Joshua's Autism Expenses Fund
JOSHUA'S STORY:
As many of my friends and family know, at the end September last year I started taking care of my severely autistic son Joshua full time. Little did I know the journey this would take me on.
First, I discovered the state of Colorado has little to no services for a kid like Josh. Next, came the realization I could not continue working at the job I had held for over 5 years and take care of Josh at the same time. So I decide to move back to Massachusetts. After 13 years in Colorado and having established a carreer this was not an easy decision to make.
Once back in Massachusetts for a time things seemed to be OK. Josh, got into The Center School in Holyoke pretty quickly and I got a job with Mass Mutual. But then the meltdowns and self injurious behaviors (from here on call SIBs) which had been apart of Joshua's autism for a while started getting more frequent and much more severe.
On the 11th of April Joshua had a massive meltdown in with lots of SIBs in the middle of the night. I decided to take him to the emergency room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital where after another major meltdown he had to be restrained and given a double sedative to calm down.
I decided right then Mass Mutual was not going to work. I resigned from the company the next day. Since then I have tried to work another job but found Josh's late night meltdowns still preventing me from giving the kind of commitment most employers require. So due to his condition it has become increasingly hard to impossible for me to work.
Last month Josh started on the medicine Risperidone which for a couple of weeks seemed to be helping. The meltdowns and SIBs stopped and I even started looking for work again. Unfortunately, as of this pasted weekend they have started again. The video I am posting with this is older than this weekend but does illustrate what happens during a meltdown.
So now I'm back at square one again. It will be hard to impossible for me to work and what money I did have is running out. While, my mother is helping me she cannot afford to keep my bills and Joshua's expenses.
WHY GOFUND ME?
Believe me asking for help, especially financial, is not easy for me. But I have no idea when or even if I will be able to get a job again.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
-Share Joshua's story on social media with a personal message
-Donate what you can to this GoFundMe page
-Send positive thoughts,well wishes, and prayers for Josh
MY THANKS
It should go without saying I will be eternally grateful to everyone who donates or even sends positive thoughts Joshua's way. Thank You All and God Bless.
