Erik Rees will talk about his daughter Jessie who was diagnosed with DIGP on March 3rd of 2011 and passed away only 10 months later on January 5th of 2012  when she was 12 years old. Jessie was the inspiration behind the Jessie Rees Foundation.

Erik Rees will talk about his daughter Jessie who was diagnosed with DIGP on March 3rd of 2011 and passed away only 10 months later on January 5th of 2012 when she was 12 years old. Jessie was the inspiration behind the Jessie Rees Foundation.

From Help and Hope Happen Here by Mark Levine

April 16, 2026 · 58 min · Season 6 · Episode 533

About this episode

Erik Rees shares the story of his daughter Jessie and discusses the foundation created in her honor to support pediatric cancer patients.

Erik Rees became an amazing Cancer Dad and Pediatric Cancer advocate during and after his daughter Jessie battled with and passed away from DIPG at the age of 12 in January of 2012. Erik talks about his beloved daughter and then details the Jessie Rees Foundation which was started because of Jessie's wish to help Pediatric Cancer patients who were at Children's Hospital of Orange County in California. Jessie started her Jessie's Joy Jars while battling her Pediatric Brain Cancer, and nearly 6...

People in this episode

Host: Mark Levine

Guest: Erik Rees

Topics covered

  • pediatric cancer
  • advocacy
  • family
  • inspiration
  • healthcare

Keywords

  • DIPG
  • Jessie Rees
  • pediatric cancer
  • Jessie's Joy Jars
  • advocacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jessie Rees Foundation

Places: California

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