Alessa's Reach for Recovery

Thank you for visiting Alessa's website. Alessa is a 22 year old woman who has Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD/CRPS). Prior to going to Germany on March 28, 2008 for the ketamine induced coma procedure, every day of her life since October 15, 2003 was lived in unimaginable burning pain. She couldn't walk and had to use a wheelchair for over three years. She was completely bedridden from March 2007 through March 2008.

This website has information on Alessa, her illness, the ketamine coma experience in Germany and what her life is like now.

Updates on Alessa
As a result of the ketamine coma in Germany (April 2008), Alessa was given a new lease on life. She can walk on her own, go out with her friends and enjoy life again.

She's completed the protocol of outpatient ketamine boosters at Dr. Schwartzman's infusion suite in Philadelphia. Each set of boosters is through an I.V. line for four hours a day over a two day period. She went for two sets in June 2008, one set in July 2008, one set in October 2008 and one three hour set in January 2009.

Alessa is in remission! As long as she continues to do well, Dr. Schwartzman will only need to evaluate her annually.

Alessa is part of a research project on how chronic pain changes the brain. She had her "before" functional MRI of the brain at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA on the way to Germany in March 2008. She was able to go for the "after" MRI in November 2008. Hopefully, her test results will help in eventually finding a cure for RSD/CRPS.

If you wish to read about Alessa's experience in Germany and what her life is like now, please click on the BLOG tab.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Alessa's Reach for Recovery. Your generous monetary donations and your prayers made it possible for Alessa and her parents to travel to Germany for the medical treatment that gave Alessa her life back. Alessa and her family are forever grateful.

Please keep Alessa and all those suffering with RSD/CRPS in your prayers.