On the Move

photo supplied

Marian Newell and her daughter Samantha Spina hold a photo of Jesse.

like a needle and thread; his mother previously lived in Beaufort, and now is back in Bluffton. One beloved local story is also one of the longest running ripple effects of Jesse’s Wish: The survivor story of Stephen Golis, who was with Jesse from the start.

“When Jesse and I were going through cancer together, we were sharing a room, and we would turn the curtains back, put the beds together and play video games,” Golis said. He speaks of Newell’s work with the foundation as a “God-send to so many.” Newell returns the sentiment, saying, “there’s an emotional connection — he’s a young man who survived and is giving back for others fighting cancer, remembering his friend Jesse and the impact on his own life.” One of these ways is a simple coffee can at the Golis Family Jewelers on Fording Island Road, initially placed for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month one September. Because there were so many donations, Newell says Golis called often to say, “come and get the coffee can.” Soon it changed to, “let’s keep doing this.” The coffee can still sits in the shop, as does Newell’s book, The Sacred Ripple, a collection of positive stories continuing to grow from that first wish. The book is available for free with a donation of any amount, proceeds of which support the foundation. “Jesse’s original wish is still creating Divine Appointments, putting us in places where the right people come alongside, because it takes a village to help these kids with cancer and their families,” Newell said “I also let parents know I am available personally to talk to, cry on, and pray with.” Reverberating through all this is Jesse’s Wish “to help my friends in the hospital,” a wish that keeps wishing, through those who keep giving. The foundation is committed to “helping individuals and their families in Bluffton, Charleston, Savannah, and Columbia” where Newell’s husband is happy to load their vehicle to deliver large bags filled with toys and crafts to hospitals every other month and local families when needed. They also support where Jesse’s Wish started in New York (personally covered by Jesse’s sister Samantha Spina, the Foundation’s president) as well as hospitals in New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia and Virginia, where Jesse’s brother is stationed in the Coast Guard. Said Newell: “We are grateful that Bluffton and the generous people here are now part of Jesse’s Wish.”

For more on the foundation, visit jesseswishfoundation.org.