Let me tell you about a very brave, courageous, unselfish, inspirational 12-year old girl named Jessica Joy Rees. Ten months ago Jessica was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was located in an area of the brain where doctors could not operate. Since her diagnosis, she underwent intensive treatments of chemotherapy and radiation, not to mention countless MRI's in an attempt to heal her of her illness. Without complaint she attended her treatments, accepting with dignity, courage, and grace, whatever plans God had in store for her. With paralysis on one side of her face, the loss of vision in one eye, loss of hearing in one ear, and painful headaches and double vision, she never complained nor gave up hope for healing. Fear she would not display, keeping strong, while lifting the spirits of others. She used all of her spiritual energy and channeled it into supporting and making sure other children with life threatening illnesses would not have to feel as if they had to battle their illnesses alone. In her ten month battle, she came up with a slogan, NEGU, which means NEVER EVER GIVE UP!! She came up with the idea for a project known as "Joy Jars", which are jars that are personally made by her and contain items such as candy and T-shirts with the slogan NEGU on them. Her and her family and friends would spent countless hours in her garage creating these jars, which would eventually be delivered to terminally ill children in hospitals throughout the United States...the goal...to spread joy and love to the hearts of thousands of children stricken with a life threatening illness.
Her inspiration, courage, love for people and animals quickly spread nationally and even internationally bringing hope and love not only to those children with illness but to everyone who knows her story world wide.
According to her family, on January 5th, 2012, at 11:10 A.M. in Orange County California, Jessie earned her wings in Heaven, as she peacefully and gracefully succumbed to her illness. In her brief life she leaves a legacy of love, determination, compassion, and devotion. Most important of all, she had a solid heart of gold. Much like she did with everything in her short life, she met the challenge of her illness head-on and would not let it consume her very soul. Her inspiration is to be cherished by all who came to know her story. God bless you Jessie..because of you I am starting this blog.
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