Jen's Cheerleaders!
Donation protected
UPDATE 12/10/19: We have some new exciting updates we wanted to be sure to share as we know Jen is cheering from heaven. A little backstory first for those of you who are new....Jennifer started a nonprofit called Join The Flock in her last six months of life with the purpose of raising money to help families affected by cancer make their mortgage payments.
We are honored to carry on Join The Flock in her memory. In year two, Join The Flock INC is an official 501c3 nonprofit. Please visit www.jointheflockinc.org for more information.
We are incredibly excited to announce that Mario, Eden and Monica will be guests on Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways on NBC December 11 at 8:00 pm!!! Please tune in to see how Ellen DeGeneres honors Jennifer’s beautiful life and gives back to her family.
UPDATE 3/12/19: There have been some changes to Jennifer's status so we wanted to provide an update for everyone who has been following Jennifer’s journey and/or contributing to her cause:
Many of you know Jennifer, Mario, and Jen’s father, Joe, are scheduled to depart for Mexico this upcoming Saturday, March 16th. However, they have had some unfortunate events fall their way which we wanted to inform you of.
Jennifer’s heart rate had been arrhythmic for a few days and over the weekend she was taken by ambulance and admitted to Emory when her heart rate got so high she thought she was having a heart attack. At the height of her episodes (which were reoccurring) her heart rate got as high as 240 bpm. The doctors were able to stabilize her heart rate and bring it back down to normal which is encouraging; however, this is not without additional complications. Jennifer is currently still in ICU and is now no longer able to fly on a commercial flight down to Mexico.
Mario has been communicating with the doctors who agree the only way she can make it to Mexico is to fly via medical aircraft (aka airplane ambulance). The risk is far too great if she were to have another arrhythmic episode and not have medical attention immediately available. Additionally, in her fragile state, to fly amongst the general population and risk exposure to countless germs is also no longer a safe option.
The cost to cover their round trip flights to Mexico via medical transport, have necessary ground transportation to/from the hospital, and accommodate her ICU needs at the hospital in Mexico is closing in on $90,000. As a result, we are increasing her overall raise to $164,000 in order to cover her treatment and additional medical transportation needs.
We know we have already asked a lot of everyone and your generosity thus far has been extraordinary, but if you are able to help contribute once again to her cause we all would be forever grateful. The words life or death have never been so real before.
Thank in you advance for your love, support, and prayers. Please keep them coming.
If you'd like to read more about Jen's cancer journey please check out her blog here
How do I even begin to describe the incredible sunshine that Jen is in our lives? Words like loving, encouraging, fierce, spunky, selfless, warm, gracious, loyal, vibrant, full of life and love... don't even begin to encompass the wonder that she is. Wife to Mario, incredible mother to Eden and Monica, daughter, sister, aunt, niece...and a one of a kind friend to so many. To know Jen is to love her...and love her some more.
She has been a cheerleader in so many of our lives...and I would imagine like me, you are probably deeply wishing you could do anything to help in her time of need. Jen is so strong, positive, and independent and she has been pushing through this journey for a long time with an incredible attitude. As many of you know, even in the midst of her own fight with cancer, she started "Join The Flock against Cancer", a charitable endeavor to ensure others battling cancer have the financial support they need to focus on the fight and, ultimately, recovery. Our girl puts the well being of others in front of her own, but while she is unbelievably strong, she cannot fight this battle alone. Sometimes the smallest gesture can mean the world and while we can’t deliver a “magic eraser”, maybe we can provide some strength and security when it’s needed most.
If you or a loved one have experienced cancer personally, you know the costs are extraordinary - and even more so when self employed. Currently their monthly insurance premiums alone are extremely high and that is before any treatment, procedure, test, nutritional or supplemental support. Not to mention all of this in addition to the regular expenses of a family of four.
In addition, unfortunately recent tests have shown the cancer is progressing and as a result, expenses will continue to mount as current treatment options carry price tags between $50,000 and $75,000 + travel and she may have to do it twice. The treatment they are considering is a form of immunotherapy with an award winning cancer researcher that has been getting great results on a treatment not yet approved here in the states. It has to be paid for upfront and everything is out of pocket.
I'm hoping that together, we can help lift this financial burden so Jen and Mario can focus on fighting and winning the battle against cancer. And I pray that through our help, they will feel the immense love of so many surrounding them.
Anything you can give would be amazing. Please feel free to privately pass this on to anyone you feel would want to be a part of this fight. Let's cheer on Team Lazo and lift them up with all we have! Love you guys and I know Jen does too.
Love,
Carla, Katie W, Lindsey, Courtney, Katie S
We are honored to carry on Join The Flock in her memory. In year two, Join The Flock INC is an official 501c3 nonprofit. Please visit www.jointheflockinc.org for more information.
We are incredibly excited to announce that Mario, Eden and Monica will be guests on Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways on NBC December 11 at 8:00 pm!!! Please tune in to see how Ellen DeGeneres honors Jennifer’s beautiful life and gives back to her family.
UPDATE 3/12/19: There have been some changes to Jennifer's status so we wanted to provide an update for everyone who has been following Jennifer’s journey and/or contributing to her cause:
Many of you know Jennifer, Mario, and Jen’s father, Joe, are scheduled to depart for Mexico this upcoming Saturday, March 16th. However, they have had some unfortunate events fall their way which we wanted to inform you of.
Jennifer’s heart rate had been arrhythmic for a few days and over the weekend she was taken by ambulance and admitted to Emory when her heart rate got so high she thought she was having a heart attack. At the height of her episodes (which were reoccurring) her heart rate got as high as 240 bpm. The doctors were able to stabilize her heart rate and bring it back down to normal which is encouraging; however, this is not without additional complications. Jennifer is currently still in ICU and is now no longer able to fly on a commercial flight down to Mexico.
Mario has been communicating with the doctors who agree the only way she can make it to Mexico is to fly via medical aircraft (aka airplane ambulance). The risk is far too great if she were to have another arrhythmic episode and not have medical attention immediately available. Additionally, in her fragile state, to fly amongst the general population and risk exposure to countless germs is also no longer a safe option.
The cost to cover their round trip flights to Mexico via medical transport, have necessary ground transportation to/from the hospital, and accommodate her ICU needs at the hospital in Mexico is closing in on $90,000. As a result, we are increasing her overall raise to $164,000 in order to cover her treatment and additional medical transportation needs.
We know we have already asked a lot of everyone and your generosity thus far has been extraordinary, but if you are able to help contribute once again to her cause we all would be forever grateful. The words life or death have never been so real before.
Thank in you advance for your love, support, and prayers. Please keep them coming.
If you'd like to read more about Jen's cancer journey please check out her blog here
How do I even begin to describe the incredible sunshine that Jen is in our lives? Words like loving, encouraging, fierce, spunky, selfless, warm, gracious, loyal, vibrant, full of life and love... don't even begin to encompass the wonder that she is. Wife to Mario, incredible mother to Eden and Monica, daughter, sister, aunt, niece...and a one of a kind friend to so many. To know Jen is to love her...and love her some more.
She has been a cheerleader in so many of our lives...and I would imagine like me, you are probably deeply wishing you could do anything to help in her time of need. Jen is so strong, positive, and independent and she has been pushing through this journey for a long time with an incredible attitude. As many of you know, even in the midst of her own fight with cancer, she started "Join The Flock against Cancer", a charitable endeavor to ensure others battling cancer have the financial support they need to focus on the fight and, ultimately, recovery. Our girl puts the well being of others in front of her own, but while she is unbelievably strong, she cannot fight this battle alone. Sometimes the smallest gesture can mean the world and while we can’t deliver a “magic eraser”, maybe we can provide some strength and security when it’s needed most.
If you or a loved one have experienced cancer personally, you know the costs are extraordinary - and even more so when self employed. Currently their monthly insurance premiums alone are extremely high and that is before any treatment, procedure, test, nutritional or supplemental support. Not to mention all of this in addition to the regular expenses of a family of four.
In addition, unfortunately recent tests have shown the cancer is progressing and as a result, expenses will continue to mount as current treatment options carry price tags between $50,000 and $75,000 + travel and she may have to do it twice. The treatment they are considering is a form of immunotherapy with an award winning cancer researcher that has been getting great results on a treatment not yet approved here in the states. It has to be paid for upfront and everything is out of pocket.
I'm hoping that together, we can help lift this financial burden so Jen and Mario can focus on fighting and winning the battle against cancer. And I pray that through our help, they will feel the immense love of so many surrounding them.
Anything you can give would be amazing. Please feel free to privately pass this on to anyone you feel would want to be a part of this fight. Let's cheer on Team Lazo and lift them up with all we have! Love you guys and I know Jen does too.
Love,
Carla, Katie W, Lindsey, Courtney, Katie S
Fundraising team (3)
Carla Gates
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
Jennifer Lazo
Beneficiary
Katie Walton
Team member
Nancy EDENS
Team member
