Ashtons world of Autism and Medical Journey
Donation protected
This is Ashton. Ashton is 12 and lives in the South West with his mum, and his brothers. Ashton is my perfect, resilient, funny, clever, very fast, very bouncy boy. He loves going to the beach, swimming in the sea, splashing everyone he can, he loves exploring the woods and moors, looking for horses and sheep, he loves going into restaurants eating the biggest pepperoni pizza he can. Ashton loves his family! He loves dancing with his big bro, he loves watching his baby bro throw the ballpit balls EVERYWHERE, and watching mumma pick them up! He loves cuddles and piggybacks with his mumma. He loves life, and everyone in Ashtons life loves him. He has an infectious laugh, and never fails to put a smile on anyone's face with his cheek, charm and amazing sense of humour.
Ashton every single day has to manage and cope with the struggles that living with severe Autism brings him. He finds change and new places tricky, he likes things just so. Ashton has recently begun having medication to manage seizures, and seizure activity. These episodes cause him a significant amount of upset and distress. It was a really tough, long fight to have Ashtons voice heard, and be treated for these. The world is a big scary place at times for Ashton, but every single day he amazes me with his strength and resilience. Ashtons holds me together, and keeps me going.
Another battle that Ashton has to go through is the agony that comes with his leg muscles. His calf muscles are in a constant state of cramp, and he needs surgery to help him with this. Ashton had to go through having botox injected into the muscles in the hopes this would ease his discomfort and pain in December 2019. It didn’t. It is now August 2020, and he is still waiting for this operation to take place, an operation that the consultant referred to as a priority. An operation that will change the life of my son, and us all as a family. An operation that could mean that Ashton isn’t sent across the country into a residential setting, because of how upset he is with the agony his legs cause him.
We have very limited services in the South West, and Ashton will likely be 150+ miles away from his mum, his brothers and everyone who loves him, if this surgery doesn’t take place. Ashton is NON-VERBAL. Ashton cannot talk for himself, and relies on those around him to ensure his needs are met. My son suffers EVERY SINGLE DAY, and the only way he can tell us is by experiencing a huge amount of distress, and pain - resulting in a loss of control, when Ashton then communicates his desperation through behaviours. Behaviours that cause further pain and injury to himself, and at times those around him. This is because he is desperate, desperate for help and desperate to be heard. I can’t take cramp away, it breaks my heart - and I so wish I could!
Ashton needs this operation as soon as possible, to give him every chance possible to stay in his family home with his mum! It seems after years of fighting, having it here in the UK isn’t going to happen any time soon!
He can have this procedure in Tunisia almost immediately. We have a huge family in Tunisia to support us day and night rather than the swapping and changing of carers. Tunisia is his favourite place to be! We need Ashton to stay calm and happy after his operation, and keep his plaster on - we need to give him the best chance possible to recover so he can stay home, with us.
I can finance this using loans, savings and credit cards - but the recovery period is at least 6 weeks. We would need to stay there for at least 6 weeks, and I have looked into every option. Me, Ashton and his brothers need help to travel, and to stay while he recovers so Ashton can have this life changing operation and live the life that he loves and DESERVES.
Please please, if you can help and contribute towards this - it would mean the world and more to Ashton, myself and his brothers. Anything small! It will all add up. Of course if circumstances change and we no longer need to fund this, all donations will be reimbursed. We will be forever grateful! Thankyou for taking the time to read this.
Ashton every single day has to manage and cope with the struggles that living with severe Autism brings him. He finds change and new places tricky, he likes things just so. Ashton has recently begun having medication to manage seizures, and seizure activity. These episodes cause him a significant amount of upset and distress. It was a really tough, long fight to have Ashtons voice heard, and be treated for these. The world is a big scary place at times for Ashton, but every single day he amazes me with his strength and resilience. Ashtons holds me together, and keeps me going.
Another battle that Ashton has to go through is the agony that comes with his leg muscles. His calf muscles are in a constant state of cramp, and he needs surgery to help him with this. Ashton had to go through having botox injected into the muscles in the hopes this would ease his discomfort and pain in December 2019. It didn’t. It is now August 2020, and he is still waiting for this operation to take place, an operation that the consultant referred to as a priority. An operation that will change the life of my son, and us all as a family. An operation that could mean that Ashton isn’t sent across the country into a residential setting, because of how upset he is with the agony his legs cause him.
We have very limited services in the South West, and Ashton will likely be 150+ miles away from his mum, his brothers and everyone who loves him, if this surgery doesn’t take place. Ashton is NON-VERBAL. Ashton cannot talk for himself, and relies on those around him to ensure his needs are met. My son suffers EVERY SINGLE DAY, and the only way he can tell us is by experiencing a huge amount of distress, and pain - resulting in a loss of control, when Ashton then communicates his desperation through behaviours. Behaviours that cause further pain and injury to himself, and at times those around him. This is because he is desperate, desperate for help and desperate to be heard. I can’t take cramp away, it breaks my heart - and I so wish I could!
Ashton needs this operation as soon as possible, to give him every chance possible to stay in his family home with his mum! It seems after years of fighting, having it here in the UK isn’t going to happen any time soon!
He can have this procedure in Tunisia almost immediately. We have a huge family in Tunisia to support us day and night rather than the swapping and changing of carers. Tunisia is his favourite place to be! We need Ashton to stay calm and happy after his operation, and keep his plaster on - we need to give him the best chance possible to recover so he can stay home, with us.
I can finance this using loans, savings and credit cards - but the recovery period is at least 6 weeks. We would need to stay there for at least 6 weeks, and I have looked into every option. Me, Ashton and his brothers need help to travel, and to stay while he recovers so Ashton can have this life changing operation and live the life that he loves and DESERVES.
Please please, if you can help and contribute towards this - it would mean the world and more to Ashton, myself and his brothers. Anything small! It will all add up. Of course if circumstances change and we no longer need to fund this, all donations will be reimbursed. We will be forever grateful! Thankyou for taking the time to read this.
Organizer
Rose Jlassi
Organizer
