“This is for Dean, Nicole, Keely, Courtney, Ainsley, Peter, Gemma, Adam, Stuart, Olivia, Anta, Deborah, Kelly, Geoff, Jo, Brendan and all those, including their loved ones, who have been touch by this disease." ~ Jess.
Jess’ beloved husband Dean passed away from bowel cancer in July last year at the age of 38.
On the 30th of April 2019, Dean went for a colonoscopy and knew it wasn’t good news straight away. Immediately after being discharged, he was sent for CT and MRI scans, and following a meeting with his colorectal surgeon two days later, Dean was told he had Stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to his liver and lungs. It was a complete shock for Dean, Jess and their family.
Over the next three years, amid countless medical appointments, tests, scans and treatments, Dean shared his lived experience to help raise awareness that you’re never too young to have bowel cancer and support other young people diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer.
In Dean’s words “if something I say means just one person goes to the doctor and gets checked, then it’s worth it”.
Since Dean’s passing Jess has been noticing a lot more rainbows than normal, particularly on the days she’s feeling a bit sad.
In memory of Dean and the rainbows they share, and for all the friends they have made along the way, Jess decided to colour her hair like a rainbow for Decembhair. Continuing the bold awareness and fundraising efforts the pair started together back in 2019, helping to save lives and improve the health and wellbeing of people living with bowel cancer.
Join Jess this Decembhair and sign-up here to be bold for bowel cancer. Dye, cut, grow, shave, or wax your hair, anywhere, to raise awareness and funds for Bowel Cancer Australia this December.
