Balin's plee for help to "Put his Tourettes in jail."

Dear those we know and those we have never met,

My name is Jacinta and I am the proud, very scared but hopeful mother of Balin.

Balin is currently in a daily fight for his life, as he battles his diganosis and a medical and disability system that continues to fail him.

I write this tonight as Balin remains hospitalised in Melbourne, unsure of what tommorrow will bring.

Balin, now chronologically 18, but mentally around 5 years of age, has a long and complex list of diagnosies, making him the only child in the world with his unique set of challenges.

Balin's long list of diagnosis includes a form of Tourettes that leads to sometimes hourly attacks of catastrophic, life threatening self harm, damage to property and injuries to his family and supports. His injuries to himself are often so severe he requires sometimes daily ambulance and hospital attendance and surgical proceedures for bites too deep to repair, fractures and head trauma to name a few.

Following each episode the shame cycle is devastating, as Balin beggs us to "make it stop." That he "hates it" and that "he can't help it." As a parent it is devastating to watch your child suffer so immensly and be powerless to stop it.

For years we have tried, trialled and tested every know or available option for Balin, without reprieve- and now we are at a critical point where we are truly scared for his survival.

In a very rare lucid moment, Balin asked me to help him make this video so he could "Ask for help to get better."

You see, Balin is currently living in supported care, 3 1/2 hours away from our family home, as there were no suitable medical or care options for him within our region. Balin longs to come home, but this can not be done safely while he remains so unwell, so we visit him as often as we can in his supported environment.

The emotional toll is immense, but the ongoing financial burden of Balin's conditions also continue to compound, with seemingly endless medical, pharmaceutical, equipment and like bills as well as ongoing repair bills for damage sustained to his home during his Tourettes episodes- with currently over $10,000 of quoted repairs required.

But now, with all other options exhausted, Balin now awaits 2 impending proceedures in the hope that they can help to- in his words- "Put Tourettes in jail "

Firstly, a Dual Stellate Ganglion Block is planned for approximately 2 weeks time. This procedure will be performed under sedation at a cost of $5,000 out of pocket. If successful, this proceedure is required annually.

Secondly, if little or no improvement is seen with the above procedure, Balin is currently waitlisted for Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery, at a cost of $25,000 out of pocket.

So... as per Balin's request.. here is his plee, in his own words....

"Can you help me to see the brain doctors, so I can get better. I can't wait. It's too hard."

Still in there there are glimpses of our beautiful, funny, caring and charismatic boy who has a deep love of "Mother Nature" and the environment and just loves a good laugh.

Can you help Balin to get that back?

Every donation, large or small, will make the world of difference and bring Balin closer to receiving the treatment he needs as soon as possible.

And now personally from myself ....

From one friend to another.

From one parent to another.

From one stranger to another.

Thank you for taking the time to read Balin's message and for sharing it forward for him.

Balin is here to change the world in ways we may never truly understand, but the learning for all those that meet him is always immense and unforgettable.

Thank you. Xx