Powassan teen loses battle with cystic fibrosis

‘May you now dance among the angels . . .’

A Powassan mother is mourning her second daughter with cystic fibrosis to die of complications following a double-lung transplant.

Jessica Gough, 19, was battling a severe chest infection at the North Bay and District Hospital. Her mother held her as she died Tuesday at 5 a.m.

“She got to the point she just no longer had the energy to fight it. She basically asked to let her go,” said her mother Kathy Gough.

“She’d had enough. She had fought and she just couldn’t do it anymore.”
Her 13-year-old daughter, Emily, also had cystic fibrosis and died Feb. 17, 2006 from complications after receiving her double-lung transplant in November 2004.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes breathing problems as mucus builds up in the lungs, and it can also keep the body from digesting food and absorbing nutrients.
Kathy Gough became a champion for organ transplants and awareness about cystic fibrosis — Emily was on the province’s organ donor list for 2 1/2 years.

“Transplantation is not a cure. You’re trading one disease for another. You’re still dealing with doctors and medications and risks,” she said.

Jessica was 18 when she received her transplant in May 2007 at the Toronto General Hospital. She was home by August, in school by September and eventually found a job, a car and her own apartment.

“She was living a life, getting out with her friends, being a typical teenager,” her mother said.

The community banded together to fundraise for the family, and Gold Fleet Suzuki in North Bay became involved granting Jessica’s wish through the Make a Wish Foundation by helping to refurbish her 1989 Suzuki Swift.

Jessica’s lung function started to fail and she had to quit work and move back home. The family even reassessed her for a second lung transplant until her lung function stabilized, her mother said.

The teen was doing well until earlier this month when her health took a turn for the worse.
“I was just there to support them and do the best I could and love them every second,” Kathy Gough said.

A Facebook group set up to track Jessica’s progress and offer support was filling with condolences Wednesday.

“Rest in peace, Jessica. May you now dance among the angels with your sister, Emily. You will be missed by all,” said one message.

“I can’t believe the fight you had in you, but now the struggle is over and you can finally rest,” said another.

Jessica kept in touch, giving updates about her condition after her surgery.
“I can’t wait to be back in school,” she wrote in August.

Cystic fibrosis is the national cause of the Kinsmen. Mike Croghan, past-president of the North Bay club, placed the Gough family’s ordeal on his shoulders.

“It hurts. Those two little girls, they were like the lifeline for our club and our community. I’m feeling really bad, but it just makes me want to go out and continue the fight to find a cure especially in honour of those two girls,” said Croghan whose 18-year-old nephew was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just eight months old.

Jessica and Emily Gough are survived by their brother, John, 11.

Instead of a mass, their mother is holding a funeral talk Saturday at the Mapleridge Senior Public School auditorium. The public is welcome to say a few words or write down thoughts which will be posted throughout the room, and a book of memories will be available to sign.
“I just need something to inspire me, to give me a reason to go on,” Kathy Gough said.
Visitation will be held at the Paul Funeral Home, 531 Main St. in Powassan, today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

The funeral talk will begin at 11 a.m. at Mapleridge at 171 Edward St. in Powassan and will be followed by tea.

A Letter from Kathy Gough

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have so generously donated to our family to help cover our expenses while Jessica had a double lung transplant in Toronto.  There have been so many schools, businesses, organizations, family members, friends, and individuals, who have donated their time and money so that we could make it through this rough time, and still be able to come back to our home and beloved community of Powassan once Jessica is better.  There will never be words enough to express our thanks and gratitude to all of you.

The Kinsmen Club of North Bay is the ONLY organization that Jessica and I have authorized to spearhead our campaign, as their national charity is Cystic Fibrosis, which Jessica suffers from.  The Kinsmen have very generously volunteered their time and effort, spending countless hours away from their own families to help ours.  These men, and their families, have massive hearts and have been doing a great job on our behalf.  I ask that everyone who has planned, or may be planning a future fundraiser, to please contact the Kinsmen Club, and let them know of your intentions so that they can keep track of all that is happening on our behalf.

It has come to my attention that there have been individuals who have used our names and cause to try and profit for themselves.  The Kinsmen are trying to keep this from happening and I urge you once again to please let the Kinsmen know of your intentions, so they can keep track of legitimate fundraisers.

I have at NO time given anyone my permission to raise funds through telemarketing, or through door-to-door campaigns, so I urge the public to PLEASE NOT give to these people on our behalf.  These illicit campaigns have unfortunately been taking place and we are doing our best to shut them down.  It is not a financial issue, it is a moral issue, and I disagree with these practices.

TO help prevent fraudulent fundraising efforts, I ask that all money raised be given to either the Kinsmen Club, or deposited directly into our family fund account at The Bank of Nova Scotia.

My wish is that through Jessica, and also Emily’s journey, we can bring awareness to the public and our community about organ donation and Cystic Fibrosis, which is still the number one genetic killer of children in the world.  Cystic Fibrosis is a terminal illness with no cure, and too many young lives are cut short by this devastating disease.  Lung transplantation extends lives, and while we are grateful for the extra time we get with our loved ones, it is not a cure.

Thank you again to everyone for your generosity and support through this time.  We can’t wait to get back home so Jessica can continue her life journey.
Yours Sincerely,

Kathy Gough

The Call Finally Came For Jessica Gough

Toronto- On Friday May 25, 2007 at 6:45a.m.the Gough Family received a phone call from Toronto General Hospital that a set of lungs became available for transplant to Jessica Gough. The family have been waiting in Toronto many months for this news and rushed to the hospital to get Jessica prepped for surgery. A large team of doctors were assembled for the transplant and Jessica went into surgery at 4:20p.m.that afternoon.

The transplant was complete at 12:30a.m. Saturday May 26, 2007. Jessica was breathing on her own 12 hours later and taken off her ventilation system at 12:30p.m. “Jessica is doing great, but tired and feeling a little beaten up” explains Kathy Gough, Jessica’s mother.

Sunday brought better news with Jessica’s skin turning pink again and everyone has great hopes that Jessica could be up and walking on today.

“I’m tired and living on adrenalin right now. I’m ecstatic for this new lease on life for Jessica and my heart and prayers are also with the family who’s loved one had to lose their life to save Jessica’s” said Kathy Gough.

For more information: http://jessicagoughfund.ca/
Kathy Gough
P. 416-519-4113
E. kgough@iglide.net

Member elected to National Position!

The Kinsmen Club of North Bay is very pleased to announce that long time Kinsmen and Life Member Mike Croghan has been elected to a National position as the Kin-CF Liaison Committee Chair.  He takes office for a two year term in August 2007.  Although 4 other delegates were vying for the position, Mike was successful, receiving 51% of the total votes on the first ballot.

Mike is a lifelong residence of North Bay and has been involved in Kin Canada and their National Charity – The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - for 15 years and has held countless executive positions with Kin Canada over the years at the local and district levels and has been an avid supporter of Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the Chair of the North Bay Chapter and a District Representative. Congratulations Mike!

Were Growing!

Congratulations to the newest members of our club. Randy and Beth Hall, Pieere Boivin, Mitch Belanger, Dan O’Donnell and Scott McLaughlin were all installed by Deputy Governor Scott Shussler at the annual installation night of the Kinsmen Club on Dec 19th 2006.