Jacole Hall shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jacole, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
Oh Goodness my kiddos for sure! Haha my boys are now 5 and 7, and faster than ever. They are both in school full time and the homework is already pouring in. I chase the everyday challenge and dream of raising them to be strong men and even better husbands. But also my dream for Vapsire316 and the Portal Patch Fleece. The late Dr. Monroe Trout was an amazing philanthropist, his goal was to raise ONE BILLION dollars for charity and he has well over succeeded in that. My goal is One Million dollars. If I were to EVER stop chasing that dream, I would spend everyday trying to figure it out. It’s at the core of my being. When I was a little girl, I used to go around my town collecting cans to trade in for coins “to give to the poor”. I wouldn’t fully be Jacole, if I was not pursuing this dream.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely, thank you for this space. Hello, my name is Jacole Hall, “I am an ordinary woman with ordinary thoughts. I am no one special. There will be no monuments in honor of me after I am gone and my name will be forgotten, but I have loved another with all my heart and soul and for me that has always been enough.” -Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook
In the spring of 2021 the frost was thawing from COVID as we blinking stepped into the sun of this new season of life, our baby had just turned one, we had just buried my father, and two weeks later my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Our cancer journey was nothing short of miserable. Our boys were 1 and 3 at the time of diagnoses and 2 and 4 at the time of Dominic, my husbands passing. He fought HARD for a year and half and then just like that, the good Lord called him home and we all mourned.
During our fight, our community was so giving and supportive we felt like we had to pay everyone back….we knew we never could so instead we decided to pay it forward and thus Vaspire316 was born. Vaspire basically means ‘do good things’ and 316 is for love. Vaspire316 is a non-profit organization and is umbrellaed under the Recon-Sniper Foundation. We raise funds to assist other Veterans and their families with cancer or other illnesses due to toxic exposures while serving. Our goal is to hand a check over for $10,000 to a Veteran Cancer Fighter and/or their family in need. So far we have raised over $55,000 and have helped a number of families. We have also held an event to pre-screen Veterans on the Police and Fire Force for cancer using the Galleri Pre-Screening cancer test kits by Grail in the community I live in. All of these donations are made possible by individuals signing up for a monthly withdrawal of $23 a month along with fundraisers and generous donations. I absolutely love this organization my husband and I created and it has been such a sense of healing for me through this new life called widowhood.
The future and a new chapter of Vaspire316 is an LLC. I am beyond excited for Vaspire316LLC and my vision for it. God has placed such a fire in my heart to help others and the ignition is The Portal Patch Fleece. While Dominic was sick we struggled to find clothing for him to wear while receiving treatments comfortably. The Portal Patch Fleece allows for an opening to reveal directly to the skin for port access. I have been working on this project for two years and the finish line is so close! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to cancer research, specifically The Hunter Seven Foundation. I chose to make an LLC so I can better coordinate and orchestrate where the funds will be donated.
“On Wednesdays we wear Pink” Karen Smith -Mean Girls.
Something unique I have found in that brings a smile to my face in my healing journey that I have woven into my brand is on Wednesdays, I wear Pink. Not because I’m a mean girl, but because I am a girl who loves Jesus and He loves me. Practicing intentions of self-love for some reason is so difficult to do… But why? To remind ourselves that we were made in His image and we are daughters of a King, why is loving ourselves as He loves the church so hard to say or believe?… I WISH when I was at that delicate age of 9-13 someone would have takin me by the hand and said “Dear Child, YOU are beautiful, intelligent, worthy, and capable of the impossible. You are the daughter of a mighty KING! Hold your head high child, your light shines through the darkest days for those who need it most. Having a bright smile, being positive, and wearing pink does not make you a simpleton or weak. In fact sweet little girl, finding Joy and seeing the good in everyday is a SUPER POWER!”
Which brings me to my next vision of Vaspire316LLC, to have an athletic wear line or teaming up with an existing one, focusing of selling Pink Vaspire316 gear with a portion of the proceeds benefitting young girl focused athletics. I have a few irons in the fire as of now!! Stay tuned!!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with Jesus…
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes.
Twice.
The vision of Vaspire316.
When my husband was first diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer it was considered to be caught it early, which is usually unheard of since the pancreas is tucked in and tumors usually don’t show their ugly face until it’s too late…
Dominic always came out on top. He was a natural born leader and had award after award for his leadership skills, athletic skills both in the Marine Corp. and Special Forces. There was nothing he couldn’t lose at… there was not a doubt in my mind that he was going to beat this. We would get chemo, shrink the tumor just a little bit more, have surgery and he’d be back on his feet in no time. TOGETHER, we would be raising funds for Vaspire316 and giving back to those in need… I don’t think any of us could have prepared for how brutal chemo would be for him- how deeply it wrecked havoc on his body. That first week, he lost 14 pounds from AGGRESSIVE vomiting and diarrhea, yet he stood tall as best man in his brother’s wedding- hiding how awful he felt to make sure little bro and his new wife had a beautiful day. Determined to celebrate love even while carrying pain. That’s just how he was… selfless, steadfast, and unwillng to let suffering overshadow joy. His strength wasn’t loud or showy; it was the kind of strength that endures quietly, rooted in faith and love. Even when his body was breaking, his heart remained steady, reminding our boys and I what true courage looked like… he would be in bed sick for 6 days, up and moving around little bit for 4 days and then back to the hospital we would go for another round of chemo… and round and round we would go. I used to wear my running shoes in the house because I would literally run to his bed side to help him throw up into a garbage can and then run to my 1 and 3 year old to be mom and take care of them… (I eventually bought vomit bags off amazon, life saver and game changer, I keep them in my car just incase someone gets sick…kids love to throw up… )
Months went by, but I still had hope. There was no way this is how our story would end- It couldn’t be. With all of my being I did not believe my husband was going to die.
Surgery was scheduled for January 2022. Then came the news that his liver had started to show new spots. The doctors weren’t sure if it was cancer spreading or simply an infection. We wouldn’t know until Dominic was taken into surgery- Ready to have his life saved or be sent home to die.
“With infection usually comes a fever, said his nurse, and he hasn’t had one”
Those words ripped through my soul…
“It’s cancer, I’m sorry, there is nothing we can do.” Click. The phone went silent.
We were sent home. I was still in shock. I clenched onto the smallest thread of hope that something would change…
After giving him his nightly pills and tucking all of my “boys” into bed for the night, I stood by Dominic’s bedside weeping as we talked about life and what we needed to take care of next. Through the tears I broke down. “I’m not going to continue with Vaspire”, I said between sobs. “What a silly thing to try and do, it’s so stupid. I’m so stupid.” The tears poured down my face uncontrollably, “I can’t do this.,” I whispered. As he layed in bed, blanketed with discomfort and pain, a smile spread across his face, “Yes you can. , he said softly. “I need you too, to continue to help others.” Tears welled up in his eyes and we cried together.
I promised him I would continue raising money for other Veterans and their families in need, who were traveling a paralleled path as ours.
Nine months later he passed. I was now a single mom- an only parent with two little boys. A young widow navigating this new chapter of life- raising a two and four year old, going back to school, and running a non-profit organization. I have always been determined to remain unbreakable. I refuse to be broken and let the pain take over. Vaspire316 had just received a donation of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS to aid in purchasing the pre-screening cancer test kits by Grail for our local Fire and Police force by a generous donor. It masked the pain with such Joy and I was feeling so grateful… and just like that, what felt like out of no where, I received a message that knocked my down. I felt overwhelmed, defeated, ashamed, and ready to give up.
Without even realizing it I said out loud through tears, “I give up. I quit. I can’t do this.” Little did I know the impact those words would have had on my four year old… from the back seat of the renegade I heard, “But mama, you’re a Hall, and Halls don’t give up or quit. You can’t stop now.”
They are truly watching, listening. Your words, your actions, your body language, every breath you take. They are watching. I was stunned. I took a deep breathe and said, “You are so right my son, WE are the Halls. WE don’t just quit or give up. WE stand back up, WE fight, WE do what we are called to do.” I haven’t looked back since.
Even if Vaspire316 were to dissolve tomorrow, each day I spent working for it would have all been worth it- for my boys, for my husband, and for answering the whispers God placed in my heart. Resilience is built in the quiet moments of surrender- when you choose Faith over Fear and keep showing up Every. Single. Day. It doesn’t come from perfection but from love- for my family, for your family, for the calling, and for the One who placed it on my heart to begin with.
Resilient in spirit, rooted in Faith.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I’d like to think my closest friends would say being a great role model and supportive mom is extremely important to me. My children didn’t ask to be here, and most certainly don’t deserve to live with the pain of loss. I would also like to think my closet friends would say God has given me a gift to see the good in every day. To uplift those around me and be a shining light of joy, motivation, and love for Jesus. I would imagine them to say a healthy lifestyle, mindfulness, intention, and helping others is very important to me.
(If you have said this about me friends, Thank you!!! 🙂 haha)
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
I believe I am still in the early stages of my business, but I can tell you right now, I regret now following my heart and having a better understanding of the finance and business world sooner. In my early 20’s my passion was to own my own photography studio. I was too scared to try. Too scared of being on my own, scared of finances, scared of making it work. I wish my parents or someone would have better educated me on finances, investing, and guided me in the direction of my strengths.
If you are not investing START. I have learned ANYONE is capable of launching their own business, ideas, creations, ect… you just need to be willing to do the work, contact someone who knows about investing, and create a smart financial budget for yourself and your goals. If no one has whispered to that inner child who is hiding and was never lead or encouraged, let me be the first to tell you, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING you set your mind to.
Since then I made a vow to myself that anytime I felt passionate about something I would pray upon it and let God guide me through it. The thought of photographing a wedding used to take my breath away, I have photographed roughly 25 weddings plus numerous family photos, high school senior photos, ect. I struggled in some areas of course but thats what life is all about, finding your strengths and weaknesses and being better than the day before. While a health and fitness coach I created a program called Anytime Preppers where I went to client’s houses to help teach them how to prep meals and exercise together as a family. The desire then turned to creating a meal prepping service called #MissionMealPrep to raise awareness for Huntingtons Disease and help build homes in Guatemala. With that passion and funds raised our crew was able to go on a mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala and build two homes for a family living in the dirt.
It was an amazing adventure. After that came my marriage, babies, and the deepest desire to be a mom, a wife, and live in God’s word with my husband and our 4 kids…
life rarely unfolds the way we envision it, right? Yet even in the detours, we can have come to believe God’s direction is greater that our own design. What feels like a setback often becomes the path to strength, purpose, and growth we never expect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rsfvaspire316.funraise.org/. WWW.ThePortalPatchFleece.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaspire316/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vaspire316
- Other: https://www.reconsniperfoundation.org/vaspire
www.ThePortalPatchFleece.com
Image Credits
Don Krueger Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
