Jessica Anderson awoke to a spinning image of insect-laden mosquito netting hanging over her bed. The right side of her body was completely numb and the fever, which began a few days prior, soared.

Anderson had been teaching English in Uganda with Help International for five weeks when she began to experience migraine-like headaches, high fevers and muscle aches. And only six weeks into her summer-long volunteering program, she faced leaving the children she had come to love and had to cut her long-anticipated service short because of a malaria diagnosis.

"Finally I was there [in Uganda] ... and planning to stay for a few more months and I could have if I had been getting better, but I kept getting worse," she said. "I felt like I would go home, but I hoped it wasn't true."

A year later, Anderson, a 20-year-old communications disorders major, hasn't completely recovered. And this hasn't been the only challenge she's faced in the last few years. The deaths of her nephew and her younger sister, Emily, in addition to a long battle with mononucleosis and chronic back pain have given her many reasons to simply give up. But in spite of it all, she has been able to be her naturally happy self.

"Even in the deepest darkest moment, she was still Jessica," said John Reeves, Anderson's older brother.

Casey Garner, a former student at the University of Utah, lived with Anderson's family during the 2005 to 2006 school year. During that time, Anderson was home recovering from mono after having spent only a few weeks in Provo. Garner said Anderson became like a sister to her.

"We just wanted to be like Anne and Diana and live the Anne of Green Gables life," Garner said.

An auto accident that fall claimed the life of Anderson's sister, Emily. But Emily's death didn't stop Anderson from living, Garner said. Despite the sense of loneliness, she still continued to do the things she loved to do and got busy serving.

"We'd always get talking about our dreams," Garner said. "If all else failed, we'd always cheer ourselves up by putting on a romantic movie."

Romantic movies and music are only some of the things that Anderson has found joy in. She also said she enjoys hiking, running, music, spending time with her husband and 15-member family and creating beautiful pieces of art, which her mother hangs in the family home. And, according to her mother, Linda Reeves, order and neatness make the list, too.

A little laughter hasn't hurt either.

"She always laughs," John Reeves said. "It's easy to tell jokes to Jessica."

Serving others has also been one of Anderson's frequent activities and sources of happiness. During high school she taught reading and English to two second grade classes, and then volunteered at a hospital with her sister, Emily, whose positive and self-less attitude left a lasting impression.

"I recall one incident where Jessie said to Emily, 'I need to improve my attitude,'" Linda Reeves said. "Emily looked at her and said, 'yes you do.' Emily was the constant positive attitude person."

The piano-playing California native said it hasn't always been easy to smile, however. Some days she has to make a conscious effort to remind herself of the happy person she was before.

"I just have to have new focuses and find joy in everything," Anderson said. "When I wake up in the morning, I decide to be happy and make the most out of life."

Anderson also credits her lifelong friend, now husband, Reid Anderson,who also spent time in Africa on a mission, for influencing her attitude through his happy nature.

"We definitely see the perfect timing with Reid," Linda Reeves said. "He has filled a void in her life."

Reid Anderson said it was his wife's desire to serve others and spiritual progression that first attracted him to her. Her only shortcomings, he said, are she laughs when they pray and is too nice to boys.

Although Jessica Anderson is still recovering, she is even able to joke about her illness now and views it as preparation for the couple's next excursion to Africa.

"We joke that we're sick so we just buildup our immune systems so we can go back and not get sick again," she said, laughing.