It only takes a few minutes of listening to Jessi’s story to understand how big her heart is and how she wants to help others. Her goal, to provide comfort and hope to those who are just getting diagnosed and those who are trying to find reasons to keep fighting. "I want to help others and know I need to share my story."
Her story started six years ago at the age of 33. “I was riding to work with my husband. He stopped to check on a job site where he was doing some landscaping. I had no reason to think I was sick. I thought I was just tired, I had been on the go. All of a sudden, I thought I was having a stroke. My right side went numb and all I could think to do was beat on the horn. I knew I needed help."
Jessi's husband called the paramedics and they rushed her to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “The doctor came in and told me I had two years to live and he could not help me.”
"It took me a while to process it. I didn't ask for this. I didn't want to do it. I just wanted to go home. My husband, he said you have to stay and fight. I knew he was right. I was transferred to another hospital by ambulance where we looked at surgical options to remove the tumor."
Jessi is a fighter. She wasn't giving up. Her youngest child was only 12 years old and she had just reunited with her husband six months prior to her diagnosis. She knew she had too much to live for. Since her diagnosis, Jessi has discovered that the brain tumor was the result of a lung cancer diagnosis that had spread to her brain. She has endured brain surgery to remove her tumor, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, but she continues to fight.
"Seeing my son graduate, I proved them wrong. They thought I would only live two years, but it's been six. My son graduates this year. I am going to see my baby walk across that stage."
"My life is full, my seed of faith has grown. I want to help people - it's what I am supposed to do. I want to share my story with others. Let them know there is hope. I don't want to waste the time I have left."
Jessi credits her survival to her faith and her family. "Our caregivers take the brunt of this. My son had to grow up so fast because I didn't know how long I would be here. We have never lied to him, but we let him know we are fighting. The only reason I am here is because God is with me and my family is by my side. My husband and my son, they have been my voice when I did not have one."
"I realize one day my number will be up, but I am not wasting time. I don't want to live like that. I want to help people. There is no rule book for this and I want to make every day count."
Each month, KRAS Kickers is pleased to present a Survivor Story. These are the journeys of cancer survivors that have graciously offered to share this part of their lives with us to provide an awareness of community and hope to our readers. None of us are in this alone, and we all have a story to tell.