Jenessa's Story
(10/5/2007) Bend, OR (September 18, 2007) – On Saturday, July 7, eight-year-old Sparrow Club adoptee Jenessa Byers and her family, residents of Lewisburg, Oregon, received the gift of a lifetime when the cast and crew of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” knocked on their door, informing them they’d been selected to receive a complete home remodel. Byers and her family were selected due to the hardships they’ve endured while she battles rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. The week-long remodel of the Byers’ home can be seen in an episode scheduled to air October 7, 2007.
One year ago, Byers was also “adopted” by Mt. View Elementary School, located in her community, through Sparrow Clubs USA. Through Sparrow Clubs, children in medical crisis like Jenessa, called Sparrows, are adopted by individual schools or youth groups. The school or youth group then raises money for their Sparrow’s care and treatment through community service and fundraising. During the construction and remodel of the Byers’ home 16 other Sparrows and family members from the Western Oregon region helped by painting stones for a serenity pond, which was presented to the Byers family by the Sparrows themselves.
(2/13/06) Jenessa was born on May 20th, 1999 to Rob and Rachel Byers. She has two wild but wonderful older brothers Chris(13) and Joe(12). Jenessa is not only beautiful on the inside and out, but she is smart, funny, creative, spunky, fashion conscious, and has a zest for life that is contagious when you are with her.
On January 28th, 2006 our world went dark. Jenessa was diagnosed with a very rare childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. The doctors say her prognosis is a 70% survival rate with this type of aggressive cancer. The good news is that the tumor was caught soon enough and it has not metastasized anywhere else in her body. Jenessa will undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments throughout this year.
Jenessa's family income has been reduced as her mother has had to leave her job in order to care for her. Jenessa's loving family needs help with the cost of monthly household expenses, insurance co-pays and deductibles, and a dependable vehicle.