Blessed Sunday To All,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
Everyday for the past two months I have been reading inspirational stories to Jessica to help pass the time and also to provide a distraction from the pain. I find these stories on the internet and some of them are simply amazing and very thought provoking, especially when you are in a hospital.
Today - Jessica's Journey Blog - has received over 40,000 Views!!! We can't thank you all enough for the love and support and inspirational comments you have posted to this blog!
In honor of that I wanted to share the following link to a slideshow that I think you will all find very interesting. Please watch it till the end as it conveys a special prayer to All of you from Jessica and I, from Mexico.
Enjoy and May God Bless You All!
LINK:
http:www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/BibleDV.html
All our love,
Sarah Gina & Jessica*
Center of His Word:
PSALM 118:8
"IT IS BETTER TO TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD, THEN TO TRUST IN MAN'.
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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:
Today I enjoyed a beautiful Mass in Naples, Florida with my Dad(93) and Mom(89).
From the bulletin:
A PATIENT'S PRAYER
Loving Father, as I face this day, I come to You with my fears and my hopes. I ask for the needed courage and strength to face this illness with confidence in Your loving care and protection.
May the knowledge that You are always with me be my assurance to me that I need not worry nor be afraid. Calm my nerves, Lord, put my mind at ease, and in Your mercy forgive me all my sins.
O Lord, send Your peace and Your blessing upon me to sustain me. Help me to let go of the fears that make me restless and insecure.
Give to my physicians and nurses the wisdom and skill to do their tasks with ease and accuracy. Bless all those who minister to me this day. Give my loved ones the reassuring faith that You are with us.
Into Your hands I entrust my healing and well being. For You are Lord forever and ever.
Amen.
May we all be blessed with a wonderful week.
Love from Saratoga,
Linda
I thought I would share with you something the Pastor had said in today's sermon:
When life gets tough maybe that is when and where you bring God the most glory.
I thought this was an interesting statement worth pondering.
It also reminded me of the Casting Crowns song: The Voice of Truth
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "DO NOT BE AFRAID!"
and the Voice of truth says "THIS IS FOR MY GLORY"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will CHOOSE to LISTEN and BELIEVE the Voice of truth
We pray that that He will continue to strengthen you both to get you through this trial.
Hang in there, Jessica! We pray He will continue to bless you with more small steps forward.
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Hey, my two beauties, I'm sorry that I have been out of touch. My excuse is not worth mentioning but, I wanted to say HI and send kisses to both of you. Saw David and Michelle the other day. They stopped into the shop. Both cute as ever. May God bless and keep you both in his loving hands. Love, Bonnie
WOW! Your link was very beautiful & moving,THANK YOU!!
May God bless you both on your tremendously differcult journey.
You are both an inspiraton to us all.
Jodi
Psalm 31:14
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 86:2
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hi Jessica and Gina,
Well I have had my own medical problems this past week. Last Friday, on the 12th right at the end of the school day and the start of the February break, I tripped and lost my balance and broke my left hip. My operation was Saturday and was a success. I was in the recovery room at the time my oldest son was born 26 years ago, so there was that happy memory. I am home now and on my way to recovery. I know that my family at Resurrection has been praying for me and I know that God has been there for me, granting his healing. Recovery is estimated at about a month, but that time is so short compared to Jessica's long journey to recovery. I will continue to pray for her, for the "small steps," for the celebration of the day that she is without the constant pain. And I will pray for you, Gina...for God to give you the strength to continue this ongoing journey.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and let his light shine upon you. Madelon
Dearest Jessica and Gina, I am so happy to hear about the continuation of the small steps that are so necessary for healing. Your beautiful faith is what has enabled you to recognize them as the treasures they are and rejoice in them and praise God for them! I loved the slide show with all the gorgeous pictures. Thank you for the link! I went to services at the Princeton Chapel yesterday, and when the pastor asked if there was anyone we wished to pray for, I asked for prayers for Jessica. So, a whole new congregation prayed for you yesterday!! Hang in there ladies! Sending positive thoughts and prayers for healing, love always, Angel
Let the Praises Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIg6RIbLz1c
O Lord, my God, in you I put my trust.
In you I find my Peace.
A story to encourage ...
http://www.tangle.com/WowOnline
On May 17, 2007, Matthew West underwent career threatening vocal surgery. In the time that followed, he faced a season of silence and uncertainty.
I don't want to go through the motions.
A story to encourage ...
http://www.tangle.com/WowOnline
On May 17, 2007, Matthew West underwent career threatening vocal surgery. In the time that followed, he faced a season of silence and uncertainty.
I don't want to go through the motions.
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