Make A Way For Aiden Cruz!

Hello All! We are Edwin and Samina Cruz! We Have a sweet, hilarious, and not to mention, BRAVE son named Aiden who is 7 years old.  (Mom, Dad and Aiden) As any parent, we will do anyhting for our kids. Only this time we need your help. Asking for help is one of the most difficult things for me to do, but I have prayed about it and I know that there is a reason why they it takes a village to raise a child, and with that being said, I am asking our community to help us give the best life possible for ours.  (Adien 2 months old, when sickle cell crisis started and blood transfusions began) From the age of 2 months, until  2 years old, Aiden had over 20 blood transfusions for Sickle Beta Thalassemia.  From being in the hospital nearly every other month, to bi weekly/monthly blood transfusions which led to a splenectomy at the age of 2.  (Halloween at the hospital while getting blood transfussion)  (Aiden after his splenectomy in 2012) After being in and out of the hospital nearly 2 years of his life, and the amount of sickle cell crisis Aiden had already experienced, his Dr's were not optimistic about his life span. They told us at the max, he would live until he was in his mid 20's. At the time, I was in my mid 20's and my life was just beginning, my family was still growing and I had not even attempted to live out what was on my bucket list. Then, I knew we had to find a solution.  After tons of research, we learned Aiden could find freedom from Sickle Cell. Although it wasn't a 100% cure, he could still live the life God intended him to live.  Bone Marrow or Stemcell Transplant was it. We spoke to our Dr and they agreed it was worth a try. After being on the registry for 2 weeks, we had 2 100% matches for stemcell. We were so excited but did not make a decison on emotion. We prayed. We prayed until we knew God wanted us to move in this direction.   (Admission day 2013. We shaved his head the night before to avoid the trauma of him seeing his hair fall out) On February 14th of 2013, we started 9 days of harsh chemotherapy to wipe out his immune system before we started the transplant.  ( about a week into transplant) Dr told us the process usually takes about 7 weeks, but 7 weeks turned into 6 months living in the bone marrow unit. Aiden had every side effect and complication there was. Our family was separted and it was the hardest thing since we had a daughter who was 5 at the time. Sophie and Aiden were so close, but the fact they could only see each other through glass was extremely tough.  (Aiden and Sophia) During this time, he had something happen to where his electrolytes went out of wack and caused him to have a mini stroke (so they say, but nothing had showed on the MRI) that led him to forget how to talk, how to walk and all memory was completely erased, beside knowing his family. We started extreme speech therapy as well as feeding therapy, PT and OT.  After 6 months, Aiden was able to leave the bone marrow unit and come home, but 1 week later, we were back in the hospital admitted for an infection. This happened quite frequently and made our 6 month stay to nearly a year of being in and out... more in.    After a year, Aiden started suffering with seizures. It has now been 4 years of constant seizures, some lasting 30 minutes and about 45 seizures within that time frame daily.  After multiple testing and MRI's,  EEG's, VNS placement surgery and about 10 failed meds we have come to the conclusion that Aiden will likely suffer with them and will have no relief. Since they have started, Aiden has been unable to learn like his classmates. He has been diagnosed with Intellectual Developmental Dissability, Intractable Epilepsy, Short term memory and Failure to Thrive to name a few.  After these diganosis, we were left in the dark and have tried on our own to figure out what he needs regarding therapies. We struggle with behavior, communication, the ability for him to be social and make friends, impulses and the many emotional outburst because he does not know how to communicate what he is feeling or what his needs are. We have been fighting to get diagnostic testing for Autism so that we can get him the therapies he needs.  After tons of research we have come to him needing ABA therapy. To start this therapy, we need to first see a diagnostician and have been on a waiting list for a year. To do this on our own we are need to get testing done, and then start ABA therapy. We have also learned from many resources, a therapy dog will be a huge help for Aiden when it comes to his anxiety, emotions, confidence, as well as help with identifying when a seizure comes along so that he/she can notify us and get Aiden into a comfortable and safe position.  (after VNS surgery 2018) (Aiden during the many EEG stays) We have also been recently approved for CBD oils (Cannabidiol). After fighting for this to be legalized in Texas for years, we were finally approved. And then came the cost shock. Starting dose is $500 a month and it goes up to $1800.  We know this is our last resort for freedom form epilepsy.  It has taken our son away in all aspects of life and we would love to get him back and have the world see what he has to offer!  We are pleading for your help. Any amount helps to reach our goal. We ask that you share this with your friends and family and also pray for Aiden. We love you all already and are so thankful for the life you are about help!  (Lucas- our surpirse baby during our wild adventure, Sophia and Aiden) WHERE YOUR DONATIONS ARE GOING:    DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: $ 750.00 ABA THERAPY: Anywhere from $100.00-200.00  per hour depending on the severity.  CBD OILS: For 1 year, $14,000.00 SERVICE DOG AND TRAINING: $4,000.00 HOW YOU CAN HELP AIDEN MICHAEL CRUZ: 1. Donate what you can, no amount is too small and donations are tax deductible 2. Share on all social media with hashtags #aidenmichaelc 3. Email this GoFundMe link and these steps to all contacts you know