Teen's life, death inspire community

Jessica Moorhead's struggle prompted some friends to study medicine.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- To her friends and family, Jessica Moorhead was courageous, upbeat and witty, a leader who always had a smile on her face.
To the community, Jessica has served as an inspiration during her life and after her death last March at the age of 16 from leukemia.
"Our community is a wonderful community; I've gotten to see that firsthand," said Jenifer Moorhead, Jessica's mother.
Moorhead said while Jessica was alive, many local residents donated blood and had their bone marrow tested in an effort to help her and her family. Bone marrow transplants can be used to treat leukemia and other cancers of the blood.
"There were so many people that came so far to be tested," Moorhead said.
Foundation's work
Since Jessica's death, local residents have helped raise nearly $100,000 for the pediatric and adolescent cancer program at Forum Health Tod Children's Hospital through the Jessica Moorhead Foundation for Hope. Jenifer Moorhead said the money is needed to help other young people with cancer.
"I don't think there will be another one just like her, but there's more Jessicas," she said. "I want them all to know that the community's behind them."
Moorhead was the keynote speaker Friday night for the kickoff of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Fitch High School in Austintown. Jessica's brothers James, 21, Christopher, 10, and Nathan, 8, carried the torch for the event.
Friends' efforts
Last week, Jessica's friends held a "Joining Hands" benefit dance for students from Chaney, Ursuline and Fitch high schools. About 275 students came to the dance, which was held in Austintown and raised $2,100 for the foundation and the Relay for Life.
Shannon Hians, an 18-year-old Fitch senior who organized the dance, praised the community for helping the foundation and the Moorhead family.
"Since the beginning, people have just been amazing with money, donations and helping with fund-raisers," she said.
Hians said she first met Jessica in kindergarten at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Austintown, and the pair soon became close friends.
"She always had a smile on her face," Hians said. "She always thought of everyone before herself, even when she was sick."
Stacey Alexander, a 17-year-old senior at Chaney who met Jessica when the two played softball together, described Jessica as "one of those people that would always brighten your day. Positive, just fun.
"She was always happy," said Stacey, who helped organize a fund-raiser at Chaney last week that raised $554 for the foundation.
The diagnosis
As she started eighth grade, Jessica was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Brooke Roberts, a 17-year-old Fitch senior who was friends with Jessica, said she was shocked by the diagnosis.
"You never thought it was something that could happen to someone so close to you," she said.
Jessica underwent a year of chemotherapy before traveling to Minnesota for a bone marrow transplant. Her cancer was in remission by the start of last school year, allowing her to attend Ursuline full-time.
Kady Skowron, 17, Jessica's cousin and classmate at Ursuline, said Jessica's battle against cancer inspired her friends and fellow students.
"She was the bravest person I've ever met. She had so much courage, she was an inspiration to everyone," Kady said.
Jenifer Moorhead said Jessica attended Ursuline until the middle of her junior year, when the leukemia returned "with a vengeance." Seven weeks after the leukemia returned, on March 5, 2003, Jessica died at Tod Children's Hospital.
Both Brooke and Hians both said that in part because of Jessica's battle, they plan to go into medicine after they graduate.
XOn the Net: www.jessicafoundationforhope.org.
hill@vindy.com