Support the Morgensterns
When people you love hurt, the first thing you want to do is help. Well, now is our chance.
As many of you know, Jackson Morgenstern, son to our dear friends Angela and Chuck, was recently diagnosed with mixed phenotype acute leukemia and is currently undergoing treatment at the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville. Right now, the prognosis is encouraging and Jackson is receiving wonderful care. However, the path forward is long and not easy.
The treatments, procedures and medicine needed to beat this cancer would scare even the toughest adult, but Jackson and his parents are resilient. Rest assured, Angela and Chuck have passed along the “fight like hell” gene to Jackson.
Jackson will be receiving treatment for many months in Gainesville and the timeline for the family’s return to their home four plus hours away in Lynn Haven is uncertain. They will need to find local, dog-friendly housing and effectively uproot their lives to Gainesville for the foreseeable future. The costs, resources and emotional toll of doing so is enormous, as will be the related costs of treatment. This is where we come in.
We hope the family’s health insurance will ease the medical costs incurred by the family. But, we know that the out-of-pocket expenses will quickly add up. Alleviating some of this financial burden will enable Chuck and Angela to focus more of their energy on getting Jackson back to health.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to support Jackson, Angela and Chuck through this tough period. As you consider this request for a donation, please keep in your hearts and minds your love for the Morgensterns. But also keep in mind what they’d do for you if the tables were turned and your family was faced with this challenge.
Whether you know them as Chuck/Charlie or Angela/Ang, you know they’ve always had our backs and would do anything to help a friend (or a stranger). We have known Chuck since grade school and have been fortunate to call him our brother for over 40 years. And, when Angela joined the family, we gained an incredible sister-in-law. All of you who have had Chuck and Angela touch your lives can bear witness to their love and generosity.
Now it’s time to reciprocate and make a difference in the lives of people we love so much. Whether you are a member of the Morgenstern/Nation family, you are from Lynn Haven/Panama City or West Windsor, went to school at Peddie, Denver or FSU, worked professionally with Angela, Chuck or know the family because your kids went to school with Jackson, please consider giving whatever you can.
One group in particular we’d like to call upon is the Pine Forest Camp community – of which we are part of. And, it’s where we first met Chuck back in the late 1970s. Pine Forest is a special place with amazing people. Hey PFC alumni – please help ease the burden for Chuck, Angela and Jackson. Show your love and support as best you can.
Thank you so much for your consideration and we will do our best to keep everyone updated on our fundraising efforts.
Friends, friends – we will always be.
Much Love.
Lee Kaplan
Scott Strent