Kamloops teen Jessie Simpson is currently in Vancouver for kidney surgery.
Image Credit: GOFUNDME / Natasha Teal
November 30, 2020 - 12:45 PM
The mother of a Kamloops teen living with a severe brain injury after being beaten with a baseball bat is asking the community for help to bring some Christmas spirit to the next stage of his recovery.
Jesse Simpson was 18 years old when he was walking home from a graduation party, June 19, 2016. He was looking for a friend’s address when he approached the wrong house and was assaulted by Kristopher Teichrieb. Teichrieb struck Simpson on the head with an aluminum baseball bat multiple times, leaving Simpson in a coma. Teichrieb was convicted of aggravated assault and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Simpson has since come out of his coma but still suffers from a severe brain injury as a result of the attack, and will remain in a long-term care facility for the rest of his life.
His mother, Sue Simpson, has put out a call in several Facebook community groups asking supporters to send him Christmas cards.
In her post, she said she would read them to him while he is recovering from his most recent surgery, which he went in for in Vancouver this morning, Nov. 30.
Sue also reached out to the Shambhala Music Festival group, asking for festival supporters to send him a Christmas card this year as Jessie’s a big fan of the festival.
The Shambhala team responded with a statement, urging others to send cards and that they will be sending him a holiday card and some merchandise.
READ MORE: Shambhala organizers sending Christmas card to festival fan Jessie Simpson
A GoFundMe is also ongoing to raise money for a new wheelchair and to renovate Sue’s home so it can be wheelchair accessible.
“I am a single mother and have lost my job to stay by his side. Our goals are to get a new wheelchair and wheelchair accessible van. Jessie has outgrown his wheelchair and as a result his back and body are in constant pain,” she wrote in the GoFundMe post.
Sue has asked those who wish to send him a Christmas card to mail it to P.O. Box 233, Savona, B.C., V0K 2J0.
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