Remembering Jessica Morris

I learned today that Jessica Morris, the recipient of the CONQUER: the patient voice Hero of Hope Award in 2018, passed away on June 8, 2021 at the age of 57 after a 5-year fight against the brain tumor glioblastoma.

In my opinion, she was the perfect person to receive the CONQUER: the patient voice Hero of Hope Award.

Most patients with cancer diagnosed with a glioblastoma survive only a year or 2 after diagnosis. It is a type of cancer that hasn’t progressed in ways to manage and treat it. There has been some advancement, but not to the degree that is needed. Other cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, which have higher volumes of patients, have experienced more breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

Jessica was not going to sit back and wait for death to come. She took her diagnosis and gave it a wonderful purpose. She founded a nonprofit organization called OurBrainBank. The mission is to provide psychological support to brain cancer patients with a special emphasis on those with glioblastomas, provide more clinical trials for this patient population, and directly involve patients through the use of an app that allows them to track their symptoms and put that information into a database that informs researchers. Jessica wanted to ensure that those treating patients, as well as those working in research laboratories, valued the patient experience.

There are 9 elements needed to be successfully fulfilled in order for a person to experience a good and peaceful death. Two of them are: knowing your purpose for living and knowing that your life was valued by at least 1 other person; leaving a legacy.

Clearly, Jessica is the epitome of having fulfilled these elements in a very profound way, paving the way for future brain cancer patients to have their voices heard, have access to more clinical trials, and receive patient-centered care.

Watch this video of Jessica sharing her passion, spirit, and determination after receiving the CONQUER: the patient voice Hero of Hope Award.