In Memory of Jared Von Baker

Jared Von Baker, 16, Orem, UT, passed his earthly test and graduated to his heavenly home on Oct 3, 2023, with his parents by his side and his siblings on the phone. He passed away at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, due to complications from a seven-year battle with cancer.

Jared will always be an incredible person. He continues to touch the lives of so many. Those around him would never have known how sick his body was, they knew only that he was present, in the moment, and a fierce fighter, inspiring the way everyone should approach life.

Even up until the moments in which his illness was taking the heaviest toll upon his body, his desires always remained fixed upon the needs of others, whether it be family or friends. Constantly asking to be of service.

After everything Jared gave us, it's time to give Jared something in return.

A small story from Jared’s time at Primary Children’s Hospital…

As a nurse routinely checks the inputs on Jared's apheresis machine, she casually dodges a small ball that Jared is bouncing against his hospital room wall.

Everyone is taking a break from a game of 'hot potato'.

He stops momentarily, to let the nurse conduct her measurements. In the meantime, some friends ask Jared what he'd like if he could have "anything in the world".

The answer is short, sharp and witty.

"$50,000" he jokes.

No more, Jared? No less?

"Nah," Jared laughs, with a cheeky smile on his face, "That's it. I don't need anything else". He goes back to bouncing the ball against the wall as the nurse finishes up, her eyes smiling at Jared as she exits.

Jared made everyone in the room laugh at this, such was his incredible sense of humor.

To honor Jared's dream gift, and to help support his family as they go through this difficult time, this GoFundMe page aspires to raise $50,000 in memory of Jared Von Baker. To serve the young man who so passionately wished to serve others.

Although this GoFundMe page will never be able to heal the broken hearts of Jared's family, the hope is that it can go some way to alleviating the financial stresses a long battle with cancer can bring.

From Jared's lengthy and costly medical battle, to the funeral service organised in his memory, the goal of $50,000 aspires to help Jared's family in any way possible as they commemorate and honor his life.