I know I’m a bit out of order with our vacation photos. I’m itching to share more with you -trust me, I have tons, but I thought these particular photos deserved their own blog. They are special…..very special! This one is going to be a long one…..go now and grab the tissues!
Part of the group we traveled down to the beach with just happened to be one of the kindest, genuine, and full hearted people I have ever met named Bill and Tracey. Who would have known that all these years later our lives would collide. You see, many years ago when I worked for the newspaper, I was assigned to shoot several assignments that had to do with their daughter Jessica. At that time, I didn’t know them well, I just knew that in March of 2001 Jessie had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Synovial Cell Sarcoma. She bravely battled her disease for 3 ½ years. I remember being at the memorial service in down town Blairsville where they placed an angel in her memory. It was beautiful and it still stands there today just as beautiful…and I remembered I cried.like.a.baby! I remember hiding behind my camera trying to avoid anyone noticing the tears running down my face. I shared in their pain that day……having hardly knowing them!
Fast forward and here we are sharing a beach house in Outer Banks, NC. Anna their youngest daughter and Miss Mallory are BFF’s so it was only fitting that they got to spend a week together. One particular day the 6 of us went out to lunch (at this amazing BBQ restaurant in Duck, NC) after going out to see the lighthouse (which is a whole other post) and while we were there they began to tell me more about the foundation they started in Jessica’s name. It’s called the “Jessica L. Kurnocik Charitable Foundation” For those of you who aren’t familiar, according to the website, it’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation serving the Western Pennsylvania area. It is their goal to provide financial assistance to those families whose children are undergoing pediatric cancer treatments. It is also their goal to provide early pediatric cancer detection seminars to those frontline medical personnel who will be the first to see your child. Hopefully this will help to eliminate misdiagnoses. Their final goal is to provide pediatric research grants to approved facilities in order to help eradicate pediatric cancers.
As they sat and told me stories of the families they have been able to help thus far, I couldn’t help but stare in amazement and a huge lump grew in my throat! Incase some of you don’t remember, several years ago Mallory was almost misdiagnosed with Leukemia. For 4 days we thought our little girl had cancer. We were blessed –so incredibly blessed to have it been a mistake, but that feeling of fear and helplessness I will NEVER forget. For this reason, alone, I personally believe in the power of their foundation! On top of working full time jobs, they run this foundation. Her hopes are for it to become a national foundation. Currently, they are planning a golf outing on June 17th at Chestnut Ridge where all the proceeds will go to the Foundation. It was Jessica’s wish to her mom, brother and father that they continue her fight against these terrible diseases in order to ease the pain and suffering of other children and their families. And THAT is exactly what they have been doing!
Ok so onto the photos. During our stay at the beach, Jessica’s birthday fell on that Thursday night. For anyone who has ever lost anyone close to you, this day can be bitter sweet. You want to remember all the great times, the fun times, the moments you will cherish forever, but on the other hand, you can’t get over just how much you miss them and wish they were still here with you. The “beach” gang decided that we were going to set up luminaries in Jessica’s memory along the boardwalk leading up to the sand Thursday night during our group dinner to go along with the cake we bought to celebrate her! There were 22 total, since it would have been her 22’nd birthday! I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the house that night. That little girl touched so many people’s lives including mine.
If you want to learn more about Jessica’s Foundation or if you are interested in volunteering, donating, OR if you know of a family that could use an application for assistance, etc, click here
Look very closely, there is ONE star in the sky! Coincidence?? Does that give you the chills or what?
Jen, this post took my breath away. I was close friends with Jessica and this post captured something really amazing and beautiful. Jessica was inspirational and a beautiful person inside and out as is her family. Thank you for sharing this!
Jen, these pictures were truly amazing. I had chills the entire time. I, too, was a close friend of Jessica’s and it means more than you will ever know that you captured this moment for all of us to see. This family has shown so much love, dedication, and strength through the years and I am witness to what wonderful people Jessie and her family are. Thank you again for sharing this and what a wonderful write up you had as well.
Jen, I couldn’t help but shed a tear when I read this story. The Kurnocik’s were a huge help to me when Becca was diagnosed with cancer. My family and friends were a huge support, but I wanted to talk to someone who had been through it, and they were wonderful. Tracey gave me information on working with the school while Becca was going through her surgeries and even recommended her for Make A Wish. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kurnocik’s always.