Jeff has been many things to many people in his life.  A son, a brother, a husband, a father, a coach and as I have known him; a friend.  In all of these capacities I have always known Jeff to be present and fully committed to his role.  He has always lead quietly and guided with a gentle hand.
 
As many of you are probably aware, Jeff has been faced with some challenges to his health that have put him in the unusual circumstance of having the focus put on him.  Jeff’s journey has taken him from Hawaii to Utah to seek care for his condition.  Jeff has a cardiac condition that will require him to undergo a number of procedures to stabilize his long term health.  His first procedure will take place on December 10th, when he will have a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implanted to assist his heart. The plan is to have the LVAD serve as a bridge while they find a suitable donor heart to transplant into Jeff.  While Jeff may face a long road to recovery he has a lot to fight for.  His family, which he values more than anything, recently welcomed two new granddaughters and they have have one more on the way.  With both older daughters starting families and RaeRae is entering high school soon; he has a lot to live for.
 
The big joke at the volleyball club where I met Jeff was that if you wanted anything from him, just have one of the kids ask; he would not say no and his family would always support him.  When we coached, he always told the girls that what he was teaching them was “a gift” that they could take forward in life and share with others.  That gift has blossomed into numerous collegiate scholarships and the life lessons turned into careers and young families.  I’m sure you have your own heartwarming stories of your interaction with Jeff and how he touched your lives and those around you.
 
During this holiday season, I would ask you to look into you hearts and see if you can give “a gift” to Jeff.  It took him a while to allow me to put this together for him.  He has always been a quiet man who pulls more than his fair share  and never wants the spotlight on him.  He said he wanted to do this so people know what is happening with him. 
 
Thank you all for reading this post.  If I can answer any questions please feel free to contact me and I will answer to the best of my ability.  May God bless you and keep you safe during this holiday season.

Disclosure
My name is Craig Sunada and I am organizing this GoFundMe for the Gaogao family.  I am a family friend who meet Jeff through years of coaching volleyball in Hawaii.  The funds from the campaign will go towards travel and medical expenses associated with Jeff’s surgery and recovery.  The proceeds from this campaign will go directly the the Gaogao family.  Thank you for your support of Jeff and his family.