JMak's Dream Team

06/19/2023

Celebrating the incredible Dad JMak continues to be in our lives the best way we know how - living, loving, and eating Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams with homemade waffle cones! Happy Father’s Day to all!

11/25/2022

Happy Thanksgiving! A friend of Laura's sent this picture of her daughter’s “grateful tree” yesterday and the first leaf where she wrote “JMak.” It’s so beautiful to see the ongoing impact that JMak has on so many people.

On this first Thanksgiving without JMak here physically, I know what he would say. He would say that he’s grateful too. Grateful for the opportunity he had to get to know God in a very deep and very real way in his journey with . And how that brought healing and freedom that filled him in a way that nothing else did.

So on this Thanksgiving weekend, I am grateful for this sweet reminder of all the ways JMak lived and loved and for the lessons he continues to teach us.

11/15/2022

We wanted to share some inspiring ways that JMak's journey has impacted people along the way. Our first share is from a close friend of JMak and Laura's - her story is below:

My name is Laura Sullivan Page and this quote from JMak has changed my life.

"Perspective has made the biggest difference in how I look at outcomes." - JMak

I am a caregiver for my mom who has end stage Alzheimer’s. She's lived with my family for over three years now, and I got this sticker to put it in a place that I would see every day.

Every day the world would say I have a reason to be angry or a reason to be depressed as this disease slowly takes my loving mother away. It’s called the disease of the “long goodbye,” and it’s not a disease I would wish upon anyone or their loved ones… but then again IS there a disease one would wish upon another?

Jmak taught me there is one guarantee in life, that we each have a launch day, but "perspective is the biggest difference in how I look at outcomes." When my perspective is: this is my chance to love and care for my mom in just the same ways she did for me - it’s worth it. When my perspective is: maybe this disease has benefited all of us (including her) - the outcome isn’t so terrible after all.

My mom is actually living - for the first time - a stress and worry free Life. She is in no pain and she is content. How could I wish something else for her? I’ve been through many emotional stages - don’t get me wrong. My hopes for her included a partner someday, a travel buddy, a new start - she’s still young. But that’s not what happened, so I have a choice - a choice to change my perspective. Jmak's words of wisdom have truly changed my life on this long journey called Alzheimer’s.

11/14/2022

These pictures were taken a year ago today--on the day JMak went to his oncology team to say he was discontinuing treatment. He woke up that day excited, settled, and not at all afraid.

I just listened again to the podcast where he talked about coming to the decision: https://www.jmaksdreamteam.com/podcast/episode/4d16e5cc/jmaks-decision-pt-1

He said that the more you die and let go--even of your own life and desires, the more power you get because you are confident that God is going to give you something better. He was experiencing that power and strength as he was literally letting go of his life. I watched it firsthand and can only call it supernatural!

That decision to stop treatment represented putting his life wholly in God’s hands. He knew God to be a good Father--a Father that gives good gifts. As he made that decision, he told me he had never been so confident of God’s love and the fact that NOTHING can separate us from it. He was confident in what God was giving him to do. There was no denial about what that meant or about facing his launch day.

We drove to the appointment and talked the whole way. We talked about living and loving and knowing that God has a good purpose and plan in all things. We may not always understand it, but it is always good.

He talked about how good life is with God here and how close he felt to God as he fully let go and trusted Him with everything. And he also talked about things God was showing him about life beyond earth. He would say, "It’s a win-win. I either live here with God or I live there with God."

Both are good and I started to see life in Jason that had nothing to do with his physical health. When he was connected to God, he was vibrant and alive-- even as his body was rapidly declining.

I've continued learning that for myself this year too. When I am connected to God, I am vibrant and alive and healthy. And that’s when I feel Jmak the most. And that makes me happy. It's a daily thing and there is still much to live for and live out as I follow his example of letting go and living. That's how I carry on his legacy.

After the appointment on this day last November, JMak said "Let’s go live."

And so we did… and had these giant ice cream cones for lunch. He launched a month later.

Look at the face in that picture. That is the face of someone who is truly living

11/09/2022

Coffee Talk

JMak's friends in Lima remembered him today while they practiced English over a cup of coffee.

We hope you can enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend today too!

11/01/2022

Jonathan decided to ring in Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month a day early and dress up like his biggest hero, Dad, for Halloween this year.

We are honoring JMak’s legacy by living and loving and making the most of every opportunity.

09/14/2022

Tonight Laura got to take JMak's friend, and her brother-in-law, Jason Armstrong to the Lights of Hope event. It was so beautiful!

There are 20,000 luminaries to honor and remember so many people impacted by cancer. There is a luminary out there for JMak somewhere.

American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network - ACS CAN

09/10/2022

Thank you to Laura Sullivan Page and Lynn Ann Asano for sharing JMak's story and inspiration 💜💜💜💜💜 and beyond that, for living out his legacy 🏃🏃🏃

It is incredibly inspiring 💜

Check out the article in the Peachtree City Magazine!

"Go out there and Face your impossible…and do it with a smile." The story behind the cover of our Peachtree City Magazine:

Lynn Ann Asano and Laura Page (pictured) ran the 2021 Peachtree City Classic in honor of their close friend Jason “Jmak” Makaroff. Jason was 46 years old when he was diagnosed with a stage IV pancreatic cancer. Despite the grim prognosis, Jason believed his life was changed for the better. He chose to LIVE with cancer, not die from it.

In October of 2021, Lynn Ann and Laura ran The PTC Classic inspired by Jmak's perseverance and positive outlook. And just like him, they did so with a smile! “Two months after this photo was taken, Jmak launched into eternity and left behind such a legacy to follow.”

You never know what a person is going through - but the universal language of a smile brings hope to the human spirit. Jason's inspiring story “Awake with Jmak” can be found anywhere podcasts are published.

"Go out there and Face your impossible… and do it with a smile."

(Story and information by Sullivan Page)

07/16/2022

The boys and I - Laura - had dinner with our friends at Barefoot Farms last night. JMak has always loved to see people pursue their dreams and he spent a lot of time with our friends, Sheri and David, over the years encouraging and supporting their dream of having a goat farm. We love visiting the goats and spending time at their little farm. Plus we went home with some beautiful handmade goat’s milk soap!

We are excited to share more soon about the future of Barefoot Farms and a lot of other dreams JMak wants to see come true.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of our fun night and the sweet goats at Barefoot Farm. If you are local, you can meet Sheri and David (and maybe even a sweet baby goat) at the Line Creek Festival in Fayetteville, GA ( at Line Creek Brewing Bus Barn ) on Sunday afternoon.

07/12/2022

Signs and traces of JMak - a friend (Paige Gradishar Photography) sent this pic to Laura from the mountains of North Carolina. Signs and traces are everywhere!

💜💜💜💜

07/11/2022

It’s been a month! JMak's family and friends gathered on June 11th to celebrate an incredible life together. JMak loves community, good food, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, and more than anything, seeing people free and experiencing the fullness of life. This evening was all of those things and more!

Laura Wilson Makaroff hosted the night and spoke beautifully about the joy JMak has for life, the coaching he's had, the legacy he left with Timothy and Jonathan, and his love for God. She truly demonstrated what JMak told her - "no sadness" - and she has never been happier or more beautiful.

JMak’s family traveled from across the country for the event, and connected with many of the people JMak invested in - small business owners, young musicians, Venezuelan refugees, and many more.

Timothy and his band performed, JMak's friend Eric McMillen brought his A-game BBQ, and Laura announced a new nonprofit (JMak's Dream Team), which will continue JMak's legacy of investing in peoples' dreams. Enjoy some pictures from the night! And stay tuned for more Dream Team announcements, podcasts, and the continuation of JMak's journey.