Trevor’s pajama and toy drive collects hundreds of donations for children

A routine well visit for their 5-year-old son Trevor turned into a terrifying experience for Will and Sheri Klemkowski of Lewes, who launched a pajama and toy drive to help support other families who find themselves in a similar situation.

During the January appointment, Trevor’s pediatrician Dr. Nancy Gideon detected an irregular heartbeat, Will said. After an EKG, the family was told to go straight to Nemours/​Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

“We didn’t know what was going on,” Will said. “We had no idea of the seriousness of the situation.”

About 60 people were in the hospital waiting room, Will said, but his son was immediately whisked away for treatment.

“About 10 different doctors came in to look at Trevor, who looked like there was nothing wrong with him,” Sheri said.

Clinicians asked if anyone in the family had heart disease or died suddenly; Will and Sheri said no one had.

“We started freaking out,” Sheri said; Trevor was admitted to the ICU.

Doctors found that the top muscle of his heart was beating normally, but the bottom part was beating extremely fast, a condition called ventricular tachycardia.

“It’s very rare for a child his age,” Will said. “Basically, his heart was fighting itself. Eventually, it would get tired of fighting and just stop.”

Doctors are hopeful Trevor will grow out of the condition, Sheri said, and he will be on medication for a year. He may undergo an ablation of the heart next year if the condition persists, Sheri said.

Trevor spent five days in the hospital, a length of stay the family wasn’t prepared for, Will said. Luckily, a parent was able to be with Trevor the entire time, but other families aren’t so fortunate.

“Some kids are there months, years,” Will said. “Some never get out.”

“We didn’t think we’d be there that long,” Sheri said. “We were unprepared.”

One day, a child life specialist entered Trevor’s room, bringing him play dough, a new box of Legos, shark pajamas, a blanket and a teddy bear. 

“His confusion and fear went out the window,” Will said. “We saw that.”

Shortly after the family returned home, Will and Sheri knew they wanted to do something to give back. A pajama and toy donation drive held during American Heart Month in February to help other children hospitalized at Nemours/​A.I. duPont was perfect. 

The drive picked up steam online, Will said, and friends and local businesses eagerly helped. The Klemkowskis worked with child life therapists at Nemours/​A.I. duPont to determine their exact needs.

Donation drop-off centers were hosted by RISE Fitness, Shell We Bounce, Iron Source Georgetown, Beacon Pediatrics and Harry’s Hardware. Friends Bill and Anne Brooks, Eric Blondin of State Farm Insurance, Scot Dostal of Atlantic Prime Mortgage, and Alex Hawes helped raise funds to purchase specific items from an Amazon wish list.

Will said he has seen the Cape Region community come together for others in times of need, and this time proved no different.

By the end of the month, hundreds of donations for children ranging in age from infant to teen had taken over the hallways of the Klemkowski home.

“I want to thank the southern Sussex County community,” Will said. “They helped Trevor, and we’re going to pay it forward to help other kids.”

The Klemkowskis plan to host a drive each February, and may even launch a nonprofit to focus on children who are hospitalized for just a few days, or an extended stay, Will said.

Right now, the family can’t wait to deliver a trailer full of toys, blankets, pajamas, and hope to children, Will said, some of whom are in a fight for their life.