Parents know that raising children presents challenges. But
when your child has a chromosomal imbalance like 8-month old Delainie Simpson
of Waynesboro, PA, every day can seem like a marathon with no finish line in
sight.
It was a seemingly uneventful pregnancy. Yet within minutes of Delainie’s birth, her
need for nearly constant medical care has kept her father Steve and mother Kelly guessing as to when
they could stop running this dreadful race long enough to enjoy a few minutes with
their little girl. Monitored-care in a neonatal intensive care unit, middle-of-the-night
trips to the emergency rooms, and lengthy hospital stays have taxed the family
emotionally and mentally, but also, obviously, financially.
To help the Simpson's, Steve’s long-time friend, Matt
Dayton, has gathered musicians from Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina to put together the Delainie Simpson Benefit show. Festivities begin at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 at the Brunswick Fire Hall 223-225 West Potomac St., Brunswick,
MD 21716. Admission is $15 at the door with 100 percent of the proceeds going to
support little Delainie. Brunswick
is approximately 60 miles west of Baltimore.
Kelly explained that while chromosomal imbalances are not uncommon in humans, how they are expressed, if at all, varies greatly from person to person. For
some children, a chromosomal imbalance results in an extra 21st chromosome and is
expressed as Down syndrome.
In Delainie’s case, Kelly explained that many of her symptoms are
similar to those found in premature infants. Delainie, for example, had trouble
breathing in her first few weeks of life and needed surgery to open up her airway.
She also has profound hearing loss. When she takes a bottle, she frequently
aspirates (breathes in) a little bit of formula into her lungs.
It seemed like with every passing day, Delainie exhibited a new problem presumably
associated with her genetic imbalance. In time, Delainie’s entire genetic makeup was mapped, Kelly said, and physicians now know exactly where the imbalance occurred.
Furthermore, Delainie has not reached many of her
developmental milestones, such as sitting up. Kelly attributes some of this delay to her daughter’s
genetic glitch, but also does not discount the fact that Delainie spent many
weeks confined to hospital cribs attached to monitors. She basically has not
had a chance to explore her world the way other children would. Even so, Delainie now is at home
full-time with her family and is improving daily. She coos sweetly and seems to be close to turning over, Kelly reports.
Meanwhile, initial response to the announcement of the benefit concert has been phenomenal, Matt explained. He reported that he had to turn
bands away because so many were requesting to be on the bill. He added that
this show has inspired him to become more active in the local music scene. He
manages the band Trifecta, listed below, in addition to Earth Ride and Weed is Weed.
You can hear samples of many of the bands slated to play
here.
If you can’t attend but want to make a donation, Paypal is accepted at the benefit’s
website.
THE LINE-UP
Acts scheduled to perform fall within the heavy metal
subgenre of doom with some distinct variations. The bands in likely order of
appearance include:
The Civil will kick start the show with funky rhythms and
guitar jams distilled from the tie-dyed purple haze emanating of the summer of
love.
This Too Shall Burn boasts clear vocals, straightforward
melodies, and a relentless backbeat will propel this group through their early
set.
Despite Charm should impress listeners with their modern spin on traditional rock and metal.
Trifecta will transport listeners to the British blues and
rock origins of metal with their Zeppelin and Cream inspired melodies.
Akris defines experimental sludge musically with the voice
of angel crying overhead.
Admiral Browning paints a cerebral landscape with their more
progressive, melodic approach to
doom metal.
Ghost of War presents soaring vocals over a backdrop of
traditional guitar driven heavy metal.
Doom legends
Iron Man plan to assault the audience with
grinding guitar riffs and a thunderous rhythm section, framed by thoughtful
lyrics.
War Injun layers aggressive vocals upon a foundation of
fuzzy guitars and thrashy downbeats.
Pale Divine closes the show with music that harkens back to psychedelic the days of Iron Butterfly and early Black Sabbath.
RSVP to the event of Facebook here.
