My Jessie Journal:: Hi Sweet Pea, It’s daddy! Do you know every time I write to you I first pause and think about your face? Sure I remember your toes and hands but your face is what my mind goes to most. Your blue eyes, your soft cheeks, your big smile, your blonde hair and your tan skin. I not only think about your face as it reminds me about all of you and all of the good times…It also reminds me of you getting wheeled out of our home as I would not let them cover your face with a sheet until you got in the van and the doors were closed. It was all about dignity for me!
This is one of my favorite pictures from your treatment journey….Sure you were loosing your hair and sight but you still smiled and found JOY in each day. What a gift from God you are to me…you taught me so much and you still teach me so much.
One place we made sure your smile was on display was at your gala last Saturday night. We got to celebrate a lot of wonderful people with our Jessie Awards. These are our version of Oscar or Grammy awards. Each award represents courage and compassion…the two things you always stood for! We also cheered for over 40 courageous families who were in attendance. We also raised money to help more kids and families.
I had several ladies stop be during the gala and share stories about you or how your compassion for others has inspired them. Yesterday I met with a lady who volunteers for us and was at the gala. She said, “Erik, Jessie has changed my life.” That is so amazing Jess! Your desire to help others in the midst of your own battle with terminal cancer has inspired others to think about their own life and how they choose to live it. So proud of you!!!
We are just a few days away from your 18th birthday…we have over 500 volunteers coming to the JoyFactory to stuff the 1,800 JoyJars. We also are kicking off a new limited edition t-shirt campaign based off two words that we feel represent your life….JOY and BRAVE. You were so brave and so full of joy. The designs are really cool and we will offer them to people for 18 days as a “thank you” for their donation to your birthday celebration.
Jess, thanks so much for changing my life too…I miss you every day and want you back so bad but I know there is a big plan in play and I now have to do my part. You started the wave of compassion across the fields of childhood cancer and now we have to continue it until the day they find a cure or the day I join you in Heaven.
Miss your face!!!
xoxo,
daddy
