Vision
O’Leary’s Clover Farm is creating a summer camp for children with Diabetes. A place where children can learn to independently manage their diabetes in an environment that is safe and observant of their unique needs.
At O’Leary’s Clover Farm children will participate in normal summer camp activities while interacting with children their own age also living with diabetes. Children will be able to experience the outdoors-hiking, swimming, playing games- Additionally, the camp will offer the chance for a child to experience music and the arts at a level that appeals to them- learn to play the drums or the electric guitar, have the opportunity to learn to paint or sculpt or participate in a dance class.
How O’Leary’s Clover Farm Was Born
O’Leary’s Clover Farm was the idea of Cortney O’Leary Heykoop, the daughter of Daniel S. O’Leary. After the death of her father she struggled for a way to move beyond the bad memories surrounding the last years of his life, years marked by trips to and from the hospital and illustrated by images of the slow decline of a once strong and loving man. While looking through old papers and pictures she came across a clipping from Washington Pennsylvania’s newspaper, The Observer Reporter. The article was written about her father years before, and ran in the Saint Patrick’s Day issue. It was titled “The Luck of the Irish Doesn’t Always Run True” by Byron Smialek.
The article tells the story of a man who at the age of 32 travels from southwestern Pennsylvania to Dallas, Texas in the hopes of learning how to better manage his diabetes. O’Leary says that in Texas he was taught, for the first time in his life, how to be a pancreas, the organ that supplies the body with the insulin needed to break down sugars. This lesson, had it been taught years earlier may have saved his eyesight and kidneys. This lesson could have given Danny O’Leary many more years with his family and friends. Danny died at the age of 45.
This inspiration led to the birth of O’Leary’s Clover Farm. Cortney O’Leary Heykoop wanted to give children the gift of this lesson, to teach children at a young age how to act as a pancreas while still enjoying their childhood.
Biography
Who is Daniel S. O’Leary
Daniel S. O’Leary was born on June 27th 1951 in Washington Pennsylvania to Daniel P. O’Leary and Lil O’Leary. Born the youngest in a family of five. As a child Danny played football and delivered newspapers. When he was thirteen, he came home from his paper route and his mother noticed extreme fatigue. During a checkup at the doctor’s he was diagnosed with Type I juvenile diabetes.
Today diabetics today know that blood sugar levels must be tested multiple times per day. In 1965, when Danny was diagnosed, the technology available allowed for blood sugar levels to be tested one a month at the doctor’s office. During his childhood, Danny’s blood sugar levels were controlled by medication and insulin.
Danny went on to graduate from Immaculate Conception High School and attended the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh. While studying art Danny also played the drums for a local rock band, “The Jon.”
In 1974, Danny married Patty McAnallen and started a family. He began a career in the brick business, managing Donley Brick Company while still playing with local rock bands. Danny and Patty had two children, Cortney and Daniel. They built their dream home in the country, brick by brick.
In 1981, Danny began having difficulties with his eye sight a complication brought on by diabetes. His vision began deteriorating and he eventually suffered retina detachment, losing his right eye. During the late 80s, his kidneys were also began to fail. By 1988, he was in renal failure and began dialysis. Danny was then placed on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.
With a little of his Irish luck, Danny received a kidney transplant in May of 1989. The transplant was a huge success, his body did not reject the donor kidney and Danny was able to return to work within three months. He was back to living life to the fullest. Danny coached his son’s soccer team and spent his free time hunting, fishing or celebrating with his family. Danny also spent some time painting and writing music. In 1987 he released a record to benefit Teacher-Astronaut Christa McCauliffe’s Memorial Scholarship Fund.
In 1994, his health as well as the transplanted kidney began to fail. His body was not strong enough to undergo another transplant. By 1996, Danny was suffering with strokes, seizures and gastro-intestinal difficulties, which led to numerous hospital stays. A stroke in May left him blind and gravely ill. He lived out the last few months of his life in the hospital under constant care. In October of 1996, Danny’s fight with diabetes ended.
Daniel S. O’Leary was an amazing father and husband. He brought life to every party and a smile to your face. He was a dad, a husband, an uncle, a son, and a family man. He was an artist, an entertainer, an antique car fan, a photographer, a hunter, a dog lover, and an outdoorsman. He wrote songs, he played the drums, and he played practical jokes. It is not possible to list all of the aspects that were Danny O’Leary. Danny fought a battle with a disease that attacked his body daily. Through the pain and suffering Danny never let the disease rule his life. He lived every day to its fullest, with passion and spirit.
Mother, Lil O’Leary and older brother, Patrick have Type II diabetes.
History of the O'Leary Name
The name, O’Leary’s Clover Farm, originally belonged to a small butcher and grocery store Danny O’Leary’s parents ran on North Franklin Street in Washington, Pennsylvania. Danny O’Leary and his 4 brothers and sisters lived in an apartment over the store. O’Leary’s Clover Farm was a local franchise of the Clover Farm chain of stores. Danny’s father, Daniel P. O’Leary took over the Clover Farm after his father, John P. O’Leary. O’Leary’s Clover Farm closed its doors in 1963.
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