“Never Ever Give Up”: The Jessie Rees Story
“Never Ever Give Up”
How would you react to the news you have an inoperable brain tumor? Let me pose the question again. What if you were eleven years old and were told you had an inoperable brain tumor? How would you cope with such devastating news?
Jessica Joy Rees received this heartbreaking diagnosis in March of 2011. I met Jessie’s “daddy”, Erik Rees, through my service in the Memorial Ministry at Saddleback Church where he is a pastor. I listened to Pastor Rees speak and comfort families during the most difficult times of their lives. Never did I imagine such a reversal of roles.
News of Jessie’s condition took a long time to adversely affect me. Our church has prayed through cancer and brain tumors before. This would be another opportunity to praise God’s healing or so I thought. I followed Jessie’s journal on Facebook. I thanked God on the days she reported the MRI’s had shown some improvement. My heart ached for her and her family when her reports did not sound encouraging. Even when Jessie was having bad days her bright spirit leaped off the pages of her journal. Jessie lost her battle with this dreadful disease on January 5, 2012.
Jessie did not let what was going on inside of her body affect her outlook on life. She proved that she was given the middle name of Joy for a reason. Even while she was being poked and prodded she was thinking of others. Her main concern was finding a way to spread hope, joy and love to other children battling pediatric cancer.
And so, Joy Jars were born. Jessie wanted to fill jars with toys and activities that would bring children battling cancer joy. While she was well enough to do so, Jessie stuffed and delivered Joy Jars to children in the hospital.
Jessie’s innocent gesture has grown into the Jessie Rees Foundation – Team NEGU. NEGU is Jessie’s motto of “Never Ever Give Up”. Due to the generous support of sponsors such as Build-A-Bear, Chick-fil-A, UPS, Marriott and Veggie Tales, Joy Jars have reached 115 Children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.
Although I never met Jessie personally, I can’t help but feel that I knew her through her journal. Her “daddy” Erik has continued this journal. Jessie’s family invited us into their lives to pray for their daughter and now allow us to grieve the loss of Jessie along with them.
Jessie continues to inspire me on a daily basis. I was fortunate to be in attendance for her Celebration of Life Service. The Worship Center of Saddleback Church was filled to capacity and there was overflow into multiple other venues.
I consider Jessie to be an inspiration for the following reasons;
Her trust in God – This is a time when even the strongest of faiths may be tested. She loved God and trusted him with her illness. I find this amazing for an eleven-year old child.
Her concern for others – I can’t think of a better time for a child to be justified in being selfish. This was not the way God made Jessie. She wanted other children to experience hope, love and joy.
Her continuing legacy – The Jessie Rees Foundation continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Jessie’s dream was for every child battling cancer to have a Joy Jar. Through continuing sponsorships and donations her dream is rapidly coming to fruition.
Jessie’s much too short life was not in vain. God had a plan for her. Without her, children around our nation would not be receiving a dose of joy in the hospital. I believe this helps them to feel less alone during a scary time.
_________________
How has cancer affected your life?
Have you known someone like Jessie who focused on others during their health battle?
If you would like to Donate to the NEGU Foundation click here.
33 Comments
Fitz,
Thank you so much your comments.
Where I live in Ladera there are many beautiful roses. I will show my age here, but when I am walking the dogs and see them I think of that old Mac Davis song, “You’ve Got To Stop and Smell The Roses”. Many of them are very fragrant so I make it a point to stop.
I also agree we cannot put enough money into findng a cure. We hear mostly of the noteworthy people in the news who die from this terrible disease, but for all of them there are thousands upon thousands who are not published.
So how many Joy Jars are you in for?
Thank you again for reading and responding.
Now I can say four out of four chiefs……..
Lori
Lori,
Thanks for sharing your story and being bold. It’s a great reminder to “stop and smell the roses” because life can be brutally short. As we can see from the comments, everyone has someone in their life that has impacted by cancer. They can’t throw enough money at that disease in my opinion to try to find a cure.
Fitz
Lori,
This is the first blog I had to emotionally digest. The loss of a child always stirs my heart in a deep and profound way. As a father of two you women, both adults, I have a constant companion with me. That companion is the powerless possibility of losing one of my daughters to anything. This feeling and possibility is part of the choice made becoming a parent. But I know that Jessica’s parents understand the blessing of their perfect, beautiful gift of a daughter. I pray that they love her always and thank god not for the quantity of time but for the quality of life that their daughter gave to them through their love. Thank you. Peace Always! Chris
Chris,
Believe me, it was emotional for me to write.
I know how powerful the love I feel as an “auntie” is. I can’t even imagine how much that is muliplied when the child and their welfare is your own.
The Rees family exemplifies strength and compassion for others while they are going through their darkest days. They have trusted God with His decision and put the needs of others before themselves.
I am so inspired by all of them.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
Lori
Lori
Thank You for sharing that no matter how difficult we feel life is there is a very inspirational person to help us all through their story, while my own father is battling cancer it is uplifting to know we should all never give up on life and living.
Joe,
Thank you for sharing about your father. This is yet another example how many of us have been touched by this terrible disease.
I find it so inspirational that a child would think of others during this time.
Thank you for reading and I will keep your Dad in my prayers.
Lori
Lori…….
Wow what an amazing post! You have truly let Jessica’s strength shine thru. She was and still is an amazing inspiration to everyone. Her family was lucky to have such an amazing young child for the time they did and she will be missed everyday by anyone who knew of her story and struggle. Yet she stayed wanting to help other children and stayed the joyful little girl all grew to love.
I don’t know if you knew this but about 8 years ago cancer took the life of my uncle, my mom oldest brother. To be more specific brain cancer. My uncle as well stayed positive thru his journey of cancer until God allowed him to not have the pain anymore.
I know now my uncle is watching my family from above and will be missed and is loved and remembered everyday. I believe the same for Jessica, her spirit and joy is with everyone she touched and she is watching her family from above.
Love you
Shayna
Shayna,
I am glad you were able to sense what an inspiration I believe Jessica was and is.
Thank you for sharing the story of your uncle. I am sorry your family had to experience loss due to cancer.
I hope we live to see the day when a cure is found.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and share.
Love you!
Lori