Jesse Joy Rees

Jessica Joy Rees (http://www.jessicajoyrees.com/#blank (Rick Brotherton))

Imagine being told that you have two inoperable brain tumors that you would have to fight and pray that God would perform a miracle so that you could live. Would that be something awful to endure? Of course it would. Jessica Joy Rees was told just that, but she chose to give to others during her fight so that she could make them happy as they battled cancer from the hospital. Jessie was inspired by her wonderful family and she had a positive impact on the world because Jessie created Joy Jars to help kids battling cancer feel happier. She is a true hero because she was selfless hero showing a quiet bravery while persevering and giving to others while she was very sick.

Jessie's family was her inspiration and her support throughout her short life. She had a brother and a sister and a mom and dad who loved her very much and encouraged her to follow her ambitions to provide happiness to children with cancer. Jessie's Nana and Pap lived close to her and were involved in her life. Her Aunt Kimmy and Uncle Tim live in Denver where they went several times a year, and according to Jessie they were "One big happy family." ("Jessie Joy Rees" p.1) Jessie loved to watch Survivor and American Idol with her family and was a talented swimmer practicing with her team four to five times per week.

Jessie had quite an impact on the world due to her struggle with two inoperable brain tumors. On March 3, 2011 an MRI showed that Jessie had a tumor on her brain, but doctors couldn't operate on the tumor because of its location. Jessie underwent several rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to try to heal the brain tumor. She endured lots of needles and pain. She fought for ten months, and many people supported Jessie through her struggles and admired her motto "Never Ever Give Up".

Jessica Swimming (http://www.jessicajoyrees.com/my-sport/ ())

A true testament to Jessie's heroic spirit can be witnessed today through the Jessie Rees Foundation and in particular her Joy Jars. After one of Jessie's trips to the hospital for treatment, Jessie asked her dad why the other children who were battling cancer couldn't go home, and her dad told her that they had to stay because they were too sick. Jessie wanted to find a way to make the children happier because she knew "they were going through a lot too.", so she started making Joy Jars-containers full of toys, stickers, crayons, anything that might brighten a child's day. Her mother said she was really particular about what would go in them. It had to be something cool; it couldn't be anything cheap or flimsy. (CNN Heroes- Young Wonders p1) Joy Jars are still being produced today through the Jessie Joy Rees foundation where her motto of Never Ever Give Up lives on.

Jessica Joy Rees was a quiet hero, but she displayed many heroic virtues such as vision, love, faith, perseverance, and joy (her middle name). Though Jessie only lived to be twelve years old, she had a vision to make other kids who suffered with cancer like she did happy. Her faith and love for God shone in the work she did and still exists through her legacy in the Jessica Joy Reese foundation which inspires people to give in order to help children who are suffering from cancer. Before Jessie gained her angel wings in January of 2012, she created 3,000 Joy Jars, and by the end of that year over 50,000 more jars were created. To date, the Jessie Rees foundation has been able to raise over $3,000,000 reaching and encouraging over 100,000 courageous kids in 50 states and 28 countries (NEGU p 2).