Erik Rees - Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie and Her JoyJars

praise for
never ever give up

We watched Jessie show true compassion to other kids while she was in the middle of her own courageous battle against cancer. May her story inspire you to look beyond your own problems to care for those suffering around you.

RICK AND KAY WARREN, Saddleback Church

Im very touched by Jessies amazing courage and compassion. I hope people will read her story and spread her simple message: Never Ever Give Up!

CLINE DION, singer

I had the honor of meeting Jessie and stuffing JoyJars with her in her home. Her passion to help others was inspiring, and Im confident it will inspire you to make your world a better place. Never Ever Give Up!

EVA LONGORIA, actress, humanitarian, and philanthropist

Ive learned firsthand what it means to never ever give up in life. Jessie showed a lot of people how to live it while fighting cancer. Im confident her story will motivate you to live life to the fullest every day.

BETHANY HAMILTON, author and subject of Soul Surfer, professional surfer

Jessies message to Never Ever Give Up is one for all ages and inspires me to live each day with hope and strength. Let it inspire you to press on, no matter how big the challenge is, so you too can make the most out of each day, just like Jessie did.

COACH CHUCK PAGANO, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts

Never Ever Give Up is a message of strength and perseverance which is so important to children fighting cancer but it also empowers professional athletes to reach deep and go for their goals. I challenge you to read this amazing book and apply it to your life. Lets make the world a better place, like Jessie did!

TRENT DILFER, National Football League analyst for ESPN and Super Bowl XXXV champion

Never Ever Give Up inspires us to continue to fight, no matter what obstacles life brings us. It inspires me to get up when I fall!

MATT LEINART, National Football League quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner

I have a Winston Churchill quote on a plaque in my room that reads, Never, Never, Never Give Up. I now have a new mentor Jessie Rees. Her fight, her heart, and her mantra NEGU have reinvigorated my soul. I have been a volunteer for the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children for more than a decade, trying to bring joy to kids with brain tumors. Now, Jessie, her story, and her JoyJars have not only renewed my spirit as a journalist but also filled my heart with even more inspiration to make a difference in childrens lives. Thank you, Jessie, for reminding us how precious life is and how a humble and giving heart makes all the difference.

KYRA PHILLIPS, correspondent for the CNN investigative and documentary units

Like Jessie, you have the power to make this world a better place. Never Ever Give Up will inspire you and challenge you to live life to the fullest, no matter what life throws at you.

JASON MOTTE, Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and childhood cancer advocate

ZONDERVAN

Never Ever Give Up

Copyright 2014 by Erik Rees

ePub ISBN: 978-0-310-33763-8 Copyright July 2014

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rees, Erik.

Never ever give up : the inspiring story of Jessie Rees and her joyjars / Erik Rees with Jenna Glatzer.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-310-33760-7 (softcover)

1. Rees, Jessica Joy, Health. 2. Brain Tumors Patients Biography. 3. Cancer Patients California Biography. I. Glatzer, Jenna. II. Title.

RC280.B7R44 2014

616.99481 dc23

2014009142

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, NewInternational Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of Hidden Value Group, LLC, 1240 E. Ontario Ave., Ste. #102-148, Corona, CA 92881.

Cover design: Studio Gearbox

Cover photography: Rick Brotherton

Insert background photography: Shutterstock

Insert photography: Unless otherwise indicated, provided by the Rees family

Interior design: Beth Shagene

First Printing July 2014

To our sweet pea
we miss you so much and think of you countless times a day.
We miss your hugs, belly laughs, blue eyes, tan skin, blonde hair, and amazing smile.
Your life ended way too soon, Jess, but your story of hope, joy, and love will live on forever.
You taught us to live courageously, love compassionately, and laugh constantly.
We will always share your story, spread your joy, and do whatever it takes to fulfill your wish so every kid fighting cancer has the encouragement, resources, and support to Never Ever Give Up!
We NEGU... because of YOU!
XOXO,
Mommy & Daddy
P.S. We will see you in a wink.

contents

It was unseasonably warm for February, even for California. The day was sunny and crisp, and we had a four-hour break during my older daughters swimming competition, so my younger daughter asked me if we could go shopping. Naturally. Eleven-year-old Jessie loved to shop, and it had not escaped her that there was a candy store just a few blocks away. Fashion and sweets combine those two things in a single day, and you could make her as happy as a wren in a birdbath.

I connected with my wife, Stacey Meet us for lunch after Shaya gets showered and dressed and then headed out for a walk with Jessie. It was something we did often, window-shopping and checking out the latest in preteen clothes and accessories. It was such a happy day, far too beautiful for me to suspect it would herald the worst trauma of our lives.

We were in Long Beach to cheer Shaya on in the Junior Olympics. All three of my kids had taken up swimming, originally to my dismay. I was more of a competitive team sports guy in fact, I had coached their soccer teams until Shaya one day said she wasnt enjoying it very much and wanted to try another sport. I was hoping shed say basketball. Swimming, she said. Well, that left me right out. I hated the water, but my wife had been an All-American swimmer.

Okay, sure.

Jessie and their younger brother, JT, joined as well because my wife couldnt imagine trying to drive three kids around to three different sports programs. They all joined the Mission Viejo Nadadores, a team with an impressive history. Theyd been around since 1968 and won forty-seven national team championships and twenty Olympic medals. Because of our family involvement, Stacey even ended up working for the team three days a week as a bookkeeper.

After joining the team, Shaya became a terrific swimmer and was very competitive, whereas Jessie was more toward the middle of the pack and did it for the camaraderie. She made closer friends on the swim team than she did in school. That afternoon, though, she was not competing, and I had her all to myself.