Shining Sunshine on Darnelle Clark - March 2024

*UPDATE from March 4, 2024.

This fundraiser is being brought alive again as Darnelle is in GREAT need of our help as we wait for a miracle. The medication that is needed to save Darnelle's life costs more than $10,000 out of pocket to fill just ONE prescription. As of now, insurance refuses to pay any of the cost. In addition to the medication, her hospital, doctor, and other medical bills from the past few months keep adding up all while she is currently on unpaid leave from work.

I am Carla Collins, friend and colleague, of Darnelle Clark. Her mom, Wanda Clark, and I spoke and wanted to make sure we shared out accurate information about Darnelle's current medical situation and needs and wanted to be as transparent as possible with where this money would be going and how necessary this life saving (but costly) medication is.

Darnelle's Recent Health Information

In December 2023, Darnelle contracted Covid again, which affected her heart and lungs. She is currently experiencing chronic hypoxic respiratory failure and on oxygen 24/7. She is currently recovering from this bout of Covid along with navigating the effects from the last time she had the virus.

Various levels pertaining to her vital organs are low. Within the last few months, she was diagnosed with hypokalmeic periodic paralysis disorder and severe hypoglycemia which has been detrimental to her systems and a lot of the disregulation and dysfunction of her organs have progressively declined. This has left her feeling weak, extremely fatigued and heavily relying on a walker and wheelchair to move about.

She is receiving her care from the Cleveland Clinic. She is in the process of getting a rare treatment approved by insurance. This is the medication that will cost her more than $10,000 out of pocket. Up until this point, her body has not responded favorably to any of the trial treatments.

Darnelle Clark shines her sunshine on the world every day. You rarely see her without a smile or offering a helping hand to someone in need. Darnelle is a fantastic woman, daughter, sister, teacher, and friend to all who know her. She lights up any room she walks into.

It is our turn to shine some sunshine on her. Two years ago, this same fundraiser raised around $16,000 for her medical bills and expenses. All of that money was used at that time for her conditions. So while the fundraiser looks like we have raised $26,000+, please keep in mind $16,000 of that was used two years ago during another medical time of need.

Any donation will help and if you cannot give monetarily- please keep her in your prayers!

Thank you so much!