BOOK REVIEW: "never ever give up" by Erik Rees
The cover says it all: "the inspiring story of Jessie and her JoyJars".
At age 11, Jessie Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor that was also incurable. The cancer is called DIPG; diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Jessie was an active child. After being diagnosed and preparing to undergo radiation, Jessie asks her dad a question that will touch the lives of many pediatric cancer patients.
Upon hearing that many kids with cancer stay in the hospital for weeks at a time, or the duration of their treatment, Jessie turned to her dad and asked, "Dad, how can we help them?" Unsure of what she meant, her Dad asked her to explain. Jessie's answer made me cry. "They're going through a lot. What can we do for them?" Suffering from cancer herself, Jessie was concerned about other children. The rest of her short life would be lived with more concern for other suffering children.
Jessie started making goodie bags to pass out to the kids in the hospital. They contained Beanie Babies. She decorated the bags with stickers and markers, and wrote things like 'Get well soon', 'Don't stop believing' and 'Hope you're okay'. From these baggies came something much bigger. Named after Jessie's middle name, the JoyJars. Much bigger than the baggies, these plastic containers held items like kids crafts, party favors, bendable animals, rubber duckies, and other things that made the day of the children who received them.
Jessie's death brought about the Jessie Rees Foundation. A gala was scheduled, but Jessie passed away beforehand. The gala continued as scheduled, and it raised $100,000. Rent was paid on a warehouse, giving the JoyJars a space for storing supplies and assembling. At the time this book went to printing, 80,000 JoyJars have gone to pediatric cancer patients. Jessie's legacy continues.
While extremely sad, this book is also full of courage, love and faith. You'll need tissues, but it's worth it.
*****Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” *****