Help Jenn Heal and Keep Her Family Strong

I'm Dane. As a YouTuber, I tell stories about myself and my interests often. But today the story is of someone who I personally admire - and I know you will too.

I was fortunate to be welcomed into a family over a year ago that at first I was simply a guest in. My good friend of over 3 years, Jenn, lost her husband of 15 years in early 2023. He and I were friends too. In fact we'd all planned to move into an apartment together to offset some of the crazy rent prices, but a couple months before that happened, he passed away, leaving behind a widow and their 2 kids.

With the apartment already locked in, I looked forward to maybe being helpful to Jenn and her two awesome kids. Did I say 2? Because at the time, Jenn was also fostering a 13 year old girl, who'd been long abused and neglected by her mother before finally being forced into the street. As of this writing, Jenn is still fostering that kiddo, and giving her love she's not had before.

I saw a family in need of support and I intended to be what help I could, while also leaving them room to grieve.

I do what I can, and have helped out, but I realize now just how much I needed these amazing people in my life too.

This chaotic, beautiful, traumatized, loving, and unbelievably strong family, miraculously led and held together by Jenn and powered by the heart that beats in her chest, was a force of love and joy I could not deny, and now I cannot imagine life without them.

Last week one night, Jenn asked me to dial 911 because she was struggling to breathe. And thankfully she did, because once arriving at the ER, we eventually learned that her heart - the same one that touches and enriches anyone in her orbit, was not functioning as well as it should. Without proper treatment and rest, she could very well die.

This means her best possible plan is to take time off her full-time job, to focus on strengthening her heart. We as her family have come together to help lessen her stresses and make her relax more, but for her to truly have the time she needs, she needs help with rent, bills, all the things every family needs.

At the center of this family is Jenn, and at the center of her is the heart that despite hardships has refused to give up. However, it has reached its limit and we know that to keep her around as long as possible, we need to step up and return the love, and that includes asking for help.