Help Jennifer After Loss of Husband

On June 29th, Anthony Johnson of Fort Collins, CO; a dedicated husband and father of two young children, abruptly lost his life. He was unable to secure an organ transplant. Diagnosed three short months prior, the organ transplant didn’t come fast enough. Anthony, at 41 years old, was unexpectedly rushed to the ER on the very same day he was to meet with the transplant team. He passed in less than 24 hours, leaving behind his wife, Jennifer, and two young children, Avery (age 9) and Espen (age 7) to find their own way.

Anthony’s family was his top priority and he planned frequent camping trips that are now only special memories. Anthony was a doting father and loved his special daddy-and-me dates with his children. He loved taking his daughter to paint ceramics and his son to the golf range to hit some balls. As a family man, he organized week-long family camping trips with, “...just the tent, the river, and the fire pit” as he insisted that was all we really needed in life. Now these moments can only be special memories.

Johnson Family Video Link: Meet the Johnson Family

Tags: #helpjennifer #helpthejohnsonfamily

Share This Go Fund Me Link: https://gofund.me/e95cd9ba

Who is Jennifer Johnson?

Jennifer Johnson is Anthony's widow, a lovely person, and a wonderful mother. Dedicated to the children in her community, Jennifer started an in-home childcare business in a ‘daycare desert’ where childcare options are extremely limited. During the covid crisis, Jennifer led a covid-safe Halloween parade for the children on three adjacent streets. She was a key player in planning a fantastic summer block party in 2021, bringing the neighbors together safely during the epidemic with live music, face painting, art and science booths, and an outdoor movie set up in the street. Then she helped organize another Halloween event for her neighborhood and held science activities for the children in her neighborhood; and all of this for free to benefit her community. She is truly an outstanding Fort Collins resident. Now she requires help from her community.

Jennifer continues to operate her childcare business, but Fort Collins limits home-based childcares to a maximum of six children, limiting her income and creating an urgent need for support.

Can you imagine the monthly mortgage cost?

When Anthony fell ill, he understood the financial pressure his family could face. The average household income in Fort Collins is $91,635, and the average home price is $590,759. The average monthly mortgage cost in Fort Collins exceeds $3,000. Anthony was the primary income provider of their family and earned well more than half of their combined income. This family just lost two-thirds of their income.

What would you do?

The Johnson family is devastated. Can you imagine yourself in Jennifer’s position? If you can, then please consider donating. As Jennifer’s closest friends and family, we feel that what the Johnson family requires right now is stability. Any donation you can provide will help with financial support to stabilize this family. The money will be used to pay for the basics, including funeral costs, food, housing, transportation, and for medical expenses of their son who requires cardiac monitoring and likely second heart surgery as his little heart grows. Your donations of kindness will help the Johnsons as they face an unknown future and an uphill battle for stability, unlike anything they have ever known before.

What can we do to help the Johnson Family right now?

Speaking as a neighbor and friend, and on behalf of Jennifer and Anthony’s family, our goal is to support the Johnson family to supplement Anthony’s widow’s income. We believe that this donation goal will support the Johnson family to meet the average homeowner's income in Fort Collins for two years. Rebuilding lives takes time. Your help today will give this family time to develop a plan to move forward at this difficult time.

In Jennifer’s words on her Facebook page, “His (Anthony’s) death weighs heavy, and the sadness runs deep into our veins. There are no words that I can say at this moment, and I can only ask for quiet as I navigate through the madness and try to find the light in this very dark place.”

Please contact neighbors Dan and Amanda to join this fundraising team for Jennifer.