Karing 4 Kerri

We are writing once again from the beautiful place where miracles happen for Kerri as well as so many wonderful RSD patients and families.  We have known for 6 years now that Kerri needs to have her wisdom teeth removed and she was actually scheduled to have the procedure back in 2005 at a nearby hospital.  At that time she became fully paralyzed so needless to say, we cancelled. Since then the wisdom teeth have certainly taken a back burner to other medical issues.  We were told surgery was too risky before with the total body RSD symptoms and then needed to wait at least a year past her coma to consider the procedure.  Since coming home from the coma (so very much better than before!), Kerri’s jaw, teeth and facial area have continued to be the problematic areas.  After the coma we could actually hug our daughter for the first time in many, many years but ironically we could no longer kiss her on the cheek due to pain.  Also her jaw would sometimes “lock up” for extended periods of time especially when entering a cold area, leaving her unable to speak or eat.

The past year has brought some tremendous improvement with Kerri using her wheelchair only for long distances. She has continued to require low dose ketamine boosters every 2-3 months with Dr. Schwartzman in Philadelphia and his amazing team.  Kerri was able to go back to college and complete her undergraduate degree at Stockton.  While RSD symptoms have continued to affect her life each day, she has been blessed with being able to do so much more, most importantly to begin to really enjoy life again, smile more, laugh more and enjoy so many things we often take for granted.  Since the wisdom teeth symptoms have begun to elicit some RSD flare ups in other parts ofher body now, we have traveled back to see Dr. Cantu in Monterrey, Mexico, where Kerri can safely have the oral surgery to try and prevent her condition from regressing.  The procedure is too risky to be done in the US because she requires high doses of IV medication before, during and after the surgery to help prevent the total body pain and weakness from returning.  Since these medication dosages are not yet used in the US, we’ve come back to Hospital San Jose tec de Monterrey.

It has been a bit of a whirlwind week.  We found out we were coming on Sunday and flew to Monterrey on Friday.  We were treated to some amazing pasta sauce and pizza from our friends John and Rosemary the day before we flew here (with leftovers frozen for when we come back!).  Today was Kerri’s 23rd birthday and I can’t begin to tell you how much we enjoyed visiting with our friends Jessica and Sarah here in Monterrey.  Jessica is an amazing young woman whose health has been improving through an almost 2 year stay here in Monterrey.  She has overcome so many obstacles- she and her Mom are such inspiration to all of us and the most wonderful ambassadors to families who travel here for treatment. Kerri was surprised by the most wonderful birthday celebration ever.  We arrived at Sarah and Jessica’s apartment to birthday decorations on the door, the most delicious and never ending afternoon of food, and a fantastic birthday cake made by Jessica and Sarah decorated with the colors of Mexico.  Of course spending time catching up with them was the best part of all.  Thank you Jessica and Sarah for a magical day and for all or your help getting around Monterrey.

Kerri will be admitted to the hospital tomorrow to start her medication infusions, have surgery on Monday and probably spend about 5 days afterwards being treated to try and keep the post surgery RSD under control.  We will keep everyone updated.  Thank you all once again for making Kerri’s recovery possible and for all of your prayers and well wishes.