Kimmy's Village

All of us who have Kimmy Clark in our lives feel the same way: grateful. Kimmy dearly loves her family and friends, she is wonderful company, quick with a joke, but even quicker with a supportive comment, and as good and loyal a friend as anyone could ever ask for. Kimmy’s professional life has been devoted to the service of others. For years, she has led the Autism Program at the Ivymount School, working her way up from the classroom by earning her Board Certification as a Behavior Analyst while teaching and working full time. There were a lot of proud friends listening as she thoughtfully and clearly explained best practices for use of restraint in the classroom on the Kojo Nnamdi Show some time ago. Kimmy’s work is rewarding, but it is hard and tiring. In spite of that, she has always made time to be there for her family and friends. This will sound strange to anyone who doesn’t yet know Kimmy, but will hopefully ring familiar to all of her friends: one of our favorite things about Kimmy is her impatience. She has no time for bullshit and no problem sharing it. What makes that trait so endearing is that while her bullshit reservoir always runs low, it is juxtaposed against a love for her family and friends that she also wears on her sleeve, and that is without limit. She’ll put up with any manner of nonsense, and she’ll voice her opinion that it is stupid, but it comes with a more than commensurate dose of love for everyone whose lives Kimmy brightens. “This thing is dumb, but I love you, so I’m here,” is a big part of the Kimmy vibe. It works because she may be the most emotionally honest person we know. Kimmy’s family is as great as she is. Her husband, Timmy, brings an energy to everything that he does that seems limitless, and devotes that energy most enthusiastically toward his friendships. Tim is as happy to cheer for others’ successes and passions as anyone we’ve ever met. We’ve learned from one of our kids in elementary school not to “Yuk someone else’s yum.” Timmy is the furthest thing from a Yum-Yukker that any of us know, and the love that Timmy and Kimmy put out into the universe is evident in their two beautiful children, Annie and Tommy, who are blossoming into young people who will one day soon be as smart, sweet, thoughtful and kind as their parents are. But Kimmy, Timmy, and their kids need our help. A year and some change ago, Kimmy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a comprehensive treatment regime, but still did a better job of keeping up with our friend’s group workouts than any of the rest of us, doing an increasing number of pushups and burpees without ever using fatigue from chemo as the viable excuse that it would have been. Kimmy beat the cancer, and went back for every checkup and followup, every exam and scan, to make sure she was still doing well. And she was. Until she wasn’t. Kimmy’s cancer came back in a rare and aggressive way. She dealt with it quickly and responsibly, and is fighting the good fight. She and Timmy – and all of us who are close to her – have been buoyed by the way that our community has stepped up to help. And they have appreciated every gesture and kindness extended their way. But let’s be clear: our dear friend’s road to recovery is long and not guaranteed of success. As we’ve asked ourselves what we can do to help, it has come into focus that the thing that they’re going to need more than anything else is financial help. So we’re asking everyone to dig deep and pitch in, both by giving what you can right now, and by thinking about committing to a recurring contribution. A few of Kimmy's closest friends are seeding this effort with a large upfront commitment and an ongoing monthly gift. And we’re committing to keep that support going until Kimmy and her family don’t need our help anymore. We would give everything to see her make a full recovery and get back to telling us how silly all of our bullshit is, but how much she loves us anyway, and back to working and being a mom and wife and friend fulltime. We all hope and pray each day that that day comes sooner than later. Thank you for your consideration, and for anything that you’re able to contribute to this effort. Supporting our dear friends and their family during their time of turmoil and need is the most important thing we can think to ask anyone to contribute toward...