MEDICAL UPDATE 9/26/06

I would like to start by saying thank you for all of your prayers, thoughtfulness, donations and well wishes for my daughter, Jessica.

The first surgery went off without a hitch. Dr. Barbera from Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County was a wonderful surgeon. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. DiMarco for convincing him to do the surgery. I turned to Dr. DiMarco when Jessica's insurance changed at the last minute and the original surgery was canceled. Within two weeks the surgery was back on, just one week after the original surgical date.

Jessica was in the hospital for one, very long week! She was in a lot of pain but experienced very little phantom pain.  When we got home it was the first time that she had the opportunity to see herself in a full length mirror. All that she kept saying was that she doesn't feel any different and couldn't figure out why. We sat and talked about how she was feeling and figured out that she was so ready for this surgery that all she could feel was relief. Her legs and feet have caused her so much pain throughout her life that there was really no loss.

As a result of the generosity of many people, Jessica was able to get her first prosthetic leg and is getting along extremely well. Now, with the healing being sufficient enough to allow the second amputation, we are faced with the same obstacle all over again: the lack of money available for her prosthesis.

In closing I would like to say that with all that we have endured, before Jessica's surgery, I didn't think that there was much hope in our lives, but now I have seen such a response not only from people that we know but from perfect strangers that I have a new found hope for Jessica's future. For this I can never thank all of you enough!