Jessica
Jessica "Reene" was born on March 28, 1994. She was the daughter of Susan and the sister of Monika. Jessica's mother describes her as "a huge presence and a funny, helpful and loving little girl."
At age 11, Jessica was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a disease that usually attacks people over the age of 70. In just a few weeks, Jessica went from "an energetic, fun-loving little tomboy" to a child weighing only 52 pounds, with no energy, sleeping almost around the clock, and "in so much pain she could barely walk."
Jessica and her family came to Seattle's Children's Hospital and Medical Center for a life-saving bone marrow transplant. "Thanks to God," her mother says, "and all of the awesome doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital, everyone's prayers, and the 'Never Give Up' attitude Jessica has, she has made it through the transplant! After radiation, chemotherapy and a surgery that drained almost two liters of blood out of her lung, Jessica is living proof that with God, anything is possible."
Jessica was always saying unforgettable things to those around her. Her mother remembers how a doctor, checking to see if the anesthetic he had administered before a particularly painful procedure had helped her fall asleep, watched her close her eyes, then leaned over and asked, "Jess, can you hear me?" Little Jessica opened her eyes, turned to him, and said, very matter-of-factly, "You better give me more of that."
And her mother will never forget what Jessica said to her during one of the worst moments of her treatment: "Mom, I don't think anyone could be closer to God than I am right now." Jessica passed away on October 17, 2007.