Justin's battle with Lemierre's Syndrome: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Happy Birthday Soilder Boy!!

Happy 20th Birthday Justin!!
I had another dream about you the other day!! I was so excited to see you and you didn't understand why? I just kept hugging you and I wouldn't let go! You were so embarrassed! It's weird because the dreams I have of other people it is them but it's either not their face or I can only see from the chest down. In the 3 dreams I've had about you or that you've come to visit me in it has been your face and every detail about you has been right. But every time I wake up for about 5 min I'm so happy I got to see you again but then I realize how mean that was!!! I get to see you for a few moments and then you're gone! Today on the way home I was changing stations on the radio and I heard this song that caught my ear. It was so pretty (I know you don't like pretty songs) it was all about what that person would want if they died to soon. It was actually a very strange song but it made me think of you and some how it made me feel like I was meant to hear it today at that exact moment! The name of the song is "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry. I know you're here everyday with us. Antonio was outside today (it was a absolutely beautiful day) and he kept looking up at the sky like he saw something I thought maybe it was a bird but honestly nothing was there. I've always heard that babies and small kids see things we don't. I swear when he stare at the ceiling or into my eyes I look soo hard to see if I see your reflection! Cruz has a lot of your facial expressions and definitely your attitude. Allen was so excited to get your guitar for his birthday. He really misses you! We all do! Kristiana is such a smart pretty little girl she knows exactly who you are! I told Allen and Cruz that have to tell Antonio and her all about you when they get older!I hope you had a great birthday in Heaven today!
Love you,
Tammy (your older yet shorter sister!)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

How about a game of Paintball!?!?!?

We are going to try a new type of fundraiser!
Something I know my little brother would enjoy if he were still here with us!
Something that all his friends will enjoy and we can all afford!
Something that any age can participate in and have a blast!

Saturday Oct. 23rd is going to be our first Paintball Tournament!

It will be held at the paintball fields at
The Crux in Washington MO,
(which is the same location as Wellspring Wesleyan Church park in their parking lot & walk behind the building)
2396 Highway A
This is about 25 min. from Eureka

Time is 11:30-3pm

There will be food & drinks available, all paintball participates will receive lunch at no extra cost, all others will be able to purchase food for a small price. Drinks will be provided for everyone with no charge.

The minimum age to play is 10, if you are under 18 you MUST have a waiver filled out and signed by your parent or guardian in order to participate. If your parents will not be with you the waiver MUST be notarized or you will not be able to play!!! This is a very strict rule there is no getting around it. Email Tammy @ sunflwz2@yahoo.com and she will send you the waiver to have filled out. If your parent will be with you there is no need to fill one out ahead of time we will have them there.

Invite ANYONE you like!!!
Go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=151559128209396&ref=ts
YOU MUST BE LOGGED INTO FACEBOOK BEFORE YOU CAN GO TO THAT PAGE.
and let us know if you will be able to attend, if you click on "Select guests to invite" on that page you can invite everyone from you friends group to come as well!!
We need to make sure we have enough food for everyone so please RSVP, ASAP! The paintball field can only hold up to 60 people so RSVP NOW! I already have 10 people saying they will play. You can RSVP by emailing Tammy or doing so on the facebook page for this event.

I took my 11 year old son here a few weeks ago & all the paint came out of his shirt in the wash! Here is what they say about what to wear and what everyone will get.
"Participants may bring their own paintball guns and/or mask, but for safety reasons everyone must use our paintballs. Please encourage everyone to wear shoes with long socks and long pants. Long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts are also encouraged but not required. We have masks, chest/back protectors, and neck protectors available at no additional cost. The rental guns we provide are Tippman 98s."

It hurts when you get hit by these so come prepared!

So how much does this cost? I'm sure your asking...
It is $20 per person and that includes
*3 hours of play
*500 paintballs
*A Mask
*Gun
*Chest & back protector
*Lunch
*Drinks
*$5.00 off coupon to Pasta House
*And a Lemierre's T shirt with my brother's pretty little face on it!! ;0)

Please get ahold of us and let us know if you plan on coming!! You can also comment on this post and let me know as well.
Alcohol is not allowed at this event!
Below are the rules of the facility, we must follow them remember they are helping us to raise money for our cause and letting us use their items!!!

Thank you!!
Tammy Valencia

General rules
1. All participants must be registered with a signed liability waiver. For participants under age 18, liability waivers must be signed by a legal guardian.
2. Children age 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times
3. The Crux is not responsible for participants’ lost, stolen, or damaged personal property – keep up with your stuff.
4. No Fighting – (we prosecute fighting)
5. No Verbal Abuse including, but not limited to: profanity, name-calling, or racial, ethnic, and/or religious slurs will be tolerated under any circumstances.
6. No weapons allowed on property
7. No illegal drugs or alcohol allowed on the property. (we prosecute illegal drug possession) Anyone using or under the influence of alcohol or any other substance will be ejected from the property. Repeat violators will be banned from the facility permanently.
8. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas – (main porch and parking lot)

Paintball
1. SAFETY GOGGLES must be worn by anyone in the playing field and target range at all times. Only Goggles meeting ASTM guidelines for
paintball with full-face and ear protection are allowed. Modifications are strictly prohibited. Neck and chest guards are provided at no charge
and recommended.
2. NO SHOOTING in any areas other than the designated playing field and/or target range. No shooting into or out of the registration area,
neutral zones, or parking area or at houses, or automobiles. Markers may only be discharged on the active field of play or target range. DO
NOT SHOOT OVER OR AROUND THE NET!
3. NO BLIND SHOOTING
4. ALL JUDGE’S DECISIONS ARE FINAL. Players or spectators will not be allowed to argue with the referees under any circumstances.
5. BARREL BLOCKING DEVICES must be used at all times in every area of the property other than the designated playing field and target
range. Barrel blocking devices must be specifically designed and manufactured for paintball markers.
6. NO CLIMBING on trees, vehicles, or any structure 4’ or higher.
7. NO PHYSICAL CONTACT between players or with judging officials.
8. NO CONSTRUCTION OF BOOBY TRAPS
9. NO UNAUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT or potentially dangerous gear is allowed. All firearms, knives, machetes, paint mines, etc. are strictly
prohibited. The field operator must approve all equipment prior to use.
10. PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS ARE PROHIBITED. Players are not allowed to modify safety goggles, rental markers,
bunkers, or any property on the premises.
11. SPECTATORS are required to wear safety goggles unless they remain a minimum of five feet behind the safety netting at all times. No
exceptions.
12. TANK-FILLS players are not allowed to perform tank-fills (no exceptions).
13. LEAVE WILDLIFE ALONE do not shoot at, handle, or in any way harass wildlife.
14. VELOCITY SETTINGS ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED all velocity settings must remain at or below 260 (fps)

Justin's news article in the West Magazine

This was taken from http://www.westnewsmagazine.com/news02.html

Rockwood student dies rapidly from little-known disease
By Diane Plattner

In April, Eureka High School student Justin Rodgers began to complain of a severe sore throat and was dead approximately one month later from an unfamiliar disease. Now, his mother hopes to spread awareness about the deadly disease.
Justin died in the early morning hours of May 12, the day after Mother’s Day, after losing a battle with Lemierre’s Syndrome, a serious bacteria that is not well-known and even doctors are prone to misdiagnose the disease. Unfortunately, Rodgers’ doctor was among that group after initially diagnosing him with strep throat on April 11, said Sheryl Rodgers, Justin’s mother.
“Justin had said, ‘Mom, this is the worst sore throat I’ve ever had in my life,’” Rodgers said.
She said that Justin’s doctor took no throat culture and gave her son medicine for strep throat. She said her son’s condition worsened over the next few days during which he had increased high fever, chest pain and a lump in his neck. On April 14, Rodgers took her son to St. Anthony’s Hospital, which transported him overnight to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital where he underwent extensive testing, including X-rays and blood work, Rodgers said.
Rodgers said that hospital officials diagnosed him with Lemierre’s Syndrome, a bacteria that can surface after mouth trauma. Last July, Justin was in a car accident that resulted in mouth injuries that required him to get major dental work, including a recent new tooth. In addition, Justin had suffered a broken nose just before the onset of his sore throat, his mother said.
“I wonder if all this woke up the bacteria, which was already living in the body,” Rodgers said.
The last time Rodgers saw him fully awake was a few days later, when hospital officials decided to place her son on a respirator and sedate him with drugs.
“He was out of it but still with us then,” Rodgers said. “He would frown when the doctors worked on him. So he had some responses.”
However, Justin’s lungs kept collapsing, prompting hospital doctors by April 25 to place him on an ECMO machine to help rest his lungs and heart. Doctors at that point also put him into an induced coma, Rodgers said.
“At that point there was no response from Justin,” Rodgers said. “Still, I talked to him and rubbed his sore spots to let him know we were there.”
By Mother’s Day, Justin was leaking too much blood, prompting doctors to decide to remove him from the ECMO, a move they said was risky if his lungs were not healed enough.
“Once they took him off the ECMO, Justin’s face was getting gray,” Rodgers said. “He was holding his own for a few hours, but then he starting going downhill.”
Justin died early the next morning following Mother’s Day with his immediate family, including three older siblings, by his side, Rodgers said.
“He was our baby,” Rodgers said. “I think the hospital tried to keep him going so he did not die on Mother’s Day.”
The tragedy is not the first for the Rodgers family. They also lost a 4-year-old child in a horseback riding accident and had a stillborn child many years ago, Rodgers said.
“I thought God could not possibly do this to us again,” Rodgers said. “I asked why again, why us. But there is no answer. Here we are walking on egg shells again.”
Rodgers said she was at least thankful that Justin’s funeral was so big that people were standing outside, a huge tribute to his life. She also hopes to honor his life with a campaign to help spread awareness about Lemierre’s Syndrome, which she said often hits people between the ages of 14 and 25. It is not spread by kissing but instead lives in the body, she said. Her goal is to make people, including doctors, more aware of its symptoms so they are not mistaken for strep throat.
“I do not want Justin to have died in vain,” Rodgers said. “This is one bad bacteria. It is very serious. People should not treat it lightly.”
To learn more about Lemierre’s Syndrome, visit the Rodgers’ family Web site at lemierresyndromejrodgers.blogspot.com.

The meaning behind the Camouflage

We thought that the camouflage colors would fit in perfectly with helping us describe Lemierre's Syndrome. This disease hides in other illnesses and is very hard to diagnose. That is why some lose their battle b/c it just simply takes to long for Dr's or other medical personnel to diagnose patients. In Justin's case it took almost over 2 weeks from the first day he was ill to diagnose him with Lemierre's Syndrome. This illness hides in your body and disguises itself as other illnesses sometimes mono, strep throat or just your average viral infection.

Justin's Bio ~ from Tammy

Where do I start! This is Tammy Justin's oldest sister, I was 11 when Justin was born. I was so excited; any little girl that age wants to have a baby in the house to love on. & that is exactly what I did. When he was old enough to talk he called me mommy! Any time my mom would punish him he would say "I'm gonna tell my Tammy!" There was one song that my mom, my friend Sarah & I would sing to him to calm him down. Justin the Bee!Justin was always happy & always got what he wanted "because he is the baby" my mom would say. LOL As I moved out and started my own family Justin & I started growing apart. What 19 year old wants her 8 year old brother hanging around? ;0) I will never forget when I told him I was pregnant with Allen (my oldest). He looked at me & said "YES, I'm gonna be a dad!" We immediately set him straight! "No, you’re going to be an uncle." But he was more then an uncle to my little one, he was like a big brother. He loved teaching Allen new things & they use to aggravate the living daylights out of each other! I use to get so frustrated w/ Justin. "LEAVE HIM ALONE" I use to say. He would get Allen all hyped up.Justin's hobbies are wake boarding, snow boarding, hanging out with his friends & family, listening to music & anything else a normal 17 year old LOVES to do. He was always happy & out going unless my mom or dad wouldn't give him what he wanted!! ;0) He was amazing on the water w/ that wake board & watching him on that tube was so funny! He was honestly your typical teenage boy that loved to get in trouble & have FUN!