Life Turns Around For SemGroup Worker

A Tulsa woman who more than six months ago was down on her luck because of the bad economy is turning her life around.

Tuesday, March 24th 2009, 9:59 pm

By: News On 6

By Latoya Silmon, The News On 6

TULSA, OK - A Tulsa woman who more than six months ago was down on her luck because of the bad economy is turning her life around.

When we first met Jess King, her job at SemGroup was on the line, her husband was near death, someone had just stolen everything they had and on top of that she was pregnant.

Now, it seems her nightmare has a storybook ending.

Jess King has a story to tell and she plans on sharing it with the world.

"Now, I'm writing a book. Yeah. We like to share the story with people because I think it was really hard to endure, but I think it says a lot about Wes's character. He never gave up on himself," said Jess King.

And, she never gave up on him.

Last July, Jess's husband was near death. He had a mass on his brain and doctor's feared the worst.

While the love her life was fighting for his life, Jess was fighting for her job at SemGroup. And then, someone broke into their house taking everything they had. Jess also had the stress of becoming a new mom to little Ellie.

Jess' friends at Aspen Gym held a fundraiser to help, but the odds were stacked against the Kings.

"I was alone, and I would go to bed alone which is so weird when you're married. I would just cry. There were times when I felt so hopeless. I would have to literally give myself a pep talk," said Jess King.

She must have talked a good game, because the odds are now in their favor.

"Everything's been great. For every bad thing that happened a good thing happened. I got to keep my job, which I thanked my lucky stars for," said Jess King.

And, her family is complete.

"The first day I brought him home it felt like he was back from the dead because I hadn't been able to talk to him for so long and so I just couldn't believe it," said Jess King.

Wes still has a long road of recovery ahead of him, but this new dad isn't complaining.

"You know, I get to stay home with her. I get to be a stay at home dad and I think Jess is jealous," said Wes King.

Not jealous. More like relieved and she's can't wait to tell you all about it. Jess King says she's written a few chapters so far, but she needs your help to get the project done.

You can log onto her facebook page: The Wesley Story Project and tell her what you think of what she has so far.

So far, more than 175 people have critiqued the book.