Make-a-wish Sends Darien 6-Year-Olds To Disney World

DARIEN, Conn. -- The Darien community gathered at the YMCA Tuesday to bid bon voyage to Jeremy and Miles Clark, two 6-year-olds who are off to Walt Disney World courtesy of Make-A-Wish Connecticut.

Gina Filippelli, Cyrus Clark, Miles Clark, Lindsey Clark, Jeremy Clark and Elaine Doran at the Darien YMCA for the kids' send-off party before heading to Disney World courtesy of Make-A-Wish Connecticut.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

In addition to the trip, the kids also got Disney backpacks filled with toys and other goodies, which made Jeremy very excited.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Michael Dominick of Make-A-Wish Connecticut with Lindsey Clark.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Jeremy and Miles were thrilled to get to ride in the firetruck with the lights and sirens going off before arriving at their party.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Dan Anderson, chairman of the Darien Fire Department, with Miles and Cyrus after dropping the boys off at the Darien YMCA before the party Tuesday.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Wish Granters Elaine Doran and Gina Filippelli of Greenwich worked with the Clark family to come up with their wish and make it a reality.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Stop & Shop also provided a specialized Disney cake for the occasion.
Photo Credit: *Casey Donahue*

Casey Donahue

03/11/2015 5:00 a.m.

The twins arrived in style to their send-off party, with the Darien Fire Department volunteering a firetruck to chauffeur them and their parents, Lindsey and Cyrus, to the event. There they were greeted by friends and family, as well as food donated by Planet Pizza and the Goodwives Stop & Shop.

When they were about 6 months old, Jeremy and Miles were diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a debilitating form of epilepsy that causes seizures and requires numerous medical treatments and doctor visits. Miles has also been diagnosed with autism. Lindsey said that despite their hardships, the kids remain upbeat.

"You would never know, by their spirits, that they were sick. They're the happiest kids in the world," Lindsey said.

They're about to be a lot happier when they go down to Disney World on Saturday for a week of fun provided by Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The Clarks got in touch with the organization about a year ago and have been working with Wish Granters Gina Filippelli, Elaine Doran and Susie Swirbul to organize the trip and the send-off party.

Filippelli said that they met with the family and talked with the kids about what their wish might be and decided on Disney World as a perfect fit for them. She said that Disney has a long history of working with Make-A-Wish and is able to accommodate the kids. They stayed in touch with the family while they waited for the right time to send them on their trip and were extremely grateful to the businesses and organizations that donated time, resources and space to make sure that they had a great time.

"This party really shows the community spirit of Darien," Filippelli said. "People couldn't have been nicer."

"It's been overwhelming. It's been so wonderful, and this trip they have lined up is a dream come true," said Lindsey. She said that Miles and Jeremy are looking forward to the roller coasters, the water slides and the trains at the park, though it's going to be tough to match the excitement they had riding the firetruck to their party. "After everything they've been through, they deserve it."

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