Hi To all,
To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8
SPECIAL THANKS TODAY FOR FRIDAY'S FUNDRAISER:
On Friday night, February 5, 2010, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection located in Garden City, NY hosted an Art and Memorabilia auction. The proceeds from this event would be split between supporting the LIFE Church in Westbury, NY and to help support Jessica's Journey and her mounting medical bills.
We would like to thank Pastor Jeff Browning and Vicar Justin Vetrano for bringing this event to the church. We would also like to thank Cindy Scavelli and Laura Wiggens for coordinating and putting the show together. A great job was done by all!
All tickets were sold and there was a standing room only crowd. The auctioneer was humorous and he kept the night moving along. There were some truly valuable art pieces for sale and the audience enjoyed spending their money for two such worthy causes. There were also many house prizes given away. I heard that my daughter Michelle was the one who drew the names for the prizes!
I am told that my husband David bid and won a framed photo of the Beatles taken by Linda McCartney and a large framed lithograph of the Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio circa the year 1479. He is a Beatles memorabilia collector - so I'm not surprised he wanted that! Many other people chose other beautiful pieces of artwork to bring home as well! A fun time was had by all and all for such good causes!
Thanks again to all our friends at Resurrection for putting together this event; and to all those who attended - Thank You from the bottom of our hearts - once again - for all you have done and continue to do for Jessica and our family - it's simply amazing and very humbling - God does work through His people!
In God's Love, Always,
The Stevens' Family*
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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!
9 comments:
Hi,
My name is Diane, and I was on the hospitality commitee for this auction. I am so blessed to have been asked to participate in this event. It was great to be able to share Jessica's Journey, and about The LIFE, our churches second sight. There was a great BUZZ this morning at church about "how great it was" We only pray that Jessica will be able to attend our next one.
God Bless,
Diane
God is GOOD! Crystal
I heard from my GC friends that it was wonderful and they were able to get some great art work for their new home.
I will be in Naples from feb 16-23 let me know if there is any fundraisers that we can attend.
prayers from Saratoga,
Linda
I thought I would share a message from today's sermon:
Rest in the fact that the Good Shepherd is watching over YOU.
Take a moment and let that sink in! HE is watching over YOU!
The Pastor talked about when we are going through a trial how we grow weary and that this is when we realize GOD has more a hold of YOU then you have on God. We may feel like we have let go but then we realize GOD IS HOLDING tight to us.
Walk by faith - trust God has a hold of YOU.
One day at a time! Hang in there! Every small improvement is a victory!
With love & prayers,
The Turners
Luke 12:6-7
6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Hi Linda, we are working on one now for Naples!! Will keep in touch. Yes GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!! :)
Hey guys, just a hello and some kisses. I hope the bed problem is fixed so Jessica can be a little more comfortable. Sinking into your bed can't be fun. Anyway, we got no snow and the superbowl was disappointing at best. So hang in there. Love ya, Bonnie
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