JESSICA'S STORY

Thanks for showing your support and visiting,
-Sam

Jessica is doing so well after surgery, but this type of tumor is serious, and we know that this healing process will take time and focus.  Because it was a glioblastoma stage IV we will have to treat it quickly as these types of tumors almost always grow back.

Here's a glimpse of what we have navigated through so far....

In February this year Jess started having recurring headaches. They would come on real suddenly and were painful & debilitating. She has dealt with migraines before but after 2 weeks and no end in sight to the pain we moved to intervention....

An MRI at Anne Arundel Medical Center showed that the cause of the symptoms was a large mass in the right-front lobe of her brain.

(After getting the brain swelling under control, she was able to feel a little better.  Here is her brother, John, trying to get the knots out of her hair that formed after 2 weeks of lying in bed with debilitating headaches in preparation for her surgery.)

(A moment with her new nephew)

A close friend of the family helped refer us to Johns Hopkins Medical Center where the mass was removed on February 22, 2012 - coincidentally Ash Wednesday.

(with the buffalo that her niece Jetta brought her for good luck and comfort)

Here is the message Jessica sent out to our community right before surgery....

Hi Everyone,

 This is a message from Jessica. Sam has to type for me because I am lying in a hospital bed at Johns Hopkins Medical Center preparing for my operation this afternoon starting around 12-1pm. The procedure will last around 4 hours.

 Two weeks of intense non-stop cluster headaches landed me in the ER at AAMC where we discovered that I have a large tumor in my right frontal lobe.

I feel blessed to have a world renowned brain surgeon, Dr. Jon Weingart, helping me go through this experience. It's amazing that I live so close to the #1 neurosurgical facility in the county.

I'm emailing you this because I would be so grateful to have your healing prayers and positive thoughts in my corner as I go through this unique journey and recovery.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you, your love and support means the world to me.

 Love,

Jessica

(Going into surgery)

(right after surgery)

 She spent 1 night in Intensive Care and amazingly was walking around the next day. 

We came home to Annapolis the following weekend to rest & recover from the intense procedure.

(Home together)

(staples)

(Present from Pilot before leaving for Houston)

(At the airport with Boo)

(Dinner at Whole Foods Houston)

(Amazing Suite at the Hyatt House in Houston - Thanks Frankie!!)

(Burzynski Clinic, 4/5/12)

(Praying for good luck)

(6 week MRI in Houston, 4/6/12)

(Healing Crystals)

(Day before PET Scan at AAMC, 4/11/12)

Thank You All for your prayers and Love~I truly feel held in the arms of Grace: 

Received the miraculous news that the PET Scan was clear!!!!!!!!!!! 

We just mailed the scan on to Burzynski today~

Next week we will have the definite update from the clinic.........

Jessica

4.20.2012

We got the call this week from the Burzynski Clinic and not surprising~the results were seen the same way.  I was SOOOOOOOOOOO nervous when Sam was on the phone that somehow we would hear that the initial clean reading had been off.  It was another wave of relief when I realized that all was still well in the brain! 

I am writing to share my most recent update:  Currently, I am unable to move forward with the antineoplaston treatment with Burzynski.  In order to even be admitted to the clinical trial~there has to be a visible tumor to treat. I am feeling incredibly Blessed to have this time to continue to self-heal and work with other protocols in order to manage this situation. I hope that I can continue to heal and never will need any antineoplaston treatment~although, Burzynski would be my absolute first choice should something shift.  I realize I am dealing with a very aggressive type of tumor and  it gives me great relief to know that  this fund is here providing security as I go about my days and live life.  Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.  May each of your prayers and kind thoughts be returned to you and Bless You Endlessly.  My Love goes out to You...

4.21.2012

Fundraising Concert at the All's Music Room

Featuring Bob Sima!

(Bob)

(Jess with Cindy & Lee)

4.22.2012

Silent Auction Starts at Ridgely Retreat!

(Silent Auction Preview w/Sam @ Ridgely Retreat)

(Antique Mother of Pearl Necklace donated by Bon Vivant Antiques - West Annapolis)

(Dinner at Level on West St - Still open at 10pm Sunday night!)

4.29.2012

(Metropolitan Fundraiser)

(Thanks for a great event!!)

(Nancy, Damian & local artists)

(Krista - Stella & Dot)

(Jess & Becki)

(Jess & Marie)

5.3.2012

(Costa Rica Drawing - "and the winner is.....")

Jessica wants to let you know just how much all of your thoughts & prayers 

have been gratefully received....

A Special Thanks to all of the Love & Support our Family, Community & Team of Healers has been blessing us with.....

Thanks for keeping up with our progress!

(card from her niece and nephews. They love their Aunt Jessica)