Sue Simpson (left) with her son Jessie at his care home in Kamloops.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Sue Simpson

It has been almost seven years since Jessie Simpson was brutally attacked with a baseball bat leaving him with a severe brain injury and his mom is opening up more about who her son is and how he is coping. 

“People want to know Jessie’s progress and how he feels with what happened to him,” Sue Simpson said. “We don’t usually talk about it. Up until now we’ve focussed on the positives and moving forward.”

Jessie has been at Royal Inland Hospital for several days getting invasive surgeries to remove kidney stones, something people who lie on their backs a lot can be more prone to. He has stents in his left kidney and its draining.

Sue said he’s been in pain, but still trying to smile at the nurses. He was able to have a brief zoom meeting with iNFOnews.ca before bed on April 3.

“I’m feeling comfortable and had a sandwich, did I have my sandwich yet, mom?” he says, giving a thumbs up and a lopsided grin while Sue adjusted his pillow to prop him up more.

His speech is fast and jumbled, so Sue stepped in to interpret. She reminded him not to swear and they laughed.

When asked if he was ready to get out of the hospital, Jessie said “I want to get out of the hospital, I want to visit you…I love my mom more than strawberry cake.”

After seven years of healing and rehab, and still unable to stand or walk, Jessie continues to take baby steps forward, even spelling some words and counting. His hands partly are contracted from the brain injury and he recently fully opened one of them.

“Yea, I’m really proud of that,” he said. “I can open my left hand. I can hold it open for a minute and 7 seconds.”

The hospital light was dim and he was getting drowsy. He told his mom he had a headache, but had one more thing to say about the interview.

“It brightens my day and my heart, you make me smile,” he said. “I have a headache. Shine bright like a diamond, peace and love.” He made a long kissing sound, a “monster kiss” goodbye, Sue said.

Kamloops resident Jessie Simpson at Royal Inland Hospital.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Sue Simpson

Jessie fell victim to a brutal beating by Kristopher Teichrieb in 2016 at the age of 18 in Kamloops, that put him in a coma for ten months and left him with permanent, severe brain damage.

After the attack, Jessie’s brain scans showed both sides covered in blood and his skull was smashed in. It was questionable at that time whether he would live and taking him off life support was considered. It wasn't likely he'd eat, sleep or talk again. 

“I believe he understands everything I say," Sue said. "He forgets what he had for breakfast and will ask the same questions over and over but he’s still there, every day he shocks me.”

READ MORE: It took a fatal disease to teach Kamloops artist about life

Sue said her son is just starting to regain more memories of being hit on the head with a bat. She doesn’t push him on the topic but is willing to discuss it with him if he brings it up. He doesn’t cry about it and doesn’t get angry. He reacts to pain during surgeries, and begs to stand and walk again, but despite everything he's been through is "typically happy."

Before the attack, Sue said her son was a people person who liked sports. He helped others and despite his small size, stood up for kids being bullied at school. 

“I had a girl come to me and say I have a brain injury and Jessie stood up for me when I was being picked on.”

His sociable nature hasn’t changed and he gets excited when new people come by wanting to know their names, birthdays and favourite colours. Since the attack he has received cards and letters from around the world, something he loves.

“I never realized how many people his story has affected and people from everywhere,” Sue said. “His story is one we can learn from but also his love and will to live. He shouldn’t be here but he is, he fought, the minute he got hurt on the sidewalk he had to start fighting.”

READ MORE: Nursing program at Okanagan College coming to an end

Sue said teenagers and people who are fighting themselves, who have lost their children or have kids with brain injuries, reach out to tell her he’s an inspiration.

She’s in the process of writing a book about her son’s story as part of her healing journey.

“Even an act of violence can be turned into something good,” she said. “We can’t go back and part of him is gone but the person is there. Jessie has the strength to live, he never gave up. Our world is so negative but he’s a light to people.”

READ MORE: Feds follow through with Tk'emlups healing centre promise

Sue is planning a gathering for friends and family with snacks and music at her home in Savona on May 6 to celebrate Jessie.

“We’ve been through so much, I want it to be a lovely day for him, he needs those good normal times too.”

Sue’s annual Justice for Jessie auction is coming soon and she is in need of donated items to sell and gift cards.

Cans and bottles can be dropped off in Jessie’s name at General Grants Bottle Depot at 611 Fortune Drive on the North Shore to go toward transportation, food and gas, and small things like flowers to brighten Jessie’s day.

Find past stories on Jessie Simpson here. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023