Standing With Wendy - Recovery after Urgent Brain Surgery

If you know Wendy Johnston, you know her heart. She’s the first to help an injured animal, the first to lift up someone in need, and the last to ever ask for anything in return. Now, we’re asking for help on her behalf, because everything changed in an instant. About two weeks ago, Wendy was admitted to the hospital after a persistent headache continued to increase in severity, bringing difficulties in navigating daily life and a growing sense that something just wasn’t right.

Emergency imaging revealed concerning masses and severe swelling throughout the right hemisphere of her brain, leading to a stay in the neuro ICU. This past Monday, she underwent an urgently scheduled open craniotomy to remove the largest mass and relieve some of the debilitating pressure.

While she and her care team are currently awaiting a full pathology report from the Mayo Clinic, her strength and spirit have never wavered. She is currently recovering in a specialized rehabilitation hospital and is already impressing her care team with her progress in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. True to her nature, she’s kept everyone smiling, even in the hardest moments, with her signature wit and warmth.

Wendy has lived a life of quiet strength and kindness. She has carried more than her share of weight in this life, the kind of hardships that could harden a person. But she never let them. Through every challenge, she’s remained one of the kindest, most giving souls you could ever meet. She’s the one who remembers your favorite color, who rescues animals no one else would notice, who quietly shows up when things fall apart. Not for praise, but because her heart simply works that way. She’s carried others through storm after storm, holding space with a quiet strength that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt it yourself. She’s the kind of mom who makes you feel like the world is still good, no matter how dark things get. And now, it’s our turn to carry her.

Wendy and her fiancé, Bob Quint, are a true team - in love, in business, in everything. Together, they own and operate JMG Customs, a small Jeep customization shop built from the ground up with passion and purpose. Wendy also runs her own handmade business, crafting unique paracord Jeep accessories and jewelry. Their love of off-roading and craftsmanship shines through in every project. They also care for their two beloved cats Felix and Tucker, their dog Maggie, and the many strays Wendy always seems to attract... She's a bit like Snow White that way.

If you know Bob, you know he’s the kind of person who shows up. Always. He’s the guy helping friends fix their cars on weekends, offering advice to a stranger without hesitation, or spending hours teaching someone something just because they asked. He’s generous with his time, his knowledge, and his heart. Now, he’s dropped everything to be at Wendy’s side … sleeping in chairs, advocating during rounds, making sure every detail of her care is handled with love and showing up in every way that matters. Their bond is the kind of partnership that inspires others: rooted in deep respect, quiet humor, and the kind of loyalty that doesn’t waver when things get hard.

Right now, in the wake of Wendy’s health crisis, both she and Bob have had to step away from work entirely. As self-employed, hands-on business owners, they don’t have paid time off or a financial safety net, and the pressure is immense. This means they’re facing not just an emotional or physical battle, but a financial one, too.

This fundraiser is to help cover the loss of income needed for day-to-day expenses and ongoing medical costs during rehabilitation and treatment. Most importantly, we hope to help to give Wendy the time, space, and peace she needs to heal while allowing Bob to stay by her side on this uncharted path. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in their quality of life. If you’re unable to give financially, your thoughts, prayers, and shares are equally appreciated while they focus on healing, hope, and next steps.

Wendy has spent her life giving to others. Let’s show up for her now, just like she’s always shown up for the world.

From her daughters - Makenna and Sydney:

Thank you, truly, for supporting our mom in any way that you can. She is our rock. Her kindness and strength have shaped the way we move through the world. Getting to show up for her the way she's always shown up for us is an honor, even in such a hard time.

Your support helps lift some of the weight, and we can't tell you how much that means to our family. Every share, donation, and kind word matter more than you know.