"You don't know someone's story. You should treat everyone like you don't know their story."
Jessica Rose McNamara, 1995 -2017
Jessica Rose McNamara was known for her compassion. Jessie was extremely soft-spoken but could capture your attention with her beautiful smile or full-bore, staccato laugh.
Jessie was diagnosed with Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNST's), a sarcoma, in the late summer/early fall of 2016 at the age of 21. This rare sarcoma occurs in 0.001% of the population. There are only a little over 200 cases in the U.S. each year. At the time of her diagnosis, Jess was about to enter her senior year at college where she was on course to graduate Summa Cum Laude. With strength and resilience, she faced two major surgeries, chemotherapy, and a clinical trial. Caregivers at St. Francis Hospital and Dana Farber, as well as Jessie's family, were amazed at her bravery and determination. But mostly, they couldn't believe her graciousness and gratefulness during her arduous treatments. Every single caregiver that entered Jessie's hospital room was greeted with that wonderful smile and exited to Jessie's sincere words of thanks.
Jessie passed away on July 27, 2017, at home, surrounded by her family, less than a year after her diagnosis. She was 22. As always, some of her last thoughts were for others. "Will you be okay?" she asked. "Fight, never give up, and remember forever love," she beseeched.
Please join us in continuing Jessie's story of selflessness and gracious compassion. Jess would have hoped that in the future no one dies from a sarcoma. Lets realize her hope and honor her legacy.
Thank you,
Jimmy & Maria McNamara, Tommy McNamara & Felice Santorelli, Mandy & Tucker Preston
