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.
“We’re going to make it kind of a traditional ceremony. We’re going to have an elder come do a prayer and then we’re having an elk horn made for him with an eagle feather and a dream catcher.”
Sue is welcoming anyone who wishes to attend. The party will be at 7106 Savona Access Road, Savona.
“Jessie will speak that day, I want him to speak. He’s been really, really proud lately, he’s been opening his hands and telling everybody, ‘look at my hand, I can open it fully,’ that’s his left hand where he had the stroke. And he’s been talking to me a bit about what happened.”
Jessie has little memory of the attack, but Sue doesn’t want him to relive the horror.
“I think the positive is good for both of us. I’m starting to feel like I’m healing.
“We haven’t had a nice time together and that’s what I wanted. Everything is so busy all the time for both of us, he’s doing all his rehab and everything else and he’s been sick and I’ve been at the hospital with him… He’s never been honoured. We always talked about it that we’re proud of Jessie, but this is a day for Jessie to be honoured and maybe we’ll keep it a tradition.”
Sue’s 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’s attacker Kristopher Teichrieb did sell his home for $1 in an attempt to hide assets from a potential lawsuit.
“It’s justice for Jessie. It’s definitely what I’ve fought for the past seven years.”
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 GoFundMe to pay for travel and medical expenses.
Part of Jessie’s 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’s 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
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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