Sydney Marko Memorial & Relief Fund
Donation protected
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my dear friend, Carrie Marko's 12 year old daughter, Sydney Marko, has passed away on 5/24/2018 following an arduous 9 year battle for her life.
In 2005, Carrie and Jim Marko were blessed with healthy twins, Sydney and Logan.
The twins were inseparable and shared a strong bond of love, bringing much joy to the Marko's lives. They were healthy and perfect in every way. Their doting parents cherished every single moment.
When Sydney was only three years old, she contracted a mysterious illness. The Marko's lives were forever changed from that day forward. She was hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for 87 days. She experienced seizures. Then, she experienced chronic twitching that started in her eyes, spreading to her entire face, down to her arms, and then her entire body. She then had no voice, inability to walk, or control of her body. Her little body was on life support. Three times, Sydney almost passed away during that hospital stay. Staying by her side every moment day and night, every time her parents heard the alarm of recussitating equipment, they would be startled and fearful of losing their baby girl.
Sydney came off of life support but her symptoms never went away.
Carrie got to hold her little girl after 6 long weeks of waiting.
Her twin brother, Logan, always kept the desire to stay by his sister's side. Whether in the hospital, going for a plethora of testing, and needles, Logan was devoted to his twin sister. She was he other half of his heart.
After Sydney's release from the Children's hospital of Philadelphia and $3 million dollars of tests and procedures, there was no answer as to why Sydney had unique characteristics that mimicked severe cerebral palsy as well as the seizures and chronic twitching. It was like she was trapped inside of a locked clear box without a key. Her mind was very well active inside her body. She had many ambitions, desires, thoughts, and emotions circling inside that box; but her body was unable to release all that she had going on inside.
Her symptoms progressed for years. In 2014, Sydney was diagnosed with Lyme's Disease. Aside from the Lyme diagnosis, there never remained an explanation as to her severe symptoms. Although Lyme's Disease was discovered and acknowledged, it was never recognized as a debilitating disease according to the CDC. Therefore, that meant the Marko family had to pay unspeakable amounts of money for Sydney's therapies, treatments, equipment, special organic gluten-free diet, and supplements. Insurance did not pay for Sydney's Lyme Disease doctor, whom she saw every other week.
The expenses were insurmountable. Both parents had a master's degree and well-established careers. Sydney's mother made one of the hardest decisions of her life. She left her career and stayed home to care for Sydney around the clock. Her mother, Carrie went back to night school to learn how to medically care for her daughter. In the meantime, the parents went through their savings account due to expenses. They cashed in their pensions to accommodate for wheelchair accessibility to their house, which included a specially designed room on the ground floor for Sydney, a ramp for her wheelchair, and other home accommodations for Sydney. This left the Marko family with huge out of pocket expenses and debt.
Putting sacrifices and money matters aside, the family cherished their daughter, Sydney. That little girl knew how much she was loved. Sydney loved others and had a heart of gold. When her strength allowed for her facial muscles to function, Sydney had an infectious smile that would illuminate the room and the world. She loved being a big sister to Savannah, born in November of 2014. Sydney would also always bring a smile to her many therapists whom she often saw. She smiled through the pain of a body that tortured her.
Sydney attended Fairview Elementary twice weekly (when her weakened and compromised immune system would allow it). My son, Alex Brisk, took a huge interest in Sydney and they soon became friends. I got to know the Marko family soon therafter. When my infant son, had a stroke in 2016, was hospitalized, and developed Cerbral Palsy from our life-changing event; Carrie held our hands though this. She introduced me to services and provided emotional support and comfort. All this, while battling her own struggle. The Marko family consists of truely beautiful people.
Sydney was involved with equestrian therapy. She loved her horse and was making progress with her conditions. Her mom couldn't wait to tell me that Sydney high-fived her. Many parents worry how their children will adapt to life, while the Marko family was giving life to their daughter, not knowing if life indeed had LIFE in store for their daughter. They made every moment a joyous one for her.
On 5/24/18, I heard from Carrie that Sydney was unresponsive and rushed to the ER. Sydney's body which caused her pain, was gone within an hour of arrival at the hospital at 4:20pm. The family is heavily burdened with shock, grief, and huge financial debt from Sydney's condition. Sydney was just too perfect for this world and now lives with her creator in heaven. Her family is heavily grieving for their little girl who fought so hard and captured the heart of people who came along her path.
Please donate to Sydney's memorial and debt relief fund to her heartbroken family. Donate prayers, thoughts, and wishes as well. Thank You!
Rest In Peace, and fly high Sweet Angel, Sydney ❤️
In 2005, Carrie and Jim Marko were blessed with healthy twins, Sydney and Logan.
The twins were inseparable and shared a strong bond of love, bringing much joy to the Marko's lives. They were healthy and perfect in every way. Their doting parents cherished every single moment. When Sydney was only three years old, she contracted a mysterious illness. The Marko's lives were forever changed from that day forward. She was hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for 87 days. She experienced seizures. Then, she experienced chronic twitching that started in her eyes, spreading to her entire face, down to her arms, and then her entire body. She then had no voice, inability to walk, or control of her body. Her little body was on life support. Three times, Sydney almost passed away during that hospital stay. Staying by her side every moment day and night, every time her parents heard the alarm of recussitating equipment, they would be startled and fearful of losing their baby girl. Sydney came off of life support but her symptoms never went away.
Carrie got to hold her little girl after 6 long weeks of waiting. Her twin brother, Logan, always kept the desire to stay by his sister's side. Whether in the hospital, going for a plethora of testing, and needles, Logan was devoted to his twin sister. She was he other half of his heart. After Sydney's release from the Children's hospital of Philadelphia and $3 million dollars of tests and procedures, there was no answer as to why Sydney had unique characteristics that mimicked severe cerebral palsy as well as the seizures and chronic twitching. It was like she was trapped inside of a locked clear box without a key. Her mind was very well active inside her body. She had many ambitions, desires, thoughts, and emotions circling inside that box; but her body was unable to release all that she had going on inside.
Her symptoms progressed for years. In 2014, Sydney was diagnosed with Lyme's Disease. Aside from the Lyme diagnosis, there never remained an explanation as to her severe symptoms. Although Lyme's Disease was discovered and acknowledged, it was never recognized as a debilitating disease according to the CDC. Therefore, that meant the Marko family had to pay unspeakable amounts of money for Sydney's therapies, treatments, equipment, special organic gluten-free diet, and supplements. Insurance did not pay for Sydney's Lyme Disease doctor, whom she saw every other week.
The expenses were insurmountable. Both parents had a master's degree and well-established careers. Sydney's mother made one of the hardest decisions of her life. She left her career and stayed home to care for Sydney around the clock. Her mother, Carrie went back to night school to learn how to medically care for her daughter. In the meantime, the parents went through their savings account due to expenses. They cashed in their pensions to accommodate for wheelchair accessibility to their house, which included a specially designed room on the ground floor for Sydney, a ramp for her wheelchair, and other home accommodations for Sydney. This left the Marko family with huge out of pocket expenses and debt.
Putting sacrifices and money matters aside, the family cherished their daughter, Sydney. That little girl knew how much she was loved. Sydney loved others and had a heart of gold. When her strength allowed for her facial muscles to function, Sydney had an infectious smile that would illuminate the room and the world. She loved being a big sister to Savannah, born in November of 2014. Sydney would also always bring a smile to her many therapists whom she often saw. She smiled through the pain of a body that tortured her.
Sydney attended Fairview Elementary twice weekly (when her weakened and compromised immune system would allow it). My son, Alex Brisk, took a huge interest in Sydney and they soon became friends. I got to know the Marko family soon therafter. When my infant son, had a stroke in 2016, was hospitalized, and developed Cerbral Palsy from our life-changing event; Carrie held our hands though this. She introduced me to services and provided emotional support and comfort. All this, while battling her own struggle. The Marko family consists of truely beautiful people. Sydney was involved with equestrian therapy. She loved her horse and was making progress with her conditions. Her mom couldn't wait to tell me that Sydney high-fived her. Many parents worry how their children will adapt to life, while the Marko family was giving life to their daughter, not knowing if life indeed had LIFE in store for their daughter. They made every moment a joyous one for her.
On 5/24/18, I heard from Carrie that Sydney was unresponsive and rushed to the ER. Sydney's body which caused her pain, was gone within an hour of arrival at the hospital at 4:20pm. The family is heavily burdened with shock, grief, and huge financial debt from Sydney's condition. Sydney was just too perfect for this world and now lives with her creator in heaven. Her family is heavily grieving for their little girl who fought so hard and captured the heart of people who came along her path. Please donate to Sydney's memorial and debt relief fund to her heartbroken family. Donate prayers, thoughts, and wishes as well. Thank You!
Rest In Peace, and fly high Sweet Angel, Sydney ❤️
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristen Brisk
Organizer
Mountain Top, PA
Carolyn Marko
Beneficiary
