Club Reaching Out To Troubled SemGroup Worker

SemGroup's misfortune is just the latest blow for one of its employees.  Not only is Jess King worried about losing her job, her husband is recovering from a massive brain injury, she was robbed, and she's pregnant.  News On 6 Anchor Latoya Silmon reports Jess King's world is tumbling around her.  But, she's not alone; an entire community is behind her.

Young and in love, Jess and Wes King thought they had it all.

"Two months ago things were perfect:  Wes and I.  He was doing really well at his job. I was doing really well at my job," said Jess King.

And, the newlyweds found out they were pregnant.  Then, Wes got sick.  He had an AVM.

"It's kinda like a cluster of malformed veins and ventricles.  Blood pumps into them and it just gets bigger and bigger. Until you have to operate on it," said Jess King.

He ended up having two surgeries and was in a coma.  Doctors said he'd never be the same.  Jess says she left the hospital upset only to walk into another nightmare at home.

"I walked in the door and everything was gone.  It's just stuff and I don't care about stuff, but it was just too much at that moment. OK, I can't take anything else," said Jess King.

But, there's more.  Now her job as an accounting assistant at SemGroup is on the line.  She is getting some help from her part-time job at Aspen Athletic Clubs.  They are stepping up and helping out.  It's asking club members, employees, and even strangers to donate money or gifts to the couple.   It's also offering incentives to non-members.

"People have just written checks.  Offering TVs, VCRs.  They're offering beds tables you name it," said Stacey Buffington of Aspen Athletic Clubs.

"I just didn't know that many people cared about us.  So, it's been really good and bad at the same time. We're just trying to keep our head up and get through it," said Jess King.

Aspen has raised $500 dollars in just two days.  Jess says the generosity has made her want to become a better person.

Aspen hosted "A Day For Jess" on Tuesday.  They are also letting non-members come and take a fitness class for only $5 each day for the whole week. All the proceeds will go directly to Jess.

A special account has also been established for Jess King at Spirit Bank.  Donations can be made at any Spirit location.