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Help me take care of Grayson

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To my loving and supporting friends and family that know me well enough to know how hard this is for me to do and ask, here it is.  I am coming forward honestly to admit, I need help and my community right now. Most of you know I am a full time single mom of 2, living with fibromyalgia,( & other health conditions), teamed with lack of a financial support network, and we just had a very scary week with my youngest, Grayson.  The diagnosis we have received thus far is the neurological condition, "Tourette's Syndrome w/ ADD".  He is not out of the woods yet for there also being some vision issues, as he struggles with blurred vision, dizziness and some pain, and also something cerebrally wrong, as he has been losing balance and falling down, and has loss of coordination.  The Neurologist, with testing, such as EEG has ruled out  the scary things that 1st alarmed us like a brain tumor and epilepsy.  We are hoping that it ends up the eye/balance issues are only side effects of the rapid tic. The problem with the particular "Tic" he is experiencing with the Tourette's is one that is actually disabling and causing the inability to function properly.  The "Attention Deficit" because of it, also makes this dangerous for him. His brain is firing away, distracted by the tic process, and he doesn't realize he is in the street, or that he is about to fall off a step, or he runs into a wall. Side effects of his current state, which is: A near constant head shaking side to side in a rapid pattern. Eating and drinking are very hard for him as well. 
Medication has been started (not successful yet), and we will be trying different meds and doses untill we find something to calm the tic to keep him safe and calm down the other symptoms ( eyes/balance).  I have been told this could take a couple of weeks or so. We will start some cognitive therapy, but that only helps learn how to handle the stress of it, and make sure we are taking care of him emotionally. His 2nd grade teacher is amazing and she is going to help me get an IEP going, and see what help around the school we can get to assist him. (ie; he is unable to carry a lunch tray in the lunch room). I will be going to school with him this next week, and be with him in the class daily until we have either an assistant in place, or a med works to calm the tic enough.  (* hey, this tic could at any point randomly go away & manifest differently as well, so lets throw some prayers at that idea too! )
Many of you have asked how can you help. Honestly, this is it... I need financial support to pay the bills, to keep the roof over our head while we take this  hit where mom can't be the bread winner and the care taker. I am all he has for this. I am it. I am also it for the money around here. Which leaves me in fear and panic as the only one here for both of these kids and myself, and a ripple like this will put us under quickly.    I spent all last week home taking care of him and now full time this next week I will be as well.  This equals zero income for us.  We will be in and out of several different Doctors offices and therapists offices in this coming month. It will be a full time job for awhile to do this.  I am sure eventually there are the processes we will be able to put in place for different disability supports, and I already know what the state can do for emergency help, and there is only food at this point.  SO that leaves this, a community shout out that can say.. " hey, if anyone has an extra 20 bucks that they could spare, we can make it through, all pulling together! " Which makes me soo humiliated to say, and fear of the judgement, but on the same token. I would also give to you friends and family at any moment I had some to spare. So in that light, I need to be honest and let you know the need, instead of laying awake all night scared ... I am thinking about right now just paying a month of rent and then the basic utilities and bills. I am working on a career change now that should have great promise with a flexible schedule to take care of Grayson still. But that is going to take a month or 2 to get going as well, specially now that Grayson is the full time priority to keep safe and happy. 
To know me, is to know I am dying a 1000 deaths to ask this. And to know my humble ask is in direct result of my passion for Grayson. Grayson is absolutely THE MOST sweet spirited young boy you could ever meet. His teacher has said all year that he is 1 of her favorites, giving hugs everyday and helping others in his class. Last week, while going through his own little hell, he went out and picked me flowers. He lives in his own happy world, this lil guy. And my heart is broken and heavy for him, and he needs me, and all of us. I know he will make it through, I have faith that a wonderful plan will be revealed. My 2nd priority is that I need to stay healthy in order to take care of him. I need to keep my stress low, and this was 1 way I could try, on his behalf, to put myself out there.
Please feel free to ask me any questions privately.  I will be posting info on facebook and keeping that updated as well. I do wish it all could be anonymous, and I owe every one of you that even consider this. I have high hopes that if we cover the urgency, a stop gap, all will come together. 
I love you and thank you. And so does Grayson and Madalyne both. ( who has been a super hero sister during this time! )
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  • Anonymous Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Michelle Knutson
Organizer
Eugene, OR

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