From Patient to Philanthropist: Jessica’s Journey
July 23, 2026
Jessica Foerch, whose life was saved at Children’s Hospital Colorado as an infant, chose to pay that care forward by including a planned gift to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation in her estate plans.
Jessica Foerch’s life began with nearly impossible odds. Born with hydrocephalus, a dangerous buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, she was airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado immediately after birth. There doctors discovered a grapefruit-sized cyst on her optic nerve and gave her a 5-10% chance of survival.
Over the next two days, Jessica suffered two cardiac arrests and stopped breathing for almost an hour. At one point, she was considered clinically brain dead, but the neonatologists and nurses at Children’s Colorado would not give up.
My parents and the staff at Children’s Colorado were with me every step of the way, never doubting that I could thrive.
Jessica
Her parents shared that determination. From the beginning, they filled Jessica’s world with toys and visual stimuli to attract her attention, believing every interaction and stimulus could help her heal.
“Everything we did early on was about opening pathways: comprehension pathways, physical pathways. We absolutely believed that more stimuli we could provide early, the better the prognosis would be,” said Jessica’s dad, Perry.
By age 3, Jessica had had three neurosurgeries. Yet thanks to excellent medical care and early intervention, she enjoyed a happy, active childhood.
A Medical Mystery
Jessica’s journey with Children’s Colorado continued into her teenage years when she began experiencing seizures, likely due to the brain trauma she suffered as an infant. Years of testing and medication trials followed as specialists at Children’s Colorado searched for answers.
When a life-threatening shunt failure nearly claimed her life at age 15, then-Chief of Neurosurgery Kenneth Winston, MD, immediately diagnosed the problem and operated on her without delay.
“Dr. Winston saved my life the day before Thanksgiving and gave up his Thanksgiving holiday to ensure that I would have so many more with my family,” said Jessica gratefully.
Two years later, Jessica underwent a successful temporal lobectomy to remove the piece of her brain causing the seizures. Before agreeing to the surgery, Jessica had two requests: that her long blonde hair not be shaved the summer before her senior year and that her stuffed bunny, Rabby, who had accompanied Jessica through all of her previous surgeries, be with her.
Today, more than two decades later, Jessica remains seizure free. She married, earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and built a career helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find employment.
Turning Gratitude into Action
As both an annual donor and a planned giving donor, Jessica has chosen to ensure future children and families receive the same lifesaving care she did. Her estate gift supports the Children’s Fund, providing flexible resources where they are needed most.
“Because of all the efforts of the staff at Children’s Colorado, I am alive today. I always told myself that if one day I got to a point in life where I could, I would give back to others. I’m honored to donate to Children’s Colorado, so it can continue supporting other families like it did mine,” said Jessica.
