September 29th 2024.
When I think of my daughter, Jessica, the first word that comes to mind is perfect. She was my best friend and her dad described her as a firework – always spinning around and making the loudest noise. Jessica had autism and ADHD, which made her social and communication skills different from her peers, but that's what made her unique. She had a funny and unintentional humor, but could also come off as rude when she didn't understand others' thoughts.
Above all, Jessica was fiercely loyal and loving. If she was your friend, she was your friend for life. But if you crossed her, there was no going back. She was also passionate about sports and it became a huge part of her life. She was always full of energy and involved in multiple clubs, playing football on Saturdays and rugby on Sundays. She even made it to the Warwickshire County Rugby team and was selected for the RFU center of excellence at just 15 years old.
Everything was perfect until one day it wasn't. On April 30, 2020, Jessica, who was 17 at the time, went to bed like any other day but woke up the next morning with a terrible headache and feeling sick. We were hesitant to go to the hospital because of the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. But as her symptoms persisted, we finally went and were advised to get a Covid-19 test first. Her condition continued to worsen, with double vision, loss of balance, and more severe sickness. After multiple tests and surgeries, we were given the devastating news that Jessica had glioblastoma – a rare and aggressive brain tumor.
I remember the exact moment when I was told that my baby girl was going to die soon. It was like my heart shattered into a million pieces. Jessica, who was always factual and truthful, even asked the doctor how long she had to live. We were transferred to another hospital where she met her team of doctors. Even in the face of such a difficult diagnosis, Jessica remained her usual self, casually discussing her funeral arrangements and what she wanted us to do after she was gone.
Despite multiple surgeries, Jessica's condition continued to deteriorate and she went into palliative care. She was only 18 when she passed away in January 2021. It was devastating for our family, but we knew we had to keep her memory alive. That's why we started a charity in her name called Jessica's Promise, to support children and young people financially through amateur sports. Jessica struggled academically and socially, but when she was playing sports, she truly shined. We want to give other children the same opportunities she had.
Jessica's illness didn't make her a fighter or a warrior, she was just a girl who wanted to live her life to the fullest. Her legacy will always be remembered through Jessica's Promise, and we want her to be remembered as the talented and passionate sportswoman she was, not as a perfect princess. Her brother, Thomas, was so inspired by his sister's strength and courage that he even changed his career path and will be starting medical school this year.
At the end of the day, we just want to keep Jessica's memory alive and share her story. She may not be with us physically, but she will always be a part of our lives and her name will always be spoken with love and pride.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
