A devoted mum from Colchester is taking to the skies this weekend in a daring skydive to raise vital funds for The Sick Children’s Trust after we supported her family during the most frightening time of their lives.
Jess Johnson, whose youngest son Jaxxon fell critically ill at just two weeks old, is preparing to leap from 13,000 feet to say thank you after we provided her and former partner, Joe, with a ‘Home from Home’ while their baby boy fought for his life at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
“It’s honestly my pleasure. I can’t thank The Sick Children’s Trust enough,” says Jessica, 32. “I can’t lie; I was terrified to begin with and my nerves have been a mess. But now we’re getting closer to the date, I’m so excited and cannot wait to be up in the sky.”
Desperate medical emergency
Jess and Joe’s nightmare began in 2019 shortly after Jaxxon was born on the fifth birthday of his older brother, Roman. What started as a blissful newborn period quickly turned into a desperate medical emergency when Jaxxon stopped breathing during a night feed.
“Suddenly he turned floppy and blue. I did everything I could, just as I’d been taught in a baby first aid course, and thankfully he took a breath. But we were terrified,” Jessica recalls.
Paramedics rushed Jaxxon to Colchester Hospital, where he was diagnosed with bronchiolitis and RSV, an infection of the respiratory tract. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated and within days, he was transferred to GOSH and placed on life support, suffering a collapsed lung and later a bleed on the brain.
Home from Home “the rainbow we needed”
“It felt so real and so terrifying when we arrived at GOSH”, continued Jess. “We hadn’t even thought about where we would stay. That’s when we were introduced to The Sick Children’s Trust and their incredible Rainbow House. Honestly, it was the rainbow we needed at a terribly difficult and dark time.”
Rainbow House, one of ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, gave Jessica and Joe a welcoming, comforting place to stay just minutes from their baby’s ward. Their room contained a direct phone line to the ward, ensuring they could check in on Jaxxon at any time.
“We stayed there for five days and honestly, we couldn’t have afforded to stay in London without that support, especially over Christmas,” Jessica explains. “There was even a Christmas dinner cooked by volunteers and cookies we could bring back to Roman. That meant everything.”
Now five years old, Jaxxon is thriving. Though he continues to face some health challenges, he’s known for his cheerful personality and determination. “He’s the cheekiest, smartest little boy, and he loves to tell people his story,” says Jessica. “He even stood in the school playground collecting donations for my skydive!”
Jess is jumping not only in gratitude but also to help ensure other families can access the same support. “The Sick Children’s Trust took away the pressure of figuring out where to stay and helped keep us together,” she says. “That’s everything.”
Joining Jess on the jump will be her 55-year-old dad Rob, who happens to be a skydiving enthusiast. “He’s absolutely over the moon. He’s been trying to get me to do this for years!”
The funds raised will help us provide more families with a warm, welcoming place to stay when their child is seriously ill in hospital.
To support Jessica’s skydive and help more families stay together, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/jessica-johnson-13.
Jess with her dad Rob, a skydiving enthusiast.