Where Are They Now: Counselor Jessie “Buzz” Nash

For 25 years, Kesem has supported children facing a parent’s cancer through free, year-round programs and a lifelong community, led by dedicated college student volunteers. To mark the 25th anniversary, we’re catching up with former campers and student leaders to reflect on how their Kesem experiences continue to shape their lives.

Jessie “Buzz” Nash found Kesem in college, after her mother had passed away from cancer. While she wished she’d had Kesem sooner, her experience as a college student leader was still impactful. “It was a way to process my grief and take my loss and turn it into something good that helped others,” she shared.

Now the program manager for the Go Jen Go Foundation, Jessie’s Kesem journey started when a fellow student shared about it during her sophomore year of college. She was a counselor for three summers at Camp Kesem North Carolina (when University of North Carolina and Duke hosted Camp Kesem together). “I loved the idea of a camp where there is this commonality of having a parent with cancer, but the week isn’t fully focused on it,” she reflected.

Memories of her campers stay with her to this day. “I still remember my campers and the camp fire chats with the 6-7 year olds, where their little hearts and souls opened up and they shared so much: including many things people and their parents wouldn’t think they felt, knew or recognized. To be there to support them, guide them, and create a safe space was an honor,” she said.

What Jessie learned and experienced at Kesem also informed her career path and professional life today. In her role with Go Jen Go, she works directly with breast cancer patients in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, supporting them through the Patient Assistance Program, Mood Williams Camp Scholarship Fund, Operation Spread the Joy (Holiday Gift Drive), Day of Hope event, and other programming throughout the year. But it’s that camp connection that she still loves to create and share with families. “I especially love overseeing our Camp Scholarship Fund. This fund helps cover costs for our grantees’ children to attend any summer camp or programming they choose, and I always share about Camp Kesem too, which is already free for families. Summer camp is such a beautiful way for them to just be a kid during this challenging time and I’m glad we can help ease potential financial burdens for parents.”

Working with Go Jen Go started as a personal passion, much like Kesem. Jessie met the organization’s founders when she was the summer swim coach for their oldest child. “Jen was fighting breast cancer and we just became friends: me supporting her with my first-hand experience as a child who lost their mom to cancer, and her helping me process my loss in a new way.” Jessie volunteered with Go Jen Go when she could. After college she was the volunteer race director for the Run Jen Run 5K & Festival, their biggest fundraiser. She then joined their board of directors for a few years. The foundation continued to grow and eventually was ready to hire a new staff member, and Jessie raised her hand. “It’s an honor to carry Jen’s legacy in this way and also honor my mom.”

Like so many Kesem alumni, Jessie brings much of what she learned as a student leader into her career now. “Kesem weeks were the best weeks of my summers. I saw children grow, process their emotions, worries, and loss and I’ve taken what I experienced and learned to help me now as I support patients with children.” Jessie’s dad is now also fighting cancer. “I’m seeing it through a new lens now too, as an adult child of a parent with cancer, and bringing all these experiences into my work.” Jessie is proud of the relationships she’s built with Go Jen Go grantees over the past two and a half years. “I’m getting to see the full cycle. We’ve built a relationship, I’ve seen them at programming, and now some of them are volunteering with our foundation themselves. It’s extra special when my personal experience of having a parent fight cancer can help the grantee support their own children.”

Through it all, Jessie maintains a realistic, but hopeful outlook. “Cancer is hard, it takes away a lot, but I’m not letting it define me. I’ve found ways to take my loss to support and give hope to others impacted by a diagnosis or loss.” Because she has another role too: mom to two little boys who are her world. “Being a mom is something I’m so proud of. I am helping my boys see how to support others in need, and learning how to keep my mom’s memory alive and part of my boys life. My oldest loves going to work with me to see the ‘Go Jen Go Ladies.’” 

Jessie shared that, “because of Kesem, I am able to take my loss to help other children navigate their parent having cancer and give them hope.” 

Kesem has given Jessie a lifetime of memories, magic and gratitude, and now she’s passing that on to others.