When 24-year-old Patricia Clarke fell pregnant in 1983, she had more than just a feeling that her child was going to be on the large side.
She’d already had one baby, and knew that big babies ran in her family. That said, she could never have expected just how huge the child she was carrying would turn out to be.
Patricia gave birth to Kevin Robert Clark, who epically weighed in at more than 16 pounds. At the time, he was not just the biggest baby ever born at Community Memorial Hospital, but perhaps the largest baby in the state of New Jersey.
He couldn’t fit into a standard sized crib, and his baby clothes were too small for him, but Kevin was – much to the relief of his parents – perfectly healthy.
Naturally, it wasn’t long before his size was noticed. He made headlines across the country, not only inspiring a segment on “Saturday Night Live”, but also getting a mention on “Good Morning America”.
Start as you mean to go on
But Kevin wasn’t done stealing the spotlight there. According to the New York Post, by the time he was 12 he stood 5 foot 7. By junior high he was 6 foot 5. From there, he just kept continuing to grow.
“There isn’t a day that goes by when someone doesn’t ask me how tall I am,” Kevin told the Post.
“I like to joke that I’m 5-foot-21. When people ask if I play basketball, I ask them if they play miniature golf.”
Today, Tom is 35-years-old. He’s a former military man who lives with is 6-foot tall wife and their Great Dane.
He’s more than learned to live with the fact he’s bigger than virtually everyone else. In fact, he takes it in his massive stride. These days, Tom is 6 feet 9 inches tall.
To see more on his incredible story, watch the video below:
It can’t be easy to quite literally be born into the limelight, nor to grow up with people pointing at you and asking questions the majority of the time. That said, Kevin seems to be handling it just fine … we wish him all the best moving forward!
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MY DAD IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR MY WEDDING.
The ornate wedding invitation lay discarded on the floor, its delicate calligraphy mocking me. My father, sitting opposite me at the kitchen table, avoided my gaze, stirring his coffee with a grim determination.
“Dad,” I began, my voice trembling, “I don’t understand. Why won’t you help with the wedding?”
He sighed, a heavy weight settling on his shoulders. “Look, sweetheart, I understand this is important to you. But things are tight right now. I… I simply don’t have the funds.”
“But you paid for Sarah’s wedding,” I countered, my voice rising. “You even gave them a down payment on their house!”
He looked up, his eyes avoiding mine. “Things were different then. I had just gotten a promotion…”
“That’s not fair, Dad!” I exclaimed, my voice cracking. “I’m your daughter too! You promised to help with my wedding.”
He looked away, his face etched with a mixture of guilt and frustration. “I know, I know. But things have changed. I’ve had some unexpected medical expenses…”
Unexpected medical expenses? That seemed to be his excuse for everything these days. My father, a man who had always prided himself on his financial stability, was suddenly plagued by a series of unforeseen calamities.
“But Dad,” I pleaded, “this is my wedding. I’ve been planning this for years. I’ve already booked the venue, sent out invitations…”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and helplessness. “I know, sweetheart. I know. But I just can’t.”
The weight of his words hit me like a physical blow. I felt betrayed, abandoned. My dream wedding, the culmination of years of planning and anticipation, was slipping through my fingers.
Tears welled up in my eyes. “Fine,” I said, my voice trembling. “If you won’t help, then I’ll figure it out myself.”
I stormed out of the house, the sound of his sigh echoing in my ears. I felt alone, abandoned, and utterly heartbroken. How could he do this to me? After all the years of sacrifices, all the love and support I had given him, he was abandoning me in my time of need.
The following days were a blur of frantic phone calls, desperate budget cuts, and agonizing decisions. I had to scale back the guest list, eliminate the live band, and compromise on every detail of my dream wedding. The joy I had anticipated was replaced by a gnawing sense of resentment and disappointment.
But I refused to let my father ruin my happiness. I vowed to make this wedding happen, even if it meant going into debt. I worked overtime, picked up extra shifts at the coffee shop, and even sold some of my prized possessions.
The wedding day finally arrived, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. As I walked down the aisle, my father sat in the front row, his face etched with a mixture of pride and regret. I smiled at him, a small, forgiving smile.
The ceremony was beautiful, despite the scaled-down budget. And as I stood at the altar, exchanging vows with the man I loved, I realized that my father’s absence had only made me stronger. It had taught me the importance of independence, of resilience, of relying on myself.
Later, as we danced our first dance, I looked at my husband, his eyes filled with love and admiration. “I did it,” I whispered, “I did it without his help.”
He smiled, pulling me closer. “You always were a fighter,” he said. “I’m so proud of you.”
Looking back, I realized that my father’s refusal to help, while hurtful, had been a blessing in disguise. It had forced me to become stronger, more independent, and more resourceful. It had taught me the true meaning of self-reliance and the importance of believing in myself.
And as I looked into my husband’s eyes, I knew that despite the challenges, we had built a life together, a life that was truly our own.
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