Brandi Jurkiewicz: Power in the Pause: A Busy Mom's Unexpected Ally

A Life in Motion

Brandi Jurkiewicz’s days unfold like a tightly choreographed routine, each moment packed with purpose. At 45, she’s a cornerstone of her rural Pennsylvania community, managing 25 group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges. Her work is a marathon—overseeing six managers, 300 direct care professionals, and an on-call schedule that never sleeps. Yet her heart is equally tied to home, where she’s been married to Paul for 16 years and is raising her 15-year-old daughter, a competitive cheerleader whose performances light up their and others’ weekends. This year, Brandi embraced the role of team mom, orchestrating travel and morale for a squad of high-energy teens. “I’m always running,” she says with a laugh, her voice warm with the resilience of someone who finds joy in the juggle.

In this whirlwind, a quiet hero has emerged:a Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus, seamlessly powering the moments that matter most.

A Night in the ER

It was a late-night emergency room visit that first etched Jackery into Brandi’s memory. Hours ticked by in the fluorescent-lit chaos of a packed ER, where she lay in a bed shoved into the hallway—no outlets in sight, her phone battery dwindling like a fading lifeline. Paul, ever the problem-solver, had to step out to check on their daughter, but not before handing her a compact Jackery Explorer 100 Plus. “It sat right next to me in that bed,” Brandi recalls, the scene vivid in her mind—the beeps of monitors, the shuffle of nurses, the isolation of a hallway limbo. Plugged in, her phone stayed alive, connecting her to the outside world through texts and calls. At 2 a.m., as tests loomed, it was more than a charger; it was a connection to normalcy and safety to stay up to date with family.

If anything, this moment was the first time Brandi discovered the device and its reliability. Later, Paul decided to gift her their first Jackery — a simple gesture of care that quickly became essential. “It does exactly what I need,” Brandi says. “What else could I want more?” From there, Paul became the family’s portable-power enthusiast, adding models like the Jackery Solar Generator 300 plus to their setup.

Sparks in the Storm

Living rurally means embracing the elements, but it also means contending with their whims. Power outages are a familiar occurrence in Pennsylvania, where heavy rains and winds can plunge homes into darkness for hours—or, as in one grueling April stretch, three days. Before Jackery, these blackouts forced frantic adaptations: driving to in-laws’ houses to charge essentials, or worse, idling the car engine just to juice a phone, only to end up with a dead battery. “Twice that happened while camping,” Brandi says, shaking her head at the memory of stranded mornings, the air thick with frustration.

Now, with Jackery in their life, those outages lose their sting. Paul handles the setup—connecting lights, gadgets, even pondering the crock pot’s runtime on a larger model—while Brandi focuses on what matters: staying connected for work. Her role demands 24/7 availability; a dead work phone isn’t an option. “I don’t have to stress anymore,” she explains. The devices provide peace of mind, a buffer against the isolation of rural life. During one summer blackout, Brandi powered her laptop to keep working from home, the Jackery keeping things running in peace. At home, where they savor Pennsylvania’s brief sunny spells, the Jackery is a reliable companion. Their daughter, like any teenager craving constant connection, sometimes sneaks it to her room—her charging cord is too short to stretch across a cluttered haven of stuffed animals and snacks. Paul’s teasing reminders to handle it with care spark laughter and playful banter, weaving a joyful thread into their busy family life.

Charged Adventures

The true magic unfolds when the family ventures out. Competitive cheer has transformed their weekends into road trips—Ohio, eastern Pennsylvania, even a trek to Florida in a 15-passenger van crammed with teammates. Before Jackery, these outings meant outlet hunts: scrambling for plugs in hotel rooms or competition venues, rationing charges among a bunch of phone-dependent teens. Chaos was always around, the uncertainty of finding a power source ever-present.

When Jackery entered, the script flipped. At cheer comps, the family earned a reputation: Paul as the “electric dad” with endless power, Brandi as the “Alani mom” stocking energy drinks and water. Curling irons hum for pre-performance touch-ups, phones stay charged for selfies and scores. “The girls love it—we have power!” Brandi says, her tone infused with the joy of shared stories.

Camping, once limited to electrified sites, now knows no bounds. A state park lake day sees the Jackery Solar Generator 300 plus keeping devices alive for Brandi, Paul, their daughter, and friends. Their anniversary escapes turn cozy with heated blankets and inflated air mattresses, all powered effortlessly. Last month’s drive-in movie night stands out to her especially: everyone under the stars with glowing phones and a cozy setup, the Jackery streamlining the experience into something almost magical. “It just makes everything convenient,” Brandi reflects, painting a picture of laughter echoing in the evening, free from the nagging worry of dying batteries or freezing to death.

Paul’s passion for solar energy—dreaming of a whole-house system—has rubbed off, prompting Brandi to rethink sustainability. “I never gave it much thought before,” she admits. “You get so busy with the day-to-day.” Now, it’s part of their routine, whether for cheer competitions, camping trips, or in their household, knowing they can face the next blackout carefree with a source of energy that can last for days.

Freedom Unplugged

Looking ahead, Brandi sees more solar in their future, aligning with Paul’s enthusiasm for experimenting with a more sustainable and mobile setup for their home and trips. For her, Jackery isn’t just a gadget; it’s a liberator. “It gives us the freedom to do whatever we need efficiently,” she says, her words carrying emotional weight—the relief of a mom who can support her daughter’s dreams without logistical hurdles and the comfort of a professional who stays connected amid chaos and ever-changing routines.

And for many families like theirs, Jackery products have also become popular gifts — especially around the holidays — offering not just convenience but safety and peace of mind for the people you care about most.

In a world where electronics underpin everything, Jackery has interlaced with the Jurkiewicz family’s story, turning potential pitfalls into possibilities not just for their jobs but also for their daughter’s dreams. From ER hallways to cheer sidelines, it offers not just power, but presence—an assurance that lets them focus on what truly charges their lives.