Sunday, October 20, 2024
A resident of Laguna Niguel, Monica Cline founded Live Like Jojo Foundation after her son, Jojo (Jordan) passed away at age seven in 2018.
Jojo was born with mitochondrial deletion syndrome and endured many years of health complications; however his diagnosis did not prevent Jojo, Monica, her family and friends from enjoying every little moment with him, making ‘ordinary’ moments into extraordinary memories.
From this celebratory approach to living, Monica founded Live Like Jojo Foundation. From initiatives to events, lemonade stands to volunteer relationships, Monica is dedicated and devoted to the foundation’s impact and longevity. She has witnessed firsthand the power of sharing Jojo’s story and honoring his life through tender acts of kindness. One of her first big initiatives was the annual Superhero Celebration & 5K Walk where So Cal kids living with rare diseases are truly celebrated as superhero’s walking a red carpet and experiencing a day of family fun to escape from but also be recognized for their bravery and tireless efforts battling serious health challenges.
Through the Foundation, Monica is not only supporting children and their families through special moments of joy (sunshine boxes, Superhero experiences, photos, 5K walk), she is also advocating for
change though Jojo’s Rule and The Jojo Blanket and Sacred Education for nursing staff, this helps educate and share the importance of best practices for end-of-life pediatric care. Her efforts are ongoing, and her passion is contagious.
“Moments matter, and we as a foundation set out to gift moments that will be far-reaching and long-lasting in impact,” says Monica. “Many children and families navigate an unknown and tireless journey of therapies, blood draws, doctor visits, and hospitalizations. When a family with a child facing chronic healthcare challenges is given the opportunity to pause, step into, and embrace in a joy-filled moment, this family will savor these moments for a lifetime.”
The Foundation exists with a mission around three goals: support, advocacy and activities – each goal helping to infuse joy and enrich the lives of children and families impacted by chronic healthcare challenges in Southern California.
