NEW MARKET, MD– A local county artist has agreed to donate a FaceTime or phone call to the highest bidder at a live music benefit and silent auction June 18 at the Blue Sky Bar and Grill in New Market starting at 7 p.m.
The event is being hosted for Kierce Thompson, a local five-year-old fighting autism, ADHD and a metabolic disorder. He is in need of a service dog to help him live a normal life, said Brittany Vance, his mother.
The FaceTime or phone call will be similar to a mini concert, said Joe Barrick, Sam Grow’s manager.
“We’re wanting to do something special, so we’re donating the phone call to the highest bidder as a way to thank that person,” said Barrick.
“The goal amount to be raised at this and another event we’re hosting is $5,000,” said Vance. “We’re thinking the breed would be a lab or a Newfoundland. People are also welcome to donate at the door to help Kierce with collecting enough money to get a service dog.”
Bands scheduled to play at the event include the five-man country cover group The Chris David Band, and acoustic pop and alternative rock group, Solstice of Soul, said Vance.
“The Blue Sky Bar & Grill has great food as well as a full bar. We don’t have any sponsors but we are auctioning off some gift cards as well. Mostly to salons and things like that. I am still working on donations for the auction,” said Vance.
Kierce is a very outgoing kid, said Vance.
“He has been in some type of therapy since he was 3 months old. He was always delayed. He actually didn’t talk until he was about 3 and a half, but you would never know that today. He is full of opinions and thoughts. He likes to tell jokes and laugh. He is a very active boy,” said Vance.
The five year old is in kindergarten and loves learning about the world around him, said Vance.
“He loves nature and learning about plants and animals. He knows all these random facts about fish and sea life. He has a fascination with the ocean,” said Vance.
Kierce was first diagnosed with an unspecified Neurodevelopment Disorder at 2-years-old, said Vance.
“At [age] 4 we did more testing and he was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. He has also been diagnosed with a feeding disorder but that definitely goes along with Autism,” said Vance. “He was first hospitalized at about 20 months of age and was diagnosed with Metabolic Acidosis. He has also had Keto Acidosis which is something diabetics get, however, he is not diabetic according to his specialists. After the first episode, he would be hospitalized often, about every 4 to 6 months.”
The older Kierce grew, the less often he was hospitalized for the acidosis, said Vance.
“Acid build up in the blood is not something we want to play with. We have a strict regimen we follow. He eats every 3 hours and even has food by his bed so when he wakes at night, he can grab a snack,” said Vance. “We have been to the hospital about four times in the past year but after a few hours of the special IV fluid he needs, he was able to go home. I have been able to catch it sooner, and now we just get the IV’s and his levels go back to normal within a few hours. However, if not treated within a short period of time it can be life-threatening.”
With the testing Kierce has gone through in the last three years, doctors have yet to find a cause to his acidosis, said Vance.
“They suspect a metabolic disorder but can’t find the specific one. His specialist says there are hundreds. We were told we may never know a cause, but we were also told he may never talk and we see how long that lasted, so I will never stop searching for answers,” said Vance.
Kierce has a four-month-old brother, said Vance.
“Kierce is a great big brother to Amari Skye, and he was born in January. His dad took him to the store to get a toy a month after Amari was born, and Kierce said he had to get his baby brother something, too because he wanted to be fair. He also said he wanted something safe for a baby, so he picked a stuffed animal,” said Vance. “When the baby fusses, Kierce will comfort him.”
PurposeFULL Paws is the local organization Vance has selected to get a service dog from, said Vance.
“A friend suggested the organization, and they are busy but not busy enough to where I can’t stay in the loop. Most organizations have hundreds of applications and you are just one out of a hundred to them,” said Vance. “I wanted the opportunity to communicate with them and visit with them when I had questions or as Kierce changed his behaviors or interests. Plus, I seen how amazing the dogs behaved at their trainer’s facility. It was pretty interesting to see these dogs do things on command without hesitation.”
Kierce has come a long way in the past two years, said Vance.
“It’s really amazing actually. Between school, therapy and extra activities mixed with a whole lot of prayer, he is making a ton of progress,” said Vance.
Sam Grow was unavailable for comment about the event.
For more information, check out Kierce’s gofundme page or contact Brittany Vance at brittany.d.vance@gmail.com.
Jacqui Atkielski can be contacted via email at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.
