Jesse
gave his all hoping that it would help to save other kids.Here is
a young man who tried to make a difference in the lives of others
and did so!
May
you rest in the peace of knowing that your life was important to
us ! You
were loved, and you are still loved.
June
18, 1981 - September 17, 1999
Jesse
Gelsinger was the tragic victim of a gene therapy that went wrong.
Jesse died while undergoing the medical research that he so earnestly
thought would help to save the lives of babies and others who suffered
from the rare genetic disorder that he had dealt with all his life.
He unknowingly contributed to safeguards in the medical community
that would effectively save lives and prevent the terrible tragedy
that he suffered. This site is erected in the memory of Jesse, who
wanted to help others. In memory of the good things that he did
in his life to that end.
Jesse's
dad, Paul Gelsinger, has spent countless hours in service to prevent
this tragedy from ever happening again to others.
He wrote
a heartwarming paper on what happened to Jesse.
He
called his story: Jesse's Intent
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Here
is an excerpt from the story that Jesse's dad tells about Jesse:
Jesse assembled his pro wrestling, Sylvester Stallone, and Adam
Sandler videos and I worked like a dog to get as much done as possible
in preparation for my own departure. So with one bag of videos and
another with clothing, Jesse and I headed off to the airport early
on Thursday, the 9th. He was both apprehensive and excited. He had
to change planes in Phoenix and hail a cab for the hospital once
he arrived in Philly. Jesse had never been away from Tucson on his
own prior to this trip. Words cannot express how proud I was of
this kid. Just eighteen, he was going off to help the world. As
I walked him to his gate I gave him a big hug and as I looked him
in the eye, I told him he was my hero. (You can read the rest
of Jesse's Intent here.)
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