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Contact: Vicky Lynch  |  E: vicky@handlebarpublishing.com  |  P: 630.362.8829  |  W: HandlebarPublishing.com

 

NEGU Q&A

Erik Rees 

 

1. Never Ever Give Up is immensely personal. Why is it important to share your daughter’s story?

 I had three goals for sharing Jessie’s story; increase awareness of childhood cancer, give people facing personal hurdles in life hope and to create a wave of compassion through personal acts of kindness.

 

2. Where did Jessie come up with the idea of creating JoyJars? Why did she do this, instead of focusing on herself? 

Jessie came up with the idea after she started treatment and learned there were lots of children that couldn’t leave the hospital.  She just had a burden for them and wanted to help them.  The name actually came from taking her middle name “joy” and adding it to “jars”.  She choose to spread joy because she knew life was about giving not getting. 

 

3. How did making the JoyJars, not only help others, but also begin helping your family?  JoyJars gave Jessie a sense of purpose during her fight with cancer.  She loved filling each one and sending them out to kids.  She really loved seeing pictures of kids holding her JoyJars on Facebook.  Our entire family helped Jessie with JoyJars and today we still stuff “joy” as a family in her honor.

 

4. Tell us about the Facebook page Jessie created. How did social media help Jessie throughout battling cancer? 

We needed a way to keep people updated on Jessie’s condition so we were going to create a CaringBridge page but she didn’t want one so we suggested Facebook.  She was okay with Facebook and started sharing her daily journey with people she had never met.  Her Facebook fans become like family to her as they sent daily notes of encouragement and prayers.  Jessie felt very alone and physically limited during her fight so her fans made her feel loved.

 

5. You did not fully share the extent of Jessie’s illness to your other two children. Do you think this was the right move? Why? 

Every parent has to make decisions that they feel are best for their children.  Stacey and I felt it was best to hold on to the fact God could heal Jessie at anytime.  In addition, we wanted everyone living with “hope”, which is a very powerful thing in life no matter what age.  Was it the right move? After talking with Shaya and JT afterwards they were both thankful they didn’t live with this dark cloud over their lives each day.  They did an amazing job loving their sister and being there for her.  Looking back, we wouldn’t have changed a thing.

 

 

6. How did your kids handle their grief? What advice do you have for parents who are dealing with a tragedy? 

Grief is a powerful emotion that everyone processes differently. Some get quiet and some get loud.  Our job as parents were to simply walk with them through their grief and let them know we were there for them no matter what.  My only tip for parents is don’t hide your pain from your kids.  Let them know you are hurting too and together with God’s help you will all heal.

 

1. Jessie had a strong faith in God. How did she draw strength from her relationship with God during her treatment?
    Jessie did have an amazing faith in God which inspires me daily.  She would pray for herself, listen to worship music during treatments and do her nightly devotions with her mommy.  She drew her strength from Phil. 4:13 and asked God daily for support.

 

8. Many of your friends and family members walked along side of you during this difficult process. How did this help? 

Jessie was blessed to be part of a great school, church and swim team which provided her and our family wonderful emotional, spiritual and practical support.  After Jessie moved to Heaven, we didn’t have to cook a meal for four months. 

 

9. Unfortunately, cancer strikes 1 in 300 children before the age of 20. What advice do you have for others who want to help a family with a child fighting cancer? 

 In the book I list all sorts of simple ways to help families with children fighting cancer.  Families need help but don’t want to have to add “managing” the help to their already chaotic lives.  The best thing to do if you really know the person is show up and do something.  Don’t ask, “how can I help you?”  Just help.

 

1. Over 80,000 JoyJars have been distributed internationally. How have you accomplished so much in such a small time frame?
   We are actually nearing 100,000 JoyJars in all 50 states and 28 countries.  We just received a request from Lima, Peru.  Social media has been the best channel of communication for us.  Jessie simply just started at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and it grew week by week. We now partner with over 275 children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.

 

11. How did your experiences with Jessie’s illness strengthen or challenge your faith?  During Jessie’s fight it strengthened my faith as I depended on God to give me the wisdom, strength and peace to walk with Jessie and the family.  I truly thought He would heal her physically.  Unfortunately, God choose Heaven as a means of healing which challenged my trust in Him for months.  Now, Heaven has never been more real to me and I can’t wait to spend time in eternity with Jessie and my Heavenly Father.

 

1. Do you have advice for other Christians who may be questioning God’s plan? 
   I don’t know if I would call it “advice” but I would let them know they are not alone in their feelings. I questioned God many times and still do.  I don’t question His love for me or Jessie.  I questioned His choice in using Heaven as a healing agent.   But now that time has past, I see His plan.  Jessie was an Angel sent to Earth with a message (Never Ever Give Up) and a mission (childhood cancer).  How else can you explain how one twelve year old girl, fighting cancer, choose to give to other kids and started a global movement of compassion that has raised millions of dollars to “care” for children/families fighting cancer around the world.  My only answer is, God had a plan!
    
   In addition, I would encourage them to realize God’s plans don’t always match up to our own plans but He is still a loving and caring God.  Faith in God is all about “believing” in our hearts and heads that God loves us no matter what and when we fully depend on Him, He will show us the way.

 

13. Tell us more about the Jessie Rees Foundation. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month. How can we help? 

The Jessie Rees Foundation is a global childhood cancer charity dedicated to ensuring every child fighting cancer has the support and resources to Never Ever Give Up.  We fulfill our mission by 1) encouraging courageous kids to NEGU, 2) assisting courageous families to NEGU, 3) rallying communities to NEGU for courageous kids, 4) mobilize athletes to NEGU for courageous kids and 5) inspire the world to NEGU for courageous kids.

 

Each year in the US, the month of September is dedicated to “childhood cancer awareness”.   If you have a social media platform, please join our Going Gold campaign and help raise awareness of this devastating disease.

 

full hands

I received "Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full" by Gloria Furman from Crossway.org.  Much like the title this e-book hits the nail on the head with a lot of words.  The book relates motherhood and faith into one package.  Furman mixes two different writing styles. She bounces back and for between a modern, forward voice that tends to relate to moms and then goes into a scholar, seminary voice as if she were writing for a doctorate paper.  Both are good stuff, but I didn't like the swing back and forth.  Adding the parental voice tended to make the scholar voice seem too wordy.  Its a good book, but the flow could be a lot better. 

South Dakota 2014

Convinced my husband that we should take a vacation this year, since we enjoyed last year so much.  This year we went to South Dakota.  LOTS of driving, but still enjoyable.  First stop was De Smet, South Dakota, the land of Laura Ingalls.  Little girls as far as the eye can see.  We took our 9 year old so she fit right in.  We left on a Thursday and drove 9 hours counting eating and bathroom stops.  We arrived and checked into the Prairie Manor B&B, which I highly recommend.  Our room had an in-room Jacuzzi and it was wonderful!  We spent Friday doing the Laura Ingalls thing.  Toured the original homes, then went to the Homestead.  The Homestead is all replica, which has kinda better because then the girls could touch and play with the stuff.  They had hand clothes washing, rug making, etc.  Then we killed the afternoon doing nothing.  If you ever go, plan to leave after the Ingalls tours, cuz De Smet has very little to offer after that.  Saturday morning we traveled 5 hours to Deadwood with a stop in Wall.  Ya gotta stop in Wall Drug.  No real reason, you just do.  Did a little shopping then on to Deadwood.  Deadwood is kinda weird, but very cool.  It's like a tiny little Vegas, but with better stories.  The town has a lot of gambling, some saloons, shopping, re-enactments, shoot-outs, ghosts, tours, ghost tours, bikers everywhere; it's pretty dang cool.  That night we headed to our cabin in Keystone.  Spent Sunday seeing Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Iron Mountain, and the Mammoth Site.  Monday we spent 13 hours traveling home, stopping only in 1880 Town. Which you need to do if ever you get the chance.  It's as if in 1880 all the people were evaporated and left everything right where it was and then in 2014 you come along and find it.  If I could do it all again, I would leave De Smet after Ingalls and spend more time in Deadwood.  Then I would break up that nightmare drive home into two days and go through the Badlands. 

annie's stories review

"Annie's Stories" by Cindy Thomson is the second in the Ellis Island series.  These are historical novels that do not necessarily need to be read in order.  The novel centers around Annie, an Irish immigrant in 1901.  Her father died before she left for the US and her uncle, who was then her guardian, placed her in a Magdalene Laundry. If you don't know what that is do a quick google search.  There is also a movie I would recommend.  It will appall you. She then immigrates to the US and stays with Mrs. Hawkings in her boarding house working as a house servant.  Her cousin (whom she does not like) soon follows her.  Annie also has what is probably PTSD from her time in the Laundry.  The story follows her as she deals with her past, her cousin, her mail delivering friend, and the women in the boarding house.  The women in the house live in a constant fear of being bullied by men.  And bully they do; whenever it benefits them.  I have never read a book about women either in the past or in another country that did not make me grateful to be an American born during my own time.  This book does the same.  The book is well written and researched, but because of the anger I felt when I read it, it was a hard book to read and found myself not really wanting to read it because of that.  I am not sure how to rate this book.  It is good, but not pleasing to read.  You will have to see for yourself. This book appeared on A Christian Writer's World blog.  I receive this book in exchange for my review from Tyndale House Publishers.

murder with class

If anyone can write about murder with class it is Julianna Deering.  "Murder at the Mikado" is the third in the Drew Fathering Mystery series.  In this installment, Drew has a visit from his past.  It seems while in college, Drew got tangled with a dangerous woman, Fleur, a gorgeous actress, who has been accused of murder.  The victim being her ex-boyfriend and fellow actor.  Drew is called on to solve the crime and brings his best friend, Nick, and his fiancé, Madeline, to help him out.  Not surprisingly, Fleur showing up does not sit well with Madeline.  Not only does the body count keep going up, but things are crumbling in Drew's engagement as well.
These books are all set in the 1930s England; Drew being an extremely rich 24 year old and an amateur sleuth.  The language in the books is well-to-do and could be annoying to the new reader.  But stick with it, because once you get used to it it becomes quiet catchy and you start to love the flow of the speech.  I like the time period and the class that is portrayed in the books.  I give it four stars.  I received this book in exchange for a review from Bethany House Publishers.

ms meyer CD

I received "Living in Excellence and Integrity" a 4 CD teaching by Joyce Meyer from Jody's Book Review blog in a giveaway.  I like to watch Joyce Meyer in the mornings when everybody is gone and the house is quiet.  She is an extremely gifted talker.  This CD package is the audio of the television and personal appearances.  The teaching in this pack is about doing the small things, doing what is right, whether people are watching or not.  She teaches about your responsibility to God and yourself to live a life according to what is right rather than what is "normal". 
I have read some of Meyer's books and she is a good writer.  But she is an amazing speaker.  She demands your attention and whether you believe in God or not, you have to admit, her advice can't be beat. The woman is wise and should be listened to.  I am Christian and I think she opens an ear to what God wants me to hear.  5 Stars.

chimes review

Laura, Cassie, and Sean are three life long friends living in the south.  Laura's father is a Vietnam Vet that has been battling PTSD for 30 years.  Sean's father is a violent alcoholic who abuses his children.  Cassie's mother has a screw loose, but no one can figure out what is going on.  The three together make the perfect friends.  "Stillness of Chimes" by Meg Mosely is a mystery novel surrounding the three friends and their families.  Laura's father, Elliot, is declared dead after going missing on a lake 12 years before.  After her mother dies, there are suddenly Elliot sightings.  And the rumors start to fly to the point where he becomes the towns own version of Big Foot.  Laura starts to question and the investigation is on.
Mosely is great at keeping the reader on the line.  She drops little tid bits that leave the reader saying, "Wait!  What happened?"  Then you must keep reading to find out.  Hard to put down.  I didn't especially like the end though.  I thought the climax should have been broken down into two events.  Making it a little more probable.  But other than the last 10 pages, I loved the book.  I recommend reading it; ya never know, maybe you'll love the end.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from www.bloggingforbooks.org.