have a faith that sustains you as it does me and that you persevere in trust and admiration for all that God has done and continues to do in your lives and the lives of others you know. Thank you for including me in your prayers. I feel honoured.
Jessica, I pray also that your fevers lift, that you feel stronger every day and that you will enjoy some relief from the unrelenting pain that threatens you. It is my greatest desire that you will find something today that brings a smile to your face and that each day there will be something more.
I am sorry to hear that Dr. Zavala will not be able to see you every day. I know she is a source of comfort and strength for you both and hope that it is only for a short time and then she will return.
My day is filled with medical appointments today so I will be thinking even more of you and sending the prayers up throughout the day.
See you soon! :)
Hi Gina and Jessica! Know that I am thinking and praying for you everyday. May Jessica's pain and fevers go away! With Love, Marianne C
His timing is perfect.
I remember reading something by Ravi Zacharias where he used an analogy that God was weaving this beautiful tapestry. Our lives were but one thread weaving in and out (sometimes not seeming to make much sense). We can only see the tapestry from the underside where you cannot tell what it is and the threads are hanging out. But God knows exactly what He is weaving and he sees it from the top side, this beautiful tapestry. Each thread being exactly where it needs to be.
We don't know why some people are brought into our lives and why we face different circumstances, but we do trust our glorious, loving and merciful Creator.
We, too, will join you in these prayers.
May God continue to move your sweet Jessica forward in this healing process.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
So often,after reading your words for the day I sit and wonder what I could possibly say to ease your pain even just a little for the day. On Sundays at Mass, I listen to every word in the readings and songs to grab something that perhaps would help you and those who read this blog. I sit here, frustrated, wondering how you do it and what would I do if my child were so sick. Sometimes I pray for the words to come. Sometimes I sit for a long time. Sometimes I realize that I am so lucky to have bumped into David to get this blog sight because I have been the one to be rewarded with Gina and other's writings.
But I always sit here frustrated that I cannot find the miracle to help you. I have my "Math Miracle" tutoring where I have helped so many students go from failing to way above their expectations of passing with great grades. I remembering sitting so many times with Jessica and her Math.
My math today says that we have enough prayers for a miracle dear Lord. But I am the Lord's servant and I am not able to see the tapestry and so I guess we will wait for the miracle of Jessica's healing.
So I send you love, prayers and peace.
Linda in Saratoga
James 5
10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
O Holy Night - sung by 7 year old
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcZ6b2FSsk&feature=pyv&ad=4465020700&kw=o%20holy%20night
Hi Honey,
Now you know why I like to get up early and walk the dogs (530am). It is so quiet and it is a great time to commune with the Lord.
David
I don't pray more than 15 minutes...But I don't go more than 15 minutes without praying.
Ron Moody
as ever my darlings, I am praying as loud as I can- that is, not loud enough for someone to put me in a straight jacket AND TAKE ME AWAY, BUT LOUD ENOUGH FOR GOD TO HEAR ME!Love you both, Bonnie
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