The puck slid across the ice and found the back of the net for the third time.
Dressed in white, the crowd inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena erupted as Jessica Kramer threw her hands into the air. Surrounded by thousands of Jacksonville Icemen fans, she had just won Liberty Landscape Supply's Shoot to Win a Yard challenge during White Out Cancer Night.
But that winning shot represented far more than a landscape makeover.
Jessica is a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office patrol officer serving District 1, a wife, a mother, and a breast cancer survivor. After nearly a year of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and countless appointments at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, that moment on the ice became another victory in a season defined by courage, perseverance, and the people who stood beside her every step of the way.
Through what Jessica has described as a "rollercoaster" of a journey, she was never alone. Her husband, Matt, a Jacksonville Fire Rescue fire lieutenant, stood beside her throughout treatment. Their daughter, Dakota, who is almost two years old, became a daily reminder of everything Jessica was fighting for. Around them, friends, family across state lines, coworkers, first responders, and an entire community continued to lift the Kramer family up with encouragement, prayers, and unwavering support.
That support was evident when Jessica rang the bell to mark the end of her treatment. What she expected to be a simple milestone became an unforgettable celebration as Matt surprised her with family, friends, coworkers, and members of the community gathered behind her to celebrate the end of an incredibly difficult chapter.
“One of the moments that meant the most to me was seeing Liberty there at my bell-ringing ceremony,” Jessica said. “After everything we'd been through, having people who supported us there to celebrate that milestone was incredibly special.”
Today, Jessica says she's looking forward to "ordinary days" again. Spending time at home with Matt and Dakota, gathering with family and friends, and making memories together. The yard that began with three shots on the ice is now a place where those ordinary moments can unfold.
“Cancer has taught me that it’s often the little acts of kindness that leave the biggest impact, and Liberty Landscape Supply is a perfect example of that,” Jessica said. “Their generosity, compassion, and genuine support gave my family moments of joy during one of the hardest seasons of our lives.“
Community has a way of showing up when it's needed most. Sometimes it looks like family, sometimes friends, coworkers, or neighbors. Sometimes it fills an arena dressed in white.
White Out Cancer Night is one of the many ways the Jacksonville Icemen bring the community together to honor cancer fighters, survivors, and the families who walk beside them. As part of Liberty Landscape Supply's partnership with the Icemen, we host the annual Shoot to Win a Yard challenge, giving one participant the opportunity to win a landscape makeover in celebration of their fight.
"Having the opportunity to participate in the Jacksonville Icemen Cancer Awareness Game was such an honor, and then to have our yard transformed for our family was something we never expected,” Jessica said. “I’ll always be thankful for everything they’ve done, and I’m proud to have crossed paths with such an amazing group of people."
Working alongside the Kramer family to create a space that reflects this new chapter in their lives is something we will never forget. While the landscape itself was never the story, we hope it serves as a place where family and friends can gather for years to come.
For all of us at Liberty Landscape Supply, it was an honor to play a small part in Jessica's story and join the community in supporting the Kramers. Congratulations, Jessica. We wish you, Matt, Dakota, and your family nothing but the very best in this next, cancer free chapter.
Media Contact:
Veda Broderick
Digital Marketing Specialist
Veda@libertylandscapesupply.com
