Utah State students rally around a three year-old Roy girl with a rare heart defect

Learning about three-year-old Teagan Clark’s rare congenital heart defect sparked an idea for a group of students at Utah State University. The students have stepped up to the plate to help raise money and awareness for the cause by hosting small events and bake sales.

Tuesday night, many students attended the largest event for the cause at Team Teagan’s Bingo Night that was held on campus.

Ben Seegmiller, the director and founder of Team Teagan, said he and his friends decided they wanted to do something impactful while still being able to have fun and hang out.

“We didn’t think it was going to be that big of a thing,” Seegmiller said. “But we wanted to hang out and be doing something good other than just sitting on a couch.”

Morgan Klinkowski, a member of Team Teagan, said multiple people have reached out to her and Ben Seegmiller to see how they can take part in Team Teagan.

“I’m just astounded,” Klinkowski said. “I didn’t even think we would get this good of a turnout tonight, like, I was so excited. And so many people have reached out to us….It’s been amazing.”

Seegmiller and Klinkowski are not the only ones who have been amazed by the support and generosity of Utah State students.

“You guys don’t even know us and all these people are here to help her,” said Shelby Clark, Teagan’s mother. “It’s overwhelming and humbling.”

Jake Clark, Teagan’s father, said the support he and his family have received from everyone is something he could never repay anyone for.

“It’s hard because I’m supposed to be the breadwinner and a protector and everything,” Jake Clark said, “but the support that we’ve received from everybody is amazing. It’s just true gratitude. I can’t say thank you enough to all these people….You have touched my heart.”

Although no amount of money will take away the problem, Klinkowski said she hopes the efforts of Team Teagan and Utah State students have provided the family with support and an assurance of hope.

“If that is all I provide is just a little bit of extra peace and a little bit of extra comfort, then that’s all that matters to me,” Klinkowski said.

Determined to persevere through this trial, Teagan Clark has continued to prove to many people just how strong she is.

“We have been told many times that Teagan was not going to make it,” Shelby Clark said. “She’s fought and she’s here and so it’s been really awesome to watch the people’s lives that she’s touched.”

Members of Team Teagan said not only has her story touched their lives, but it has also taught them to look beyond themselves and see life in a bigger and better perspective.

“[Teagan] just gives us something to look forward to,” said Michael Scott Peters, a member of Team Teagan. “I think sometimes in our lives we think we have it hard. Like, maybe we have a test coming up or it’s raining outside, so we think, oh, life’s hard, but then when we hear about other heroes who have gone through so much more, I think that’s encouraging for all of us.”

By personally getting to know Teagan Clark and her family, Seegmiller said it has humbled him and taught him that life isn’t so bad.

“It kinda puts your own life in perspective,” Seegmiller said. “And it seems like whenever you try to help somebody else out, everything seems to work out in your own life.”

Looking for something good to latch onto in her own life, Klinkowski said by becoming involved with Teagan Clark and her family, it has provided Klinkowski with just what she was looking for.

She also said Teagan Clark has helped people to understand what helping others is all about and how there’s more to life than just yourself.

“When you come to college, you come with this idea, like, ‘OK, I have to do this, I need to get this done, I need to take care of myself,’ and it’s about you,” Klinkowski said.

“And when you take a step outside of your bubble and you look around at the world and see just how much bigger everything is, I think Team Teagan brings that to people,” she said. “The idea that there is so much more out there than just me, myself and I and this campus.”

Peters said Teagan Clark is a role model for him and other students as well, and he looks forward to more opportunities to help with Team Teagan.

“Teagan has her family that supports her, but she also has her Aggie family that supports her,” Peters said.

The family will travel to California for Teagan Clark’s third and last heart surgery in mid-March.