dJessica Taylor, aged 73 years young
"Age is only a number" (Oprah)
Jessica Elizabeth Taylor is the daughter of the late Gordie Taylor, a Scottish actor and musician. She was a professional actress and an award winning Irish dancer during her childhood years.
Feel The Way That I Do
Kenny Holliday's gift to Jessica. The song was composed as a result of his reading Jessica's story.
In 1967 Jessica Taylor from Listowel, Co. Kerry, immigrated to Canada. She was married with two infant daughters. Things went well for the family. Within a couple of years her husband Ken had an excellent position in engineering and Jessica had opened her cosmetic shop in Bramalea, Ontario. Then tragedy struck. One evening in November 1969, in the premises of one of her suppliers, Jessica fell down a steep staircase and sustained multiple injuries, the worst injury being to her brain. Over the following years she lived in an incredible world on the fringes of reality where she re-experienced birth, infancy, adolescence and early adulthood--
Devoid of self-pity and loaded with determination, Jessica is a warm and lovable character with whom any reader will find it easy to identify. Her story is a fantastic personal journey, as well as a journey of rehabilitation against all odds, told through her laughter and tears. Gently, not forcibly, she will change the way we view brain-injury but also the way we think about and view our own lives.
A determined, focused individual, Jessica is always constantly aware of the limitations of her brain injury but merely laughs, muddles through and emerges on the other side stronger, happier and with more to share with those she tirelessly aids. She has taught others to “never limit yourself and never allow others to limit you. Focus on each new challenge and allow your spirit to clear each hurdle".
'Nothing stops this tireless woman. Leaving the dark cave of her horrific experience, she could have gone into the Light and moved on. But she stopped, turned around, saw the suffering of others then ran back into their darkness. She suffuses them with determination and with gentling hands, leads them steadily and surely into the light of a new, healing day.
Along with her colleague, Sally Whibley, Jessica plans to fundraising in order to purchase a 'Quadriciser ' for the 'SmartFitt' gym in Parksville. The machine will be used for the rehabilitation of stroke and head- injured survivors, cerebal palsey, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and much more. (Please go to her link 'Appearances,' for more info about previous presentations.)
In 2011, Jessica Co-founded and sponsored the Oceanside Brain Injury Resource Society Network in Parksville, Vancouver island
Along with her campaigning Jessica still finds the time to research and work on her dissertation on 'Theology and its Connection to the Paranormal' and hopes to earn a doctorate in theology. This from a woman who was told by doctors she'd only be able to work at making cardboard boxes in a factory!
