A Fresh Start For Zaki and Jessica

**** UPDATE: Due to the the unbelievable generosity, love and support  of the community, we made our goal and passed right through it!! Thank you again to everyone who got behind this cause the week of Christmas and supported Jessica and Zaki. You mean the world to her this holiday season. You are all angels, and we love you! ****

Zaki Taylor is the kind of child that will turn anything he comes across into his own personal jungle gym. Even you! If you’ve ever had the joy of meeting him, you would know without a doubt that he is an incredible and unique soul. 

 

Born in Tualatin Oregon, on the same day as David Bowie’s passing, his mother Jessica saw stardust in his eyes and knew from that moment on, everything she did would be for him.

 

When Zaki was less than six months old, Jessica was forced to move to Pakistan with her ex husband. Around Zaki’s first birthday, he became mysteriously ill. He began to drop weight, lose hair and developed a high fever. The doctors in Pakistan were unable to help him, and within 4 months he dropped from the 90th percentile for height and weight for children his age to 30th percentile.

 

Jessica was panic stricken and at a loss as her husband refused to let her return to America to see the doctors here. She began saving money and was able to get two plane tickets back to the US. With only 400$ dollars in her pockets, Jessica had to begin her life over in order to save her only child.

 

Although Zaki’s illness was never fully solved, when finally back in Oregon he began to slowly stabilize. Due to the prolonged high fever, he was left with a permanent speech condition called Children's Apraxia. This delayed him from talking, and when he finally started to speak, he wasn’t able to form words like other children. Fortunately, Jessica was able to get him into speech therapy, and after several years, Zaki is now able to communicate with his teachers, friends and family members.

 

Zaki is a truly remarkable child who has overcome so much for someone only 6 years old. He is compassionate, creative, and never loses his empathy for other living beings. He talks to trees, and recycles everything he finds and befriends everyone he meets. Zaki has a beautiful artistic side and loves creating paintings and sculptures. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his two answers are "to take care of trees and run a garbage truck company on the moon”.

 

Her love for Zaki is what has kept Jessica going through a huge number of challenges and struggles, including financial strains and life changing injuries. After filing for divorce, Jessica lost everything she owned, and had to fight for child support for three years. Jessica was working between 3 and 4 jobs at a time just to pay for Zaki’s medical bills and living expenses. Due to the constant strain on her body, in 2020 an old hip issue came back and put Jessica in an unbelievable amount of pain. Jessica, a life long cook and with a master's level education in food science, was unable to work and earn any money to support herself. Her doctors hoped that the first surgery would prevent her from having to get her hip replaced, but unfortunately the operation was not successful. In November of 2021, Jessica had to have an emergency hip replacement. Her doctors joked with her that they were "excited to work on someone who was so young!". Doctors never replace 38 year old hips! Due to the severity of her surgery and several post op infections, Jessica has had to spend most of this holiday season lying down and trying to recover. 

 

Jessica is an amazing friend and daughter and a wonderful mother. She has been a pillar of light, service and love in the community. Jessica is the first person to show up for others when they are celebrating life's wins, or struggling through life's loses. All she wants is the best for her son and everything she does is for him.

 

I started this Go Fund Me because I believe it really does take a village, and I want Jessica and Zaki to get a new home for Christmas! Currently, Jessica and her son are staying with family, and would love a place of their own. Jessica has been unable to work for two years, so while we are asking for money, what we are really hoping for is time. Time for Jessica to heal and be with her son in a safe home that they can call their own. A place where her son can have stability and a chance to be a kid again.

 

With the $8000 dollars we hope to raise from the community, Jessica can afford to pay for first months, last months, a security deposit and moving expenses for a 2 bedroom apartment for her and Zaki.

 

We are so grateful that you are taking the time to learn about Zaki and Jessica’s journey. Thank you for being willing to touch two lives and make a difference this holiday season!