Meet Lucas Clark:

Lucas is a bright and beautiful 3-year-old boy who, like every child, deserves a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Diagnosed with autism, communication disorder, and sensory processing difficulties, Lucas faces unique challenges that make a good night’s sleep both rare and precious.

The Challenge:

Lucas’s diagnoses mean that he is non-verbal, has limited cognitive understanding, and lacks safety awareness. These challenges have led to numerous injuries and sleepless nights as he tries to navigate a world that often overwhelms him. Traditional cribs and toddler beds simply don’t provide the security and sensory support Lucas needs. Despite his parents' best efforts—using weighted blankets, sensory lights, and safety-proofing his room—Lucas continues to have restless and dangerous nights.

The Solution: The Cubby Bed

We are raising funds to purchase a special needs Cubby Bed for Lucas. This bed is not just a piece of furniture; it’s a lifeline. Designed specifically for children with conditions like Lucas’s, the Cubby Bed provides:

Safety: 360 degrees of unbroken perimeter to prevent falls and elopement.

Security: Locked, zippered openings to keep Lucas safe while allowing easy access for caregivers.

Comfort: A padded canopy and sensory features that create a calming environment for better sleep.

Peace of Mind: Protects against entrapment, self-injurious behaviors, and potential nighttime accidents.

Why We Need Your Help:

Insurance has denied coverage for the Cubby Bed, deeming it a non-essential item. But for Lucas and his family, this bed is essential. It’s the key to preventing injuries, ensuring safe and restful nights, and providing Lucas with the environment he needs to thrive.

A Personal Plea:

My name is John Kiwala, and I am reaching out to you not just as a concerned friend, but as someone who understands the deep frustration and heartache of battling medical insurance. Alex Clark, Lucas’s father, is my best friend. His family is my family. I cannot fathom being in a position where I cannot help my child get a proper night’s rest and have to watch him constantly struggle to sleep.

Having gone through terrible times myself with the loss of my first wife, I know too well the constant struggles with medical insurance and justifying treatments. The fact that Alex and his amazing wife LaDonna continue to complete forms as asked, only to be denied and told by insurance companies—not medical professionals—that they should try to "drug their child" so that he will sleep is immoral, wrong, and downright appalling. LaDonna has continued to push through incredible mountains of paperwork and red-tape, doing everything she can from filling out grant applications, to medical insurance appeals. They are amazing parents who will stop at nothing to remove the dark circles and bags under the eyes of their poor, tired son.

I am incredibly disheartened by their situation and am calling on the help of friends, family, and anyone who has experienced similar struggles or feels compelled to help. My best friend Alex is constantly out there saving lives as a nurse, working in trauma and the ER during the roughest times, especially during Covid. I am so incredibly proud of the person he has become, but most of all, the amazing father that he is. He continues to do everything he possibly can to help his son—I only wish to ease the burden on his family if at all possible.

How You Can Help:

We are reaching out to our community, friends, and compassionate strangers to help us raise $16,000 for Lucas’s Cubby Bed. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to a safer and healthier future for Lucas.

Make a Difference Today:

By donating, you’re not just buying a bed; you’re giving Lucas a chance at the peaceful sleep he desperately needs and deserves. You’re supporting a family striving to provide the best care for their son amidst challenging circumstances. Most importantly, you’re helping a little boy wake up each day safe, rested, and ready to take on the world.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

If successful - Alex and LaDonna intend to pay it forward by providing the Cubby bed to another family who is in need. So you have the chance to impact multiple lives.

Please donate today and share Lucas’s story with your network. Together, we can make a profound difference in his life.

Thank you for your generosity and support.