Jennifer Beth Turken was an exceptionally special little girl who brought a smile and a sense of wonder to everyone she met. From an early age, she not only demonstrated her immense strength and determination, announcing at four years old that she was ready to remove the training wheels on her bicycle, and from that moment on, she never looked back. Jennifer also had the ability to dazzle both adults and children with her incredible intelligence, charm, and fearlessness, amazing her teachers as she read complex words, sharing profound lessons about the meaning of life, or searching for adventure and mischief with her best friends. But more so than anything, Jennifer had a deep understanding of kindness, compassion, and empathy. You’d often find her consoling friends who were sad, including classmates who felt othered or alone, and bringing a sense of joy, light, and life with her giggles and squeals of laughter.
When Jennifer was five years old, she was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumor. Although she was initially given six months to live, Jennifer exceeded all expectations and fought for three years. She underwent thirteen, eight hour brain surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, a bone marrow transplant, and innovative stem cell therapy, all with a smile on her face, unfailing courage, and the resilience to keep going. Less than twelve hours after a major surgery, Jennifer insisted on rollerblading around her neighborhood with her family and over to her friend’s house. She normalized her stays in the hospital, playing baseball off of the foot of her bed, bringing gifts to other sick children, and embracing the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff as part of her family.
Even as her health declined and the effects of her treatments took a toll on her body, Jennifer always believed in the importance of treating others with sensitivity, kindness, and respect–even if she didn’t receive the same treatment in return. After losing her hair to chemotherapy and gaining weight due to steroid medications, Jennifer endured cruel treatment from children and adults, who were never taught the weight of their words and the consequences of their actions. However, as opposed to allowing it to affect her, Jennifer held her head up high, remained composed, and determined not to allow others to make her feel less than. She wouldn’t accept that people were cruel and callous, and with the support of her family, Jennifer encouraged conversations about kindness, lessons about treating others with respect, and the importance of compassion and empathy.
Although Jennifer lost her battle and passed away when she was only eight years old, it is in honor of Jennifer and the lessons she embodied, the lives she changed, and the kindness she shared with the world that the Turken family founded the Jennifer Beth Turken Heart Award.
