a full and extraordinarySeven Years


You may be new to Jojo’s story, or you may have been journeying with us all along. Whatever the case may be, we are grateful that you are here and we invite you to take a moment to get to know our precious Jojo.

Jordan Cline (affectionately known as Jojo) was born with mitochondrial deletion syndrome. Although he passed away on February 5, 2018, his story did not end on that day. His legacy continues on in the lives he touched and in the lessons he taught: make the connection, savor the moment, find the joy. Despite his mitochondrial deletion syndrome diagnosis, Jojo lived a full and extraordinary seven years. From skiing in Mammoth with a special instructor to horseback riding on a dude ranch in Montana, Jojo was game for anything. Even ordinary moments took on a special significance for this little adventurer. Whether jumping on the trampoline with his brothers, eating Cheetos, cheering on friends at physical therapy, braving another blood draw, wherever he was and whatever he did, he was always, truly in his element. Jojo knew no strangers; to him, every person was simply a friend he hadn't yet met. Somehow he just understood that each moment was precious and that nothing should be taken for granted.

In a grassroots, boots on the ground effort, our faithful group of friends, family members, and volunteers have been the energy and the drive behind the Live Like Jojo Foundation. This special group of people seek to ensure that Jordan’s legacy and his enthusiasm for life lives on. For the Cline family, it gives us a purpose for our days and hope for a better future, and it is in this way that we seek to honor Jordan's life.

Every gift, whether large or small, will make a difference for patients and their families. We thank you for your enthusiasm, your support, your time, your donations, and for helping keep Jojo's message alive. Jojo, we hope to make you proud!

#livelikejojo

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Mitochondrial Deletion Syndrome


Mitochondria produce more than 90 percent of the body’s energy. When these tiny parts of the cell can’t do their job, the body doesn’t get the energy it needs, resulting in a wide range of debilitating and sometimes fatal symptoms. Every 30 minutes, a child is born who will develop a mitochondrial disease by age 10. Each year, 1,000 to 4,000 children in the United States are born with a mitochondrial disease. While exact numbers of children and adults suffering from mitochondrial disease are hard to determine, we now know that the disease is approaching the frequency of childhood cancers. Many people who suffer from mitochondrial disease are frequently misdiagnosed due to a lack of specialists. There is no cure or treatment for mitochondrial disease, your support will make all the difference.