Jackalopes help local woman

Jennifer Muirhead had never gotten health insurance in her years at her current job. And just when she started looking into it with her boss, it was too late.

Muirhead, 26, was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer in December, but her insurance wasn’t expected to start until January.

But that’s when the manager at Town and Country Optical got an assist.

Muirhead’s mother, Rose Laman, cooks food for the Odessa Jackalopes and their opponents at hockey games. She mentioned her daughter’s problem to Jackalopes defenseman Chris Brannan.

Brannan then told team co-owner Rick Gasser. That’s when Gasser decided to make a power play.

The Jackalopes will hold a silent auction at this weekend’s games and also collect money toward Muirhead’s medical bills. They’ve also set up an account at Security State Bank.

“If everybody knew (the Jackalopes) the way we know them, then everybody would be at the games,” Laman said.

And Gasser started off the fund-raising by giving Laman a check for $5,000, the minimum required for surgery, Laman said.

“I called Jenny and said, ‘You’re not going to believe what I’m holding,’ ” she said.

And though she wasn’t as talkative as her mom, Jenny’s appreciative.

“It means a lot to me,” she said. “The guys are very nice. Their wives are very nice.”

Medically, the future is unclear for Muirhead. She has a test coming up that will determine if she needs a radical hysterectomy, in which her uterus would be removed.

Of course that would mean she wouldn’t be able to have her own children.

“It’s something I personally want — I always imagined falling in love and having children,” she said.

Gasser said helping the family is the least he could do after they’ve supported the team for years.

“I’m a Christian,” he said. “I believe I need to help people out when I can. To be able to help people like that brings me great joy.”

Gasser hopes to bring in at least another $5,000 this weekend, when autographed jerseys and other memorabilia will be auctioned off. And he said he’s willing to help beyond that.

“If we’ve got to do more, we’ll do at least the services we can to get her back healthy,” he said.

Team general manager Joe Clark used an analogy from another sport to describe the Jackalopes’ effort.

“It’s something that you do,” he said. “You just step up to the plate.”

The Jackalopes have made dealing with a tough situation more manageable, Muirhead said. Although she said she might have been able to get help elsewhere, she’s glad she hasn’t had to.

“I’m pleased to know people like this,” she said.

Want to help?

>> What: Silent auctions will be held and a “pass the hat” will take place.

>> When: Odessa Jackalopes home games Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

>> Where: Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway.

>> If you can’t make it: An account has been set up at Security State Bank. The account number is 4010884.