Jessica in better days with her dog Molly A garage sale to benefit Jessica Stevens will be held on August 13th and 14th. at the Stober residence located at 10 St. Paul’s Crescent Place in Garden City. Jessica who is 22 suffers from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD/CRPS) - a neurological pain condition that causes severe burning pain that was triggered by Lyme disease. Jessica has been bed ridden and unable to walk for the past 4 years. Due to the severity of her illness, Jessica was transported via private air ambulance to Monterrey, Mexico, where she is part of a protocol/study being conducted there. Only the patients who are severely affected and have exhausted all other medical options are sent to Mexico for this treatment. To date, only 30 patients from the U.S. and Canada have participated in this study. Jessica’s case is one of the most complex cases they have seen.

Jessica and her mother, Sarah Gina have been in Monterrey for almost one year. Although Jessica is part of a study, it is not covered by insurance due to the fact that the treatment is deemed experimental. All costs for this family have been out-of-pocket, and as you can imagine are overwhelming. Both the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department and the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, in Garden City have held fund raisers for Jessica this past year.

The Stevens’ are life long residents of Garden City. Jessica’s father, David, is a 20 year volunteer member of the Garden City Fire Department. Jessica’s mom was very active in the community, serving as a girl scout leader and also in various functions at the Lutheran Church of The Resurrection on Stewart Ave., of which they are also members. Jessica and her sisters Katherine (19) and Michelle (13) have all attended the Garden City school system as well.