Jessie Simpson goes through another surgery, starting to remember horrific attack

While he has made progress after spending the 10 months immediately after the incident in a coma, he seems to take a couple of steps back for each step forward.

Royal Inland Hospital has been a second home for Simpson since the attack three years ago.

The 22-year-old is in the hospital for another surgery. This time, it is meant to remove a kidney stone. Returning to RIH is difficult for his mom, Susan Simpson.

“Watching Jessie struggle, it goes back to when Jessie got hurt. Every time we’re in the hospital, that feeling of ‘I’m going to lose him again,'” said Susan. “It’s scary. It’s scary when he’s sick. It’s scary to see him struggle. It’s scary to see him do so well, then get hurt again.”

Before returning to the hospital, he was thriving with a new $30,000 electric wheelchair he received from victim services.

However, Jessie also suffered a minor stroke during the summer that has impacted his progress. Despite that, his memory is slowly starting to come back. For the first time, Jessie is remembering some of the events of June 19, 2016.

“He’s asked about being hit in the head with a baseball bat,” noted Susan. “He’s constantly saying he feels like he was hit with a baseball bat. It’s a memory in there that’s for sure coming back.”

Susan says as more memories return, they will lead to counselling for both of them. That means more money out of her pocket when she’s already struggling to keep afloat.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

A GoFundMe page collected $24,000 last year and is now close to $30,000, but the money has been spent on things like a $17,000 van for Jessie as well as daily expenses needed to care for him.

“It’s hard because to have a regular job and you have to call in every week to say, ‘Okay, I can’t make it.’ And, of course, I’m going to be with Jessie. I can’t leave him in the hospital by himself. I can’t leave him when he’s really, really sick. He wants his mom,” said Susan.

Jessie is also at risk of pneumonia right now, but he remains positive.

“That’s what gets me through,” said Susan. “If Jessie was not positive, I think it would be a lot harder. It makes me smile. He always tells me what a good mom and nurse I am to him. It’s pretty cool.”

Susan is in the process of organizing an online auction to help fundraise more for Jessie. She is looking for businesses to donate prizes.

“Gift cards, baskets, wine baskets, whatever anyone can donate would be greatly appreciated,” said Susan. “We’ll let everybody know when the auction comes up and everybody will have a chance to bid on it.”

by Chad Klassen

Jessie Simpson goes through another surgery, starting to remember horrific attack

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