Improving

Thank you so much for your prayers for us! The past month has been the hardest time of our lives; yet God has faithfully sustained our family and given strength for each new day. We continually stand in amazement at the Lord’s provision in treatment for Jessica. Her therapist is a strong believer who has great insight into how the brain works. We have learned much over this past week about the damage trauma can do to the brain. Briefly stated, the left brain controls logic and reasoning and the right controls emotions. After a traumatic experience the center can “short circuit” so that emotions and logic don’t match up. The brain has to be retrained. This first stage of treatment Jessica is going through is called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). We have seen an incredible improvement just in the short amount of time we have been here. For example, Jessica has gone from passing out over thirty times a day to averaging about five times a day. Please continue to pray for Jessica, and for wisdom for us as we care for her. Thank you for your faithful prayers, financial gifts, and many notes of encouragement. The Lord has used you to be a blessing to our family!



Our New Address:

Phil and Kristi Jansma
134 Main Dr.
Roach, MO 65787



Our new phone number:

573-317-8545

Moving to Missouri

We had a safe trip back from Mayo Clinic last night. The doctors were able to rule out most everything medically---(there are a few test results still not in.) Our prayer request from last time has been answered as the Lord has led us to a lady serving with NTM who has much experience in dealing with children with PTSD. The Lord miraculously worked out all the details for us to temporarily move to the NTM Language Institute in Camdenton, Missouri while Jessica gets the help she needs. Housing and a ministry for Phil in the computer services department there on the center have also been arranged. We stand amazed at all the Lord has done this week to remind us He is still in control and He loves Jessica even more than we do. Please continue to pray for strength as we care for Jessica through the long days and many sleepless nights. Please pray also for the other kids as watching Jessica like this has been emotionally draining for them. Thank you for faithfully standing with us in prayer, and for your many notes of encouragement.

Symptoms Return...

After being her normal self for three days, Jessica began having severe symptoms again this morning. Please pray for strength (spiritual, emotional, and physical) as we do our best to care for her. Tomorrow morning she will be sedated for a lumbar puncture. She is also on stand by for a consult with the Infectious Disease team. Please pray she will be able to be seen tomorrow, as her scheduled appointment isn’t until July 3rd.

Exam Week...

Jessica’s symptoms were at their worst during a psychological evaluation on Saturday morning. However, by that afternoon she had made a drastic improvement. During the past two days, she has continued to improve. Today was a busy day at Mayo with an EEG and several hours of neurological evaluations. The rest of this week she has appointments with the Infectious Disease team, as well as a lumbar puncture, an exam with a neurological ophthalmologist, and another appointment with the head neurologist on Friday afternoon at which time we are hoping they have gathered enough information to give a final diagnosis. Thank you for your faithful prayers for Jessica. Although we miss the other four kids tremendously, we are so thankful they are being well taken care of by our family in Ohio. Please continue to pray for them as well.

Mayo Clinic help...

Jessica had a rough trip, but we arrived safely. We spent all of today at Mayo Clinic being seen by a team of psychologists and neurologists. They confirmed to us that Jessica is indeed suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, stemming from the carjacking and robbery she experienced in PNG, They do feel there are medical problems going on in her body as well. The neurologist ordered a series of tests which will be done throughout this next week, and the Infectious Disease team will get involved too. The Lord has provided a wonderful couple for us to stay with who live just a few blocks from Mayo. We praise the Lord for paving the way for us to come here! Please pray with us that if there is anything medically going on, it will be discovered here. Also pray for wisdom as we search for a female pediatric Christian psychologist who has experience in treating children with PTSD. Thank you for your faithful prayers during this very difficult time in our lives. We believe our God is faithful, and He will see us through!

Click here http://jansmajournal.com/2007_12_01_archive.html if you would like more information on that carjacking.

Jessica's Condition Worsens...

Please continue to pray for Jessica. Her condition continues to worsen. We praise the Lord the doctor who saw her this morning was able to call and get her into the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota as soon as we can get there.

Phil and Kristi

New Update...please pray!

We are in the process of taking Jessica to Children's Hospital by way of the hospital ambulance.

She is hallucinating, and having seizure like symptoms. Jessica is not herself.

The doctors think it could be caused from her current medication she is on.

Please pray for wisdom.