MEET THE PARENTS
Meet Joanie and Dave, the inspiring parents behind "The Jorie Effect." Their incredible daughter, Jorie, is a medical trailblazer whose groundbreaking treatment is rewriting possibilities.
Dive into a letter from Jorie and Dave below—complete with lovable Newfoundlands—and discover their passion for supporting other families navigating rare diseases. A powerful tale of hope and unwavering commitment!
A letter from Joanie and Dave:
We’re Joanie and Dave — proud parents of the amazing Jorie, a world-first medical trailblazer with a spark that keeps us inspired every day. Jorie was the first in the world to receive an n=1 treatment through drug repurposing and upregulation — a groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind approach that’s helped her not just survive, but truly thrive.
We’re endlessly thankful to the brilliant minds at Mayo Clinic, and to her dedicated therapists at Gillette Children’s and Help Me Grow — the dream team that continues to help her reach new milestones with care, creativity, and unwavering belief in what’s possible.
Our family also includes Dave’s awesome son, Jake, and our two giant-hearted Newfoundlands, Baloo and Bruno — who double as emotional support animals and do a very convincing impersonation of speedbumps carefully placed in high-traffic areas of the house.
Joanie was most recently the Director of Sales for the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis, and is now channeling her creativity and love of strategy into launching a performance marketing agency. She’s deeply passionate about supporting families navigating the rare disease world — and she’s also passionate about thrifting and collecting vintage crystal, china, and jewelry. Basically, she’s 44 going on 84, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. If you ever need a gravy boat from 1947 or a brooch that could stop traffic, she’s your girl.
Dave is a supply chain executive who lives for sports, slow-smoked meats, and wood-fired pizza. He proudly identifies as a BBQ nerd and an aspiring sommelier — though his wine tasting notes often include phrases like “grape-forward” and “pairs well with football.” He’s also Joanie’s loyal sous chef, golf partner, and resident meat thermometer hoarder.
Together, we love to golf (with more enthusiasm than skill), laugh often, and soak up time with the people we love most. The Jorie Effect is our way of sharing what we’ve learned, building community, and turning one extraordinary little girl’s journey into something that can uplift and connect others.
The Jorie Effect is our way of giving back the extraordinary gift we were given — a second chance made possible by compassionate donors and visionary experts. We are dedicated to connecting families with essential resources and supporting researchers with the funding they need to create more miracles. Because every child facing a rare disease deserves the hope and opportunity to rewrite their story.
— With love (and probably a little dog slobber),
Joanie & Dave