LINDON — A yard sale stretching across four front yards in Lindon is drawing shoppers from across Utah Valley. Behind the bargains, however, is a community rallying around one family facing a major medical journey.
“Our nephew Jaxson was born with HCM, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. We found that out shortly after he was born,” said his aunt, Alexxis Schaefer .
“It’s been hectic. We’ve been planning this for about six weeks now,” said McKenzie Peterson.
The fundraiser supports 22-year-old Jaxson Lunceford. His family has spent years preparing for the possibility of a heart transplant.
His condition worsened earlier this year. His mother, Brittani Lunceford, said things escalated rather fast.
“It wasn’t until January that things started going downhill pretty quickly,” she said.
The transplant and ongoing challenges
That decline led to a pacemaker failure, four emergency open-heart surgeries, and ultimately a lifesaving heart transplant.
“The average heart transplant only lasts 10 years. So we don’t know how many times we’re going to have to do this,” Brittani Lunceford said.
Now, Jaxson is focused on recovery as his family looks ahead.
“They’re just the kind of family you’d do anything for,” said one volunteer helping at the event.
Community support for the family
The Lunceford family has spent years giving back through community yard sales and service projects of their own. Now, they say that same support is coming back to them in a powerful way.
“Yeah it’s been … I can’t even express our gratitude …,” said McKenzie Peterson holding back tears.
The fundraiser continues to bring in support as neighbors, friends, and even strangers stop by to help.
List of local event contributors
Some of the community members who helped were:
Marie Swift (Impact Communications)
Summit Crane and Rigging
Trailer Rental Load N Go
Lotts Originals
Pleasant Grove High School football team
Tucker Lawn Care
Spudly’s Donuts
Blackhurst Carpets
Mosi Oteo (Kaizen Custom Homes) — donated a helicopter ride for the silent auction
Trevor Pyne (Kaizen Custom Homes) — donated a helicopter ride for the silent auction
Waffle Love — donating a percentage of purchases when “Heart for Jaxson” is mentioned
Steve Schmall (NPC Utah)
Every individual donor who has contributed to the fundraiser
Family and friends supporting and organizing the event
Youth and leaders of the Lindon 8th Ward
At this time the family is only taking monetary donations at @HeartForJaxson on Venmo.
More information can be found at https://heartforjaxson.com.
Related: ‘She’s my little hero’: Utah mom reflects on daughter’s organ donation legacy
