from the second fund page under own name:
My name is Justin and I have had the honor of having Jessica as my wife, best friend and confidant, she has played many different roles, but being my ballast has been the constant. For the past ten plus years we have been together through the best of times and during some of life’s most difficult and now, due to her untimely death, our 15 year old daughter and myself are asking for your help in full filling her final wishes. We are trying our best to navigate this life without her, but finding new challenges and hardships every step of the way.
Anyone that has ever met Jessica would agree that she was a giving, loving friend and confidant and would go to the end of the earth to help even someone she had just met. Jessica was without a doubt one of the smartest people I have had the privilege of knowing and was educated in and had a love for people with disabilities and helping them overcome their struggles with everyday life. Especially when it came to children with Autism, Asperger’s or with a speech or hearing issue. I remember distinctly a story she told me and over the years, a few others, of a hearing implant (Cochlear) in a very young child that had been born deaf. She said, with the tears streaming down her face, "the look in this child's eyes and the dramatic expression on his face when he heard his mothers voice for the first time was incredible and touched my soul."
Jess went on to receive a BS in Audiology and Speech Pathology and a BS in Psychology from the University of Southern Alabama. Unfortunately, her health did not allow her to pursue her career she worked so hard for. Forever the eternal optimist she forged ahead in a number of ways, but constantly dealing with a misunderstood and even more, misdiagnosed physical illness. Years later Jess was properly diagnosed with a non common and rapidly advancing type of Fibromyalgia. Along with Fibro comes a list of other illnesses or disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome which really hit her hard. The other struggle she endured for most of her life was also not diagnosed correctly 11 times, Major Depressive Disorder and Depressive Bi Polar II. This was so very difficult combined with the flare ups of the fibromyalgia that several times she had to be hospitalized. The largest single concern for her doctors as well as us as a family was avoiding both a depressive cycle and a fibromyalgia flare up at the same time. Unfortunately, this did happen on 3 separate occasions and twice required in patient treatment.
That was my wife, emotionally in 110% from the beginning and with unwavering resolve to the end even when she felt terrible or was in excruciating pain. Now, here we are, missing her like I have never experienced, with her having lost the fight after one hell of a showing. Please help us, as a family still, give her the memorial she so wanted and for once Jessica may be at peace and not in pain or struggling to smile in front of all the people she cared so deeply and without limit. If anyone has earned a reprieve it’s Jess, for all of the times she suffered, often in silence as to not be looked upon as complaining and not being categorized as a victim.
Over half of the cost of Jess’s service will be covered by myself and we are asking for help with the other half. Even a 1.00 donation can help immensely, so please understand no donation is too small. Thank you for your attention to this tragedy especially during the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Justin and the Durning family
