Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie and Her JoyJars

Written by Erik Rees and Jenna Glatzer

Narrated by Mark Smeby

It started with a simple question: How can we help them? It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer.

During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the “Joy Factory” (originally their garage) making JoyJars®—packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars® being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars®, and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children’s hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses.

Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer.

Join the movement at negu.org.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: May 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9780310147954

Erik Rees

For over 15 years, Erik Rees helped people discover and direct their God-given S.H.A.P.E. at Saddleback Church. After the loss of his twelve-year-old daughter Jessie to cancer in 2011, Erik used his pain to help other families and is the CEO of the Jessie Rees Foundation. Through Erik’s leadership, Jessie’s mission to encourage every kid fighting cancer to “Never Ever Give Up” is becoming a reality. He and his wife, Stacey, live in Orange County, California, with their children, Shaya and JT, and their two dogs.

Reviews for Never Ever Give Up

[nlaclaire_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What would you do if you learned that you had an inoperable brain tumor? In his book, Never Ever Give Up: The Inspiring Story of Jessie and Her JoyJars, Erik Rees tells the inspiring story of his daughter, Jessica Joy Rees, who succumbed to an inoperable form of brain cancer in January 2012 at the age of 12 after a 10-month-long battle. Rather than focusing on her own problems, this incredible little girl focused on what she could do to help other kids who were suffering. Her efforts became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up and led to over 100,000 children receiving JoyJars®—packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer—so far in over sixteen countries.In case there was any question in your mind, this is an incredibly moving book. Rees describes, in heartbreaking detail, the events of those 10 months. Throughout the book, we are brought into many family discussions, doctor’s offices, and even Erik’s own thoughts. We cry with the family, but we also smile and at times even laugh. The book is a moving tribute to a beautiful gift that God gave not just a family, but the world.Never Ever Give Up has given me a new appreciation for what a family dealing with pediatric cancer goes through. I consider myself a reasonably compassionate person, but after reading this book, I will forever find a greater level of sympathy for families with a child with a terminal illness.Jessie’s story has also inspired me to take a more active role helping those who are less fortunate than I. I’m not sure what that will look like yet, but I am committed to doing more.At the end of the book, Rees lists “25 Ways To Help a Family With a Child Fighting Cancer.” Everyone should have a copy of this list ready to be used to support those around us.I highly recommend reading Never Ever Give Up. It will change you forever.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Handlebar Marketing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing these things in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[pamelabarrett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jessie Joy Rees got brain cancer at eleven. DIPG is a rare inoperable, incurable tumor in the middle of the brain stem. When Eric Rees, her dad, heard the diagnosis all he could pray was “God please heal my daughter.” And for 10 months that was his hearts cry. This is Jessie’s story from first symptom until her passing 10 months later. But before you think you can’t bear to read such a heart breaking story, please reconsider; read Never Ever Give Up for all the children, and their families, fighting this battle right now. Because that is what Jessie would have wanted, she cared about all the children and put them first. She took up her cross, and bore the weight of it by creating something to bring joy into their lives. Jessie started a movement called NEGU (Never Ever Give Up), by taking large jars and stuffing them full of toys for every child fighting cancer so that they could, for a moment, play in their hospital bed and feel happiness. These jars of toys are called Joy Jars*, and thousands of children have been blessed by them.This tragic story touches on all the layers of human life: bad things do happen to good people, even when you have a strong belief in God, and you will struggle with your faith when the answer you get isn’t what you prayed for. How do you go on? How does adversity affect family and friends? Eric is transparent in the telling of Jessie’s story, this is how they walked through it, these are the choices they made and even as a pastor he admits he wasn’t perfect in all his choices. Her mom Stacey took on the day to day care as Jessie went through Chemo and Radiation, along with taking care of Jessie’s 2 siblings. Jessie’s story touched me personally because I prayed for her after hearing about her on FB. There were 3 other children with cancer I heard about and prayed for, only one survived and is in remission. It’s so upsetting that we haven’t gotten any further along with treatments and cures, and part of the problem is that there isn’t much money in these rare types of cancers. And also too many scientists are waiting for patents on new treatments. That needs to change. But as Eric says “We will care until there is a cure.” Well written, with help from Jenna Glatzer, this is a 5 star inspirational true story