South Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Makayla Clark, the Charleston teen who has been battling serious medical issues at an Ohio hospital, and her family are facing another hardship -- Makayla's father has died.

Makayla's father, Jim, died after he recently went into cardiac arrest and was placed on a ventilator at the hospital where she has been staying, according to the teen's Facebook page, "Cheering For Makayla." The family is asking for an autopsy and said the cause of death may be neurological.

Meanwhile, the Bob Evans in South Charleston will donate 15 percent of its proceeds Wednesday for the teen. This marks the third Wednesday in a row the restaurant has had a fundraiser for her.

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As a teen from Charleston continues the fight of her life at an Ohio hospital, a restaurant back home is offering a portion of proceeds to her family.

For the second Wednesday in a row, Bob Evans in South Charleston will donate 15 percent of its proceeds to 17-year-old Makayla Clark.

Clark has been in Cincinnati Children's Hospital since early November. She was flown from Yeager Airport in an effort to save her life.

On Tuesday, a message posted on the "Cheering for Makayla" Facebook page said that "Makayla's bone marrow and lumbar puncture came back normal (prayers answered) . . . “ The team has decided that Makayla would receive chemotherapy Tuesday.

In addition, Makayla's father, Jim, recently went into cardiac arrest at the hospital where she is staying and was put on a ventilator, waiting to be taken to an area hospital, according to the Facebook page.

Keep checking wchstv.com for updates on Makayla's story.

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Let a local restaurant do the cooking for you Wednesday and help support a Kanawha County teenager who is in the fight of her life.

Makayla Clark, 17, of Charleston remains in Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she continues to be on a heart monitor due to abnormal heart rhythms. Eyewitness News first told you about Clark earlier this month when she was flown to the Ohio hospital from Yeager Airport in an effort to save her life.

All day Wednesday, the Bob Evans restaurant in South Charleston is donating 15 percent of proceeds to Clark's family. Coupons can be picked up at the Kanawha City Kroger and Foodland, Horace Mann Middle School and Capital High School. You also can find the coupon on the WCHS and WVAH TV Facebook page; you must have a flier in order for the restaurant to donate the proceeds.

Clark continues to undergo treatment and additional tests. On Thursday, she is expected to undergo a second bone marrow biopsy with a lumbar puncture, according to a post on the "Cheering for Makayla" Facebook page. Doctors are hopeful that with the results of those tests, they can begin developing a cancer treatment plan for the teen.

Keep checking wchstv.com for updates.

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Nov. 16, 2012
Cincinnati , Ohio

A Kanawha County teen whose medical battle has prompted an outpouring of prayers and support was placed on a ventilator at an Ohio hospital.

Eyewitness News has learned that Makayla Clark, 17, of Marmet was placed on a ventilator Thursday evening at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where she was flown late last week.

A desperate plea was posted on the "Cheering for Makayla" Facebook page about 8 p.m. Thursday, saying, "Urgent prayers needed. Makayla was just placed on a ventilator because she was having difficulty breathing due to excess fluid on her lungs and heart."

The teen was flown to Cincinnati Children's Hospital on Nov. 8 from Yeager Airport in Charleston for additional medical evaluation. She had previously been in a Charleston hospital since early October.

Makayla's story starts 17 years ago when she was born with Down syndrome, then diagnosed with leukemia at age 2, which was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. By the time she was 12, she underwent a kidney transplant and now at the age of 17 she has been diagnosed with two rare forms of cancer. Due to extensive medical complications, doctors in the Charleston area referred the teen to the Ohio hospital, in hopes to save her life.

Eyewitness News first told you about Makayla on Nov. 8, when a family friend called to let our station know of the situation and that the family was simply asking for prayers. We were able to post her story onto the WCHS and WVAH Facebook page, which gained hundreds of likes, comments and shares and an outpouring of support for the teen.

On Nov. 9, West Virginia University Basketball Coach Bob Huggins called Makayla. Family members said she is a huge fan of the coach. Eyewitness News was able to share that video with our viewers that evening at on wchstv.com. She also is a huge fan of teen superstar Justin Bieber.

Keep checking wchstv.com for updates on Makayla's story.

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