Help Jovita Heal and Rebuild

“God is within her, she will not fall.” - Psalm 46:5

Aloha (hello), my name is Carley Espiritu, and I’m the niece of the strongest woman I know, my aunty, Jovita McConnell.

I’m organizing this GoFundMe on behalf of Shane and Jovita McConnell, as she faces the most difficult battle of her life.

On Monday, April 28th, Jovita suffered a ruptured vein in her brain, which caused significant bleeding. She was urgently transported to Harborview Medical Center for surgery.

By God’s grace and with the incredible skill of her medical team, Jovita is now in the ICU in stable but serious condition. While the road ahead will be long and challenging, her strength, resilience, and fighting spirit give us hope and faith that her recovery will be steady and even quicker than expected.

Jovita is a loving wife to Shane and an incredible mother to three beautiful children: Presley, Toby, and Tatum. She’s also a devoted dog mom to Zeppelin and Hendrix. She is the heart of their home — strong, tough, and resilient, yet always leading with love. She is the kind of woman who never backs down, no matter what challenges come her way. If you know her, you know how deeply she loves and how much she gives to her family, friends, and community. Now, it’s our turn to show up for her the way she’s always shown up for others.

The days ahead will be incredibly difficult as she begins the long road to recovery. This process could take months and involve intensive rehabilitation — including physical, occupational, and speech therapy — just to regain lost abilities. These costs add up quickly and are often only partially covered by insurance.

In addition to medical expenses, the funds raised through this GoFundMe will help ease the financial burden on the family by covering:

We are doing everything we can to surround Jovita with the love, strength, and support she needs to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She is strong, brave, and resilient — a true fighter, but she and her family cannot do this alone.

Your donation, no matter the size, will directly support Jovita’s recovery and help her family stay afloat as they focus on what’s most important: healing, hope, and being there for one another.

We are incredibly thankful for the love, prayers, and support we’ve already received. Please continue to send them our way, and if you're able, consider donating and sharing this page with anyone who knows and loves Jovita.

Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much)!