Jessie Simpson beat the odds with a lot stacked against him.
The young man from Kamloops was attacked with a metal baseball bat in 2016 and spent nearly a year in a coma.
Not only did Jessie wake up, but he has learned to speak and eat on his own again and continues physical therapy to regain motor skills.
To honour the fight Jessie has been through, his mom Sue is planning a little party at her home in Savona for May 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make it kind of a traditional ceremony. We鈥檙e going to have an elder come do a prayer and then we鈥檙e having an elk horn made for him with an eagle feather and a dream catcher.鈥�
Sue is welcoming anyone who wishes to attend. The party will be at 7106 Savona Access Road, Savona.
鈥淛essie will speak that day, I want him to speak. He鈥檚 been really, really proud lately, he鈥檚 been opening his hands and telling everybody, 鈥榣ook at my hand, I can open it fully,鈥� that鈥檚 his left hand where he had the stroke. And he鈥檚 been talking to me a bit about what happened.鈥�
Jessie has little memory of the attack, but Sue doesn鈥檛 want him to relive the horror.
鈥淚 think the positive is good for both of us. I鈥檓 starting to feel like I鈥檓 healing.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had a nice time together and that鈥檚 what I wanted. Everything is so busy all the time for both of us, he鈥檚 doing all his rehab and everything else and he鈥檚 been sick and I鈥檝e been at the hospital with him鈥� He鈥檚 never been honoured. We always talked about it that we鈥檙e proud of Jessie, but this is a day for Jessie to be honoured and maybe we鈥檒l keep it a tradition.鈥�
Sue鈥檚 healing journey has included writing a book about the past seven years, and adjusting to life as the main caregiver for her adult son.
Another piece of the healing journey came from the court ruling in late February that Jessie鈥檚 attacker Kristopher Teichrieb did sell his home for $1 in an attempt to hide assets from a potential lawsuit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 justice for Jessie. It鈥檚 definitely what I鈥檝e fought for the past seven years.鈥�
READ MORE: Kamloops baseball bat attacker ordered to sell home to pay victim
Sue could not speak about the court decision as of yet. She continues to fundraise on to pay for travel and medical expenses.
Part of Jessie鈥檚 healing has included community support like the mass amounts of cards that come in at his birthday and Christmas.
Although the request is a little early, Sue is hoping to fill Jessie鈥檚 room with birthday cards again this year as he comes home on weekends through the summer.
Jessie turns 26 on July 26. Cards can be mailed to: Jessie Simpson PO BOX 233 Savona B.C. V0K 2J0.
READ MORE: 25 going on 18: Happy birthday to Kamloops man badly injured in 2016 assault
brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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