An image from the Cook family's GoFundMe.
SEYMOUR — The staff of Oxford Academy of Hair Design is scheduled to host a ‘cut-a-thon’ on April 25 to help a family who suffered a terrible loss.
Justice and Tiffani Cook of Seymour recently lost one of their identical twin sons, born three months early. Tiffani was due to deliver the baby boys this May, but after a routine doctor’s appointment in February, the doctors discovered one of the baby’s heartbeats was dangerously low. An emergency cesarean section followed, and Jones George Cook and Jett Joseph Jones Cook were born.
Baby Jones passed away just 21 minutes after being born. His brother, Jett, was immediately taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital’s NICU, where he is stable, but has a long fight ahead of him.
Money raised from the salon and spa at 153 North St. will be used to benefit the family. A GoFundMe has also been created to help the family with expenses.
The cut-a-ton is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Haircuts for men, women and children will be $22, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Cook family. Appointments aren’t necessary, but are encouraged. Gift cards are available for purchase for those who cannot attend in person.
Oxford Academy of Hair Design owner Kelli Steeves and her daughter, Alexa Rose, are friends of the Cook family. Alexa Steeves said Tiffani Cook is one of her beauty clients and has become a dear friend.
“Our goal with this fundraiser is to alleviate some of the financial stress that has been put on the Cook family at a young age,” Alexa Steeves said. “This is a great way to give back to a local family in need. This small town of Seymour has seen a lot of tragedy over the years from Nina Poeta to Eliana Soucy and we want to rally around the Cook family and let them know we are all praying for them and here to help them as much as we possibly can.”
The Steeves have long used their profession to raise money for local families in need, having hosted about 40 previous fundraisers.
Kellie Steeves said her daughter Ava, 12, was born early, and spent the first month of her life in the NICU at Yale “fighting for her life.” She encouraged the community to lend a hand.
“It was the most difficult time of my life,” Steeves said. “I couldn’t imagine grieving and going through what this family is going through, plus they have small children to take care of and can’t work. We want to do anything we can to ease some of that burden so they can focus on their family.”
