Former Oregon Infielder Joanna Gail Vargas (2005-08) Died Saturday at Age 37… GoFundMe Has Raised Over $200,000 for Her Family

Former Oregon Ducks infielder Joanna ( “Jo”) Gail Vargas passed away last Saturday, August 19, 2023, after having been admitted to a hospital intensive care the day before.

Remembering the life of infielder Joanna Gail Vargas ('05-'08).

Our deepest condolences to her family. pic.twitter.com/vO0Nj588T7

— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) August 21, 2023

She leaves behind wife Brittany and their two young daughters, ages 4 and 2, with a third child on the way.

Amanda Manger has organized a GoFundMe me for the remaining family and, with a quarter million-dollar goal, over $200K has already been raised on over 1,100 donations.

*** Click HERE to go to the GoFundMe page.

From Poway, Calif., Jo played softball and soccer at Poway High and helped her softball team win a CIF DI title. Later, she would be invited to play for the 2004 Greek Olympic Team, which competed in Athens, Greece in the summer of 2004.

In college, the accomplished athlete played in 15 games as a freshman—ended early because of a dislocated elbow—50 games as a sophomore in 2006 and then in 2007 was selected as a 2^nd Team All-Regional honoree by the NFCA as well as being named All-Pac-10 honorable mention.

The5-foot-9 third baseman had a .970 fielding percentage in her junior season and was voted as the Ducks Defensive MVP. She was also one of five players on the team to start and play in all 63 games that season.

The infielder would go on to play in the National Pro Fastpitch League.

Here is the text from the fundraising page explaining how Vargas’s health declines rapidly over the last several weeks:

At the end of July, an incredible, charismatic, loving mama in our community was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). Joanna Vargas is the mother of two vibrant, delightful little girls (2 and 4) and one more baby on the way. She is wife and true kindred spirit to Brittany. Joanna was full of life and one of the most positive, strong people any of us knew. She immediately began the fight against cancer, even lifting weights as she underwent chemo.

Tragically, Friday, August 18th, Joanna developed bacterial meningitis and was admitted to the ICU. By the morning of Saturday, August 19th, there was nothing left medically to do. Joanna passed peacefully away on the evening of the 19th.

She leaves behind a beautiful, loving, generous family of three (and soon to be four). Brittany and the girls have a long road ahead of them. We are starting this campaign with the hope of helping Joanna’s family with the many life expenses and challenges they will face shortly. All funds raised will go first toward supporting them in the immediate term. Additionally, our hope is to be able to support the family in creating some type of financial stability for the girls in the long term.

Anyone who knows Brittany and Joanna will attest to the fact that they are two of the kindest people you will ever meet and that they would do anything to help anyone. They consistently work very hard to make sure that everyone is taken care of, happy, seen, and loved without judgment. They are always optimistic and giving, even when faced with their own struggles and challenges.

Please consider contributing to this fundraiser. Any donation would be greatly appreciated, no matter how small. Please spread the word by copying the link to your Facebook page or other social media.

With Love,

Their Encinitas Friends

In an update on the GoFundMe page on Monday (Aug. 21), the organizer added an except from Joanna (“Jo”) that the former softball star wrote when she first became ill:

“Today, I woke up and wept with gratitude.

One common dinner question we pose for our girls is, “Who helped you today?”

It’s one small way to raise their awareness of the vast network of invisible hands / helpers / community that make their beautiful lives possible.

Today, I’ve got my own long list….

….This diagnosis is shocking.

And. And yet… there is something so profound about these moments of tragic reset in our lives. What else could possibly matter more than how we take care of each other?

Truthfully, I’m relieved to be at the hospital, getting great care. The week in between the ER visit/suspected diagnosis and full hospitalization was the scariest time of my life. Now, we have a plan. Actions to take. A path to healing.

Everyone at the hospital has been unanimously positive about my journey:

• During my echocardiogram, “Your heart looks perfect.”
• During my bone marrow biopsy, “That took some work, you’ve got some strong bones in there! Keep up the good work.”
• During my vital scans, “55 resting pulse? I wish I were in as good as shape as you.”
• With my Oncologist, “You’re already starting out at such a better place to receive treatment. We’ve got you. You’ve got this.”
• From every nurse, “Ohhh, I heard you an Olympian. You’ve already got the exact right mindset for this.”

Speaking of nurses. To all the nurses out there, I see you. You are the absolute essential foundation of every aspect of care. Nothing works without you. It’s thankless. But I’m here to appreciate your kindness, your efficiency, the depth of your care. Thank you for all you do.

Yesterday, I had my first full dose of chemotherapy – injected into my spine and infused into my heart.

Today, I feel good. Hopeful. Present. I know it won’t always be this way. That this journey is a much more of a marathon than a sprint.

Today, I’m grateful to be alive, to feel strong, to know my community will catch me when I fall.

I love you all.

— Joanna Vargas, July 26, 2023

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