Giant Gymnastics of Hackettstown

FUNDRAISER

MAY 11TH OPEN GYM 7:30-9:00

FUNDRAISER FOR A FORMER USAG GYMNAST! ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE CHILDREN'S ORGAN TRANSPLANT ASSOCIATION

Hello,

My name is Rachael Wolek. I am a coach at Giant Gymnastics in Hackettstown.

I am reaching out to all New Jersey Gymnastics Clubs to urge you to help out a former USAG gymnast and teammate of mine. Jamie (Hoff) Arango is a former Head Over Heels Level 9 gymnast who went on to be part of the Rutgers Gymnastics Team as well as a Rutgers Cheerleader. After college, she married her high school sweetheart and became an Anesthesia Physician Assistant at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Labor and Delivery. Jamie and her husband also have two children, Dylan (7) and Delilah (2).

In February 2016, she delivered her beautiful baby girl, Delilah, and immediately her health took a turn for the worse. She developed severe cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure and was in ICU for 3 weeks. Over the past two years, she has undergone several treatment options, which, unfortunately have not helped her condition. Her lungs are failing her and her doctors have told her that her only hope for survival is a double lung transplant. Jamie has been urged by her team of doctors to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona to be listed for a double lung transplant where there is a greater opportunity and larger donor pool than on the east coast.

Part of being put on the transplant list is dependent upon knowing the patient has the funds to cover the process. While some of the transplant itself is covered by insurance, there are many additional aspects of care and recovery costs that won't be. The costs during the first year after a transplant are exorbitant. Aftercare is expensive and crucial. Jamie will need to stay close to the Phoenix hospital until she recovers. At this time, Jamie's family has partnered with the Children's Organ Transplant Association for help raising funds to assist with transplant-related expenses.

I urge you to please consider donating to one of our own New Jersey gymnasts. She was and will always be part of the gymnastics community. I believe this community of coaches, gymnasts, club owners, and judges are a tight knit group and have always helped out one of our own when they have needed it. A donation of any amount from every club in New Jersey could make a huge impact for Jamie and her family!

At Giant Gymnastics, we are running an Open Gym in May, with all the proceeds being donated through the Children's Organ Transplant Association. I have included the link to Jamie's COTA page. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I know if we all come together for this cause, we can make a positive impact in the lives of this family.

Jamie Arango's COTA page

https://cota.org/campaigns/COTAforJamieA

The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. COTA is the nation's only fundraising organization solely dedicated to raising life-saving dollars in honor of transplant-needy children and young adults. 100% of each contribution made to COTA in honor of our patients helps meet transplant-related expenses. COTA's services are free to our families, and gifts to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.