JoJo, 24 years old, FL | NEEDED BY 09/12

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JoJo entered the foster care system years ago following the death of his father and his mother's inability to manage on her own. Tragically, two years after entering the system, his mother also passed away, leaving him without any family support. He found himself lingering in a foster home. During this time, JoJo discovered his passion for football and has dreams of playing in the NFL. His coach, originally unaware of JoJo's situation in foster care, offered him the opportunity to move in with him, his wife, and their two sons. This transition allowed JoJo to leave his foster placement and become part of a family. He gained access to a gym where he could train alongside his coach, attracting the attention of football scouts. Additionally, he found both a mentor and a father figure in his coach.

JoJo has always dreamed of playing in the NFL. After high school, he was scouted by the University of Pittsburgh, but due to extenuating circumstances, he couldn’t stay there and ended up taking a break from football. Despite the challenges he faced, he remained dedicated to his training, sharing his workouts on Twitter for everyone to see. Recently, JoJo received an incredible opportunity from a college in West Virginia. The coaching staff discovered his workout videos online and invited him to join their team while also finishing his degree. He was thrilled to take a significant step toward realizing his dream! However, during training camp, JoJo faced a setback when he tore his ACL. This injury is forcing him to come back home to Miami, as he can no longer play football for the time being. The doctor has emphasized the urgency of undergoing surgery, and JoJo prefers to have the procedure done at home, where he can rely on the support of his family and friends. The surgery will take about an hour, followed by a week on crutches, and then an extensive rehab and physical therapy period lasting six to eight weeks. So now, a flight back home is necessary for him to begin this next chapter in his recovery. He is devastated but knows that the surgery and returning home are important at this point in his journey.