The Jenn Bender Surgery Fund

Hello. My name is Nicole, we are starting this fundraiser for one of the most loving, caring, generous and all around greatest women we have the pleasure to call a best friend.

Jennifer lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her beautiful family, Husband Garrett, son Colton, daughter Paige and their 2 pups Thor and Willow. From the outside it seems that they are living the perfect American dream. Little do people around them know what this family has and continues to endure.

Jenn was born with an extremely rare mass called a Duplication Cyst but was not diagnosed until adulthood. In August, she began to have severe symptoms and was hospitalized and told it was critical to remove it. The mass is in her mediastinal cavity, by her heart and compressing against her spine. It is attached to her trachea and esophagus.

She was also just diagnosed with a rare heart defect that makes this surgery extremely life risking. The artery supplying blood to her right arm is attached to the mass and she also has premature heart beats compromising 11% of her total heart beats - making this even more complex.

Only the very best Cardiothoracic surgeon will operate on her at Mayo Clinic, which is one of the top hospitals in the world. They are preparing to bring in extra blood supply should she have complications during surgery, as a life saving measure.

As if this is not enough stress on Jenn, Garrett, and their sweet children, they are also faced with paying her out of network benefits because no other hospital will perform the surgery and Mayo is not considered in network.

Jenn is such a fierce, loving, and courageous person. But she is also stubborn. She tries so hard to put on that brave “I’m Fine” face everyday and does it so well no one knows, But the worries and stress that she is under is taking its toll.

We are doing this fundraiser to show her that she is so loved and so many people care about her and her family. She is so stressed out about this surgery on October 4th. The financial Burden is tremendously stressful and we are hoping this will take a little stress off her heart, herself and the family, so that she can focus on her surgery and recovery.

If you can not donate at this time we completely understand. But please share this and say a prayer or send positive thoughts to our dear friend and her family. We know this family is so appreciative of all the help and love.

Thank you!