I received some horrible news not too long ago(9th Feb 2013) when my sister called me from the hospital emergency rooms saying that she was there with her close and long time friend Jess who had just suffered a terrible seizure. Many things have happened since then and it’s all happening very quickly… Simon Nicholson(Jess’s hubby) has set up a page and is asking for donations… something that is not easy for anyone to do, but a true mans character lies in his ability to know when to ask for help… Here is what he has to say on his online page:
“In my lifetime I have been challenged with a few frightening situations. Like being caught inside at 15 foot Pipeline, like being hijacked with shots fired, armed robbers breaking into my house, being held up at knife point in the street.
Nothing comes close to the terrifying sight I saw on Saturday the 9th of February 2013 when my wife and soul mate, Jessica, suffered a massive seizure out of the blue. The timeline of events that followed has left me here … Sitting next a hospital bed in neuro ICU eight days later, while Jess recovers from brain surgery.
Turns out she had a brain tumor… And because it was on the dominant left hand side of the brain, it ruptured, causing the seizure, causing us to rush her to hospital and have a CT scan. That seizure it turns out, saved her life. The tumor, a grade 4 glioblastoma, would have quadrupled in the following months, and left me without my best friend, and a mother for our most beautiful special kids.
I thought I had life all figured out, had the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted.
I didn’t.
My first mistake was that I have taken this incredibly special family for granted. I can do better, I want to do better.
My second is that I underestimated the value of having complete health security for my family. I have medical aid, but it’s not comprehensive, and as it so happens there is a shortfall.
Furthermore Jess is an incredibly driven, motivated, self employed fashion designer. Unfortunately the tumor was highly malignant, which means she is heading into a few years worth of Chemo and radiation starting immediately. That means life must change for us. Jess needs to focus all her strength into fighting this cancer, and that means we need help, and despite my pride and being brought up to stand on my own two feet, I want my wife to be around more than any of that.
So this is me asking for help, to cover the shortfall , to build a support structure, so Jess can get the care she needs, and keep our family together. “
So ladies and gents, we are asking for you all to please head on over to this page www.gofundme.com/jessgetwellsoon and give a little so Jess can gain a lot. Even if its $10 , which works out to R88,75 (roughly the price of a beef burger, chips and a beer/glass of vino at your local hangout)… come on friends, lets get involved! I encourage as many people as possible to pass on the details and to please make a small donation… every bit helps!
