Jessica Marie Kupczak known as “Jess” was 24 years old and living in Astoria Queens New York, with her fiancé Eddie and her boxer Elvis. Jessica grew up in Connecticut and had taken dance lessons since the age of four. She continued dance lessons her entire life and went on to attend Adelphi University on Long Island NY where she majored in Dance and Theater. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2000. Jessica was only 4’11” but that was not about to stop her from living her dream to dance on the big stage.
Jess had an infectious smile that would light up any room and was always there for her friends and family. She loved her life in New York working at various jobs to pay the rent and always took dance lessons whenever she had extra cash. She loved her life with Eddie and her dog Elvis and would do anything for either of them.
Jess called me in 2000 to tell me that she would make New York her home and that she was making arrangements to get her New York drivers license and would become a Registered Organ Donor like me. I was touched by her commitment to Organ and Tissue donation but only said “great Jess”. Never did I imagine that opportunity would arise.
Jessica suffered from Asthma from a very young age but was able to manage it with her rescue inhaler and other medications. In the early morning hours of November 17th Jess suffered a severe Asthma attack and while on her way to the hospital she had a cardiac arrest and was placed on Life Support. Jess was on life support for seven days and never recovered consciousness, she was pronounced brain dead on November 23rd 2002.
Jessica was able to donate her Heart, Liver, both Kidneys and her Pancreas to two men and two women. Complete strangers that she had never met but she wanted to give the greatest gift one human being can give to another; “The Gift of Life”.
I honor Jess each and every day by promoting Organ and Tissue donation and Asthma awareness. Thank you for allowing me share her story and honor her spirit. The following quote gives voice to the true meaning of Organ and Tissue Donation. “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be their world” A proud Donor Dad. Keep on dancing Tiny Dancer.