Love the doctors in Panama!

I had my first doctor's appointment today.  It was so nice to meet with doctors who take the time to actually visit, discuss, explain, strategize a plan to healing, and get to know you as a patient and a person.  This is the FIRST time in nine years where I met with a doctor, and felt hope about changing the course of my MS.  Had to travel to Panama to find the answers.  And I am very glad I did!

The Stem Cell Institute has treated about 200 MS patients, and patients that have MS similar to me, have had 80% - 85% improvement.

America needs to get on board.  Stem cell medicine is amazing and can help thousands of people.

The lesson learned?  Listen to that little voice inside yourself that whispers and guides you.  That voice is always there waiting for you to ask, "what next? what is my next step?"  Listen to that small voice and you will never go wrong.  Six weeks ago, I felt confused as to what I should do to try and heal my body.  So, I quieted myself and asked.  The answer came...stem cells.  Today I sit in Panama preparing for my first intrathecal stem cell injection.  God is good.

Blessings,
Julie

We made it to Panama

Well, we made it to Panama!  It was a long day of travel, woke up at 4:00am, flew out of LAX, arrived in Panama at 5:30.  Our driver met us at the gate and helped us through customs and retrieved our luggage.  It was very easy.  We were happy to arrive at our new "home away from home".  We walked across the street and had dinner at a new, local restaurant.  The food was delicious.  We met the owner of the restaurant and told him why we are in Panama.  He made me a deal... if, by the end of my treatments I can walk in his restaurant, I can eat for free :)  DEAL!

Chris is having fun mingling with the locals.  His three years of High School Spanish is coming back, and if he doesn't know the word in Spanish, he repeats himself even louder in English with a Latin accent.  It is quiet funny.  We are having a great time!  If you ever need a fun travel buddy, I highly recommend traveling with Chris!

Here is the view from our bedroom.  Panama City is full of beautiful high-rise buildings, and in between I am reminded that we are in a third world country.  The homes are small, tin and wooden shacks.

I am enjoying seeing another part of the world, and I feel blessed to live in America.

Doctors appointment Monday, Mini-lipo to retrieve stem cells Wednesday, first stem cell infusion Friday.

Love to all,
Julie

Stem Cells Paid For!

Well, we did it!  Together we can make great things happen!

Yesterday we sent the wire transfer to pay for my stem cell procedure.  Thank you to all who helped contribute to my healing.  A total of $8089.76 has been donated to assist with the cost of my treatment. Your money went directly to my stem cells!  You are all part of my healing process.

I am packing up to leave later Thursday evening.  My daughters are starting to feel a bit sad because we will be apart for a month.  So, I got them each a blanket to have while I am away.  If they are sad, they can wrap their blanket around them and pretend it is me giving them a hug.  I will miss them dearly.

I am grateful for all of the generous donations, love and support.

Much love,
Julie

You always have a choice...

Who will you choose to be in the face of a difficult challenge? When life stinks? And things are tough?

We can't always choose our situation, but we can always choose who we are going to be in every situation.

It has not been an easy road, living with a chronic health challenge.  Sometimes I have acted out being impatient and short tempered, feeling sorry for myself (my poor husband usually being the lucky recipient of my frustration.  Thanks for your patience and understanding, Chris). 

I finally learned to acknowledge my difficult situation and extend love and compassion to myself.  This allows me to look at myself and who I am choosing to be in the face of difficulty.  Am I going to be unhappy, impatient and frustrated or loving and compassionate?  I choose to show up in life extending LOVE.

We always have a choice.  And it makes all the difference.

This I know for sure.

Only three more days until I leave!

Love and blessings,
Julie

Yard Sale a HUGE Success!

Thank you to all those who donated their time, talents and gently used items and baked goods for the yard sale.

Thank you to the many, many people who so generously donated money and purchased items. We live in such a wonderful community of loving people. Thanks El Dorado Hills community!

Thank you to the families who were so patient with all of the traffic, and let us use their front yards for the most perfect location.

Thank you to all of the friends of McKenna who woke up EARLY on a Saturday morning to help set-up and work the yard sale. I am so moved by teenagers waking up and helping at 6:00am! You have raised wonderful kids.

Thank you to Lisa Gertsch for her time, efforts, talents, and love in heading up and organizing such an event. Everyone should be so lucky in life to have a friend like Lisa.

Thank you to my five wonderful, compassionate, hard-working children. For wanting to help their Mom get to Panama. I love you with all my heart!

FUNDS RAISED AT YARD SALE... $4,305.76!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Love,
Julie

Lessons I have learned...

I have learned so many lessons through my journey with MS, so I thought I would share them:

Oh my goodness, I could have gone through my whole life and missed my life.  I was so caught up in the worry... Or some are caught up in the "to do" list...  I simply need to live in the moment, knowing Life will support me daily with all that I need.
 
This I know for sure.

My most sincere thanks to everyone for your support! Only 6 days until I leave.

Blessings,
Julie

PLEASE HELP OUR MOM!

Yard Sale Fundraiser

Saturday, May 21st
6:30am - 2:00pm
Next to St. Andrew's Park
El Dorado Hills, CA

Please help our Mom get to Panama for her stem cell procedure
By donating whatever items you can for our Fundraiser Yard Sale.
For donation info. Call 916-952-7355 (Lisa Gertsch, Friend of Julie)

The treatment is expensive and not covered by insurance.

We love our Mom and appreciate your help!

Love,
Scott, McKenna, Abigail, Priscilla, Lola

This I know for sure...

We all have challenges in life. For some it may be financial worries, or for some relationship troubles, mine just happens to be a health challenge.  One of the great lessons I have learned from my struggle with MS is, God has a purpose for me, the reason for why I am here and it is much bigger than MS.  This is true for any difficulty we face in life.

It is through our challenges that we have opportunity to grow ourselves.  Nelson Mandella was imprisoned for 27 years and after his release he was asked, "How did you survive?"  His reply, "I didn't survive, I prepared."  That preparation helped him become one of the greatest leaders the world has known.

We can use our challenges to prepare ourselves for what God would have us do next in life.  His dream for us is much grander than anything we can dream for ourselves.  

This I know for sure.

If this post touched you or helped you in anyway... Pass it along, share it with another.

Only 8 more days! Thanks again for the LOVE and support.

Hugs,
Julie 

Only NINE days until I leave!

Well, I start my travels to Panama in 9 days!

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of the friends and family that are supporting me on my journey to heal my body.  Thank you for your generous donations, kind words of encouragement and faith-filled prayers.  It is difficult times like these when I draw added strength from the faith and love of those in my life.  

Thank you!

Lots of love and a big hug,
Julie

Car wash was a success!!!!

Thank You to all who donated today at our Cousin Car Wash. I was touched as I drove up to see all of my nieces and nephews on the corners yelling, holding up signs, washing cars and good friends and others driving by, coming to show their support. Thank You. It means soooooo Much to me! We had a bake sale that was a hit. Hope you are all enjoying mom's yummy cinnamon bread and my chocolate chip cookies. : ) We were able to raise $368.25......today. Thank You!! Also, a huge thanks to Suzanne for putting this together. : )
Here are the pictures from today. Enjoy!
Love, Jen

AWHHH! I am so mad. I accidentally deleted half the pics I had and there were some that were darling...of all the boys together & Linds and Annie!!! AWHHHH~ ; )

Me & Suz

Grandpa is always telling the kids how proud he is of them. I thought this was
a sweet pic. : )

Grandma & Grandpa were in charge of the Bake Sale goodies.

Dave was hilarious... putting his life at risk in the middle of the median and jumping up and down yelling. ; )

Yummy, Mommy...Can I have some?????

Robby wasn't feeling to well. I thought this pic was cute.

WE LOVE YOU AUNT JULIE!!!!!!

14 days till JUL leaves to PANAMA!!!!
Your donations are so appreciated....Please spread the word and keep them coming!

COUSIN CAR WASH!!!!- Come on out and Support this great cause!

This Sat. May 14th
Our Sister Suzanne Lunt is putting on a Car Wash
for Julie's Trip to Panama and her Stem Cell Procedure.
All of Julie's Nieces ,Nephew's, and siblings will be working hard all morning
to help raise Money for Julie.

COUSIN CAR WASH!
this Sat. Morning(May 14th)
at the VALERO gas station
(located on the S.E. corner of Val Vista and Guadalupe)
Gilbert, Az 85234
8:30-12 noon
DONATIONS WELCOME!
*all proceeds will go towards Julie and her travels to Panama and her stem cell Procedure

Come on out and Support this great Cause!
See you there!
Love, Jen


TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN!

Jul leaves in 18 days for Panama! We appreciate EVERYONE who has donated so far. Really, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I feel so much support and I appreciate it more than you know. It means the world to me that so many are willing to help my sister. If you haven't been able to donate yet.... It's not to late!Pass the word along! We are making great progress! You are so so so appreciated. If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome and thanks for taking a few moments to make a difference. Scroll down and you can read MY SISTERS STORY on the first post! Don't let this opportunity pass to help out an AMAZING person! Stay tuned for updates on Jul and her trip to Panama!
Love, Jen

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN!

WOW everyone!  I am overwhelmed with all of your kind words and donations.  Julie called me first thing this morning and we started to cry.  We both felt so encouraged by all of your responses to the BLOG. Over 500 views in just two days! 

We will keep you updated on how she is doing in Panama.  She said she has purchased her airline tickets (THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATIONS!) and is REALLY looking forward to gaining some improvement from the procedure.  She is making arrangements for an apartment to stay in while in Panama, we'll keep you posted. 

It amazes me that when there is someone in need, everyone can come together so quickly and make a huge difference.  Julie feels so blessed and is touched by your outpouring of love and support.  Keep it coming! We still have a long way to go to help ease the burden of the cost of her trip and procedure.  She really could use our support in every way right now, and this is a simple way we can make a difference.

Thank you for helping us!   May God bless you all for your kindness.  Love, Jen

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!! Together we can make great things happen!!!!!!

HI. My name is Jen McCook Payne and I am starting a fundraiser for my sister, who is one of my Best Friends. Her name is Julie McCook Jensen and she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 9 years ago.  Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. 
Julie is the Mother of 5 beautiful children, the youngest 6.  She has followed the guidance of several medical doctors and also Natural healing modalities.  Her Disease process continues to MARCH ON and now spends most of her time in her bed or in a wheelchair.  She is weak and immobility is moving upward to her core muscles, arms and hands.  Even her breathing has begun to be slightly affected and taking a deep breath is hard for her. 
My Heart aches because I live in Az and she is in Northern California and so the opportunity to be able to help her and be there for her is usually over the phone with uplifting words of encouragement.  NOW, I and WE have a HUGE way that we can help her!!!!!

After two years of research, Julie has decided to incorporate a healing therapy that is not available in the United States, yet. She just found out last week that she has an opportunity to travel to Panama to undergo an extensive stem cell procedure, that shows great promise in helping to reverse disability from the disease.  The doctors feel she is a good candidate for this procedure, and that she is still "FIXABLE"! Many, many others have undergone this same procedure with remarkable success and my prayer for Julie is that she may have the same success.


Julie will be traveling to Panama May 28th and will live there for one month while she undergoes this procedure. I am asking anyone that is able and willing to PLEASE DONATE ANY amount that you are able to, to help cover the cost of her Procedure and the trip there. I am hoping that this donation can in some way lift her burdens.   Even if it is ONE, TEN or ONE HUNDRED, every little bit is a help and SO SO APPRECIATED.  I know I am not alone when I say, I love Julie so much and would do anything to help her. Well... Here is our opportunity to help!  Let's make this happen for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can donate using the pay pal account that is attached at the side bar of this blog or send a Check payable to:

Julie Jensen

2222 Francisco Dr. Suite 510-258

El Dorado Hills, CA

95762

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love, Jen