Ask Jessica.

You may have seen the phrase “Ask Jessica” multiple time on facebook this semester. While you may have been pondering about who exactly is Jessica. We are here to tell you her story.

 

One year ago, Jessica Hickman’s mother went through a parent’s worst nightmare. An MRI revealed that her 10-year-old daughter Jessica had a massive tumor on her spine, an Aneurysmal Bone Cyst, and would need surgery. Since then, Jessica has endured two major surgeries at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF, both lasting more than seven hours.

The tumor completely destroyed her second vertebra and fractured her first vertebra. During her first surgery, David Pincus, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgery Specialist and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, used over 20 pieces of titanium to rebuild Jessica’s spine. After four months of physical therapy, Jessica learned to walk again. Her family thought the worst was over.

At a routine check-up six months later, doctors discovered that Jessica’s tumor had returned and she needed surgery again. During her second surgery, doctors removed two ribs to reach the tumor, which was pressing on her left lung. Unfortunately, Jessica’s health was not improving.

Last month, she found out her tumor was back. Doctor Pincus found remnants of the tumor on the right side of her spine. After determining Jessica was too young to deal with the effects of radiation treatment, her family decided she would undergo surgery once again at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF. Next week, Jessica will endure her third major surgery in less than a year.

Even through such a tremulous year, missing most of sixth grade in the process, Jessica has discovered her love of medicine because of the countless doctors and nurses who have fought to give Jessica the future she deserves.