Darien Community Bands Together to Help the Clark Family

DARIEN COMMUNITY BANDS TOGETHER TO HELP FAMILY OF DRAVET SYNDROME TWINS

Benefit at Jimmy’s Southside Tavern on November 5^th is First Step in Helping Darien’s Clark Family and Raising Awareness for a Debilitating Disease

Jeremy and Miles Clark, six-year-old Darien twin boys, experienced their first seizures at just six months old.   After enduring countless additional seizures, many of which required urgent medical attention, the boys were finally diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome in 2009. At best, this disease can cause severe limitations to normal childhood and, at worst, as for the twins, it is life-threatening on a daily basis. 

Today, Jeremy is a first-grader at Royle School and Miles is at Giant Steps in Southport to support his special needs. The Darien community is coming together to support the Clark family by raising money to help alleviate the exorbitant medical expenses incurred by the family as a result of Dravet Syndrome.  In addition, Miles was recently diagnosed with Autism, prompting the Clark family to look into a service dog, which would help to ensure Miles’ safety, as well as predict both boys’ frequent seizures.

On November 5th, The Clark Boys’ Benefit Bash will take place at Jimmy’s Southside Tavern.  Donations may also be made online at this link:http://tinyurl.com/clarkbenefit. Additional details below.

“The first six months of our sons’ lives were magical,” said Lindsey Clark, the boys’ mother. “Both boys were happy, smiling, and meeting all of their developmental milestones.  Our lives changed dramatically when the boys turned six months old.  In the years since their first seizures, I’ve seen my babies intubated countless times, put into medically induced comas, poked, prodded—you name it, my boys have experienced it.”

“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Imagine seeing your children suffer on a daily basis without any way of stopping it,” said Ciara Thurlow, the Darien mom who is leading the charge to raise money to support the Clark family and to raise awareness for Dravet Syndrome.  “Putting myself in the place of Lindsey and Cyrus Clark drove me and a group of fellow parents to take action and support this family in their time of need.”

“Jeremy and Miles are such dear, sweet boys, who required constant support for their frequent seizures.  It was amazing and fulfilling to watch their young classmates provide friendship and help their beloved ‘Jer’ and Miles in Kindergarten last year,” said Michelle Pagliaro, Jeremy’s teacher at Royle last year.  “To witness such earnest and innocent love and caring for a friend at such a tender age is amazingly heartwarming.  To be a part of a community in which the children automatically embrace and support their fellow students is very special.”

“The children of Darien who support Miles and Jeremy at school every day have clearly learned the gift of empathy and compassion from their parents, for whom we are so grateful to for their support,” said Cyrus Clark, the boys’ father.  “We are speechless with gratitude.”

ABOUT THE BENEFIT

This year's Benefit will take place at Jimmy’s Southside Tavern on Wednesday, November 5 from 6-9 p.m.  Details are as follows:

Where:

Jimmy’s Southside Tavern

340 Heights Road, Darien

When:

Wednesday, November 5th 6:00-9:00pm

Cost (Pay at the Door):

$50 ($30 goes directly toward a service dog for Miles)

Beer/wine/appetizers/acoustic music

Additional donations, and/or for those whom cannot attend, may be made online at: http://tinyurl.com/clarkbenefit