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David was born on a bright sunny day in July 2012, which is very apt, as with his blonde hair and sparkly eyes, his smile truly shines. His Big Sister Esme was in love with her Little Brother from the second she met him, we all were. He truly completed our family.
David grew beautifully, always such a happy, contented baby. Throughout the struggles we will now describe, David has remained fun loving and happy whenever he can.
David continued to grow and develop typically for the first year of his life; his 12 month review was a happy one, as he was meeting all milestones, surpassing many. He was happy, content, slept well, and was a perfect weight. He stood up, was attempting walking, babbled and clapped for the Health Visitor and looked and smiled at everyone in the room. Our beautiful boy.
Shortly after his first birthday, the illnesses began. David was constantly sporting a runny nose, fever, cough, or had tummy upsets. He stopped sleeping - he was breastfed and had always woken in the night to feed - but he actually stopped sleeping. The illnesses continued and we ended up in hospital with tonsillitis twice, and twice with severe D&V.
In April 2014, aged almost two, we began to ask our GP's Surgery to look into why David was always poorly. The GP that finally listened to our concerns about David's ill health referred us to a wonderful Health Visitor called Kate, who started the ball rolling around looking at everything from his weight, eyesight and hearing to (crucially), emotional and communication skills.
It dawned on us that whilst he had been ill, we hadn't seen so much of David's singing, babbling and dancing, and it occurred to us that we didn't get the eye contact or smiles we used to. He wasnt clapping or asking for things using gestures or pointing at all. This process, we now know, is officially called regression, and between the ages of 1 and 2, David lost all speech, even babbling. His motor skills were noticeably poorer, and he stopped making any eye contact. He went from standing, to barely crawling. David now couldn't speak or look at anyone, it was as if he was deaf. It felt like our happy little boy had vanished into a world we couldn't get to. We eventually (after chasing, pleading and begging) saw a paediatrician in September 2014. As luck would have it, he was a well respected Autism expert. On 9th November 2014, David was diagnosed with Autism.
With a diagnosis under our belts, we were determined to get our beautiful boy the help and support he needed to feel happy and safe. Due to the complexity of Autism, we saw various proffesionals both at home and at clinics; a Speech Therapist, an Early Years Teacher, a PhysioTherapist, a Disabilty Health Visitor and Occupational Therapists. Via charity funding, we met an amazing Applied Behavioural Therapist who has given us back eye contact from David, and requests through gesture.
Autism is a neurological disorder, put simply, a type of brain damage that promoted David's regression. It is thought to be down to the synapses in the brain not fusing as they should, similar in a way to Dementia - In Autism's case they don't un-fuse like they should, with Dementia they start to fuse too much. There is also strong suggestions that the immune system plays a part, which is certainly possible in our case.
Autism has a "spectrum" and we set on the journey to discover where David sat on it. Socially, Autism affects three main areas; communication, imagination and interaction. There are still studies being done around the further 'symptoms' Autism produces, however learning and motor difficulties are common with Autism, as is Sensory Processing Disorder, Epilepsy, Immune Disorder and Sleep Disorder.
David is now three, and so far we have additionally been officially diagnosed with; Sensory Processing Disorder, Sleep Disorder, Speech Delay (he is non verbal), Gross Motor Delay, Learning Delay (he's functioning at around the 20 months old level), Hypermobility (loose joints) and Foot Pronation. David is also severely short sighted (he cannot see past around 10 feet) and has an Immune Disorder which we're presently investigating. He will be attending a Special Needs Nursery with an Autism Unit, but at present he is at home. The Mother and Toddler playgroups he used to attend are sadly no longer suitable for his needs and a 'typical' toddler outing is impossible due to behaviours and sensory issues. David is in a specialist disability pushchair for journeys on foot and we use junior reigns for very short trips on foot, for David's wellbeing and safety.
The combination of all of the above makes it extremely hard for David to enjoy the things that typical 3 year olds can. He cannot walk very far without falling or tiring, yet he is a sensory seeker - he needs to feel deep hard pressure to register any touch. The rigidity in thinking that Autism produces means that David suddenly needs to sit, spin, change direction or make noises. He cannot control this. He yearns to run and climb, yet he cannot see far and falls due to gross motor issues. He cannot keep his glasses on, and he has no danger awareness. On a typical park, he would jump off the top of the slide, walk in front of a swing or lay his head on rough tarmac. He is obsessed with cars, and will run into the road to touch one. He does not sleep, cannot feed himself and does not sit on a chair.
What does make sense to David, and what our Occupational and Physio Therapists have suggested will help develop David's skills massively, is soft play. He is so happy tumbling, crashing, and climbing big soft play shapes. The uneven terrains of soft play steps and bumps help to develop his motor skills. The phycial feedback addresses his sensory need. As parents, our greatest wish is for our children to be happy, and an environment where David can not only be happy and have fun, but also be safe and develop his skills is perfect.
We have set up this fund to raise the money to turn David's bedroom into a safe space, a fully padded haven of soft play. Budgets are so tight that even the therapy balls and balance tools that David would benefit so much from, fall to us to fund. We have sourced a few items second hand and are doing all we can to provide this resource for David, but it needs to be of a high quality and ultimately be safe. After much research and recommendations, we are hoping to purchase from Rompa - www.rompa.com
On a basic level, we are asking for donations which will fund wall padding, soft play equiptment, therapy balls and sensory tools. This will help David to develop cognitive skills, meet sensory needs and walk confidently. Oval shapes will strengthen his trunk, steps will build motor confidence. Learning through play will be possible even with his motor issues, thanks to padded walls. But, additionally, as parents, we know that this will be giving David access to a carefree world, and the opportunity that all children deserve; to play safely, and be free to have fun.
We hope to buy seperate pieces of equiptment which will build David a bespoke room tending to his physical, sensory and safe play needs. We have set a funding goal which will allow us to build the perfect room. We didn't know this would be our path when we set out to start a family, and it isn't easy to ask for help. David gives us so much joy, and pride; he is happy throughout all of the obstacles he faces. Please, if you can, help us to make his world a happier one.
From our hearts, thank you for reading about David B's Go Fund Me.
David grew beautifully, always such a happy, contented baby. Throughout the struggles we will now describe, David has remained fun loving and happy whenever he can.
David continued to grow and develop typically for the first year of his life; his 12 month review was a happy one, as he was meeting all milestones, surpassing many. He was happy, content, slept well, and was a perfect weight. He stood up, was attempting walking, babbled and clapped for the Health Visitor and looked and smiled at everyone in the room. Our beautiful boy.
Shortly after his first birthday, the illnesses began. David was constantly sporting a runny nose, fever, cough, or had tummy upsets. He stopped sleeping - he was breastfed and had always woken in the night to feed - but he actually stopped sleeping. The illnesses continued and we ended up in hospital with tonsillitis twice, and twice with severe D&V.
In April 2014, aged almost two, we began to ask our GP's Surgery to look into why David was always poorly. The GP that finally listened to our concerns about David's ill health referred us to a wonderful Health Visitor called Kate, who started the ball rolling around looking at everything from his weight, eyesight and hearing to (crucially), emotional and communication skills.
It dawned on us that whilst he had been ill, we hadn't seen so much of David's singing, babbling and dancing, and it occurred to us that we didn't get the eye contact or smiles we used to. He wasnt clapping or asking for things using gestures or pointing at all. This process, we now know, is officially called regression, and between the ages of 1 and 2, David lost all speech, even babbling. His motor skills were noticeably poorer, and he stopped making any eye contact. He went from standing, to barely crawling. David now couldn't speak or look at anyone, it was as if he was deaf. It felt like our happy little boy had vanished into a world we couldn't get to. We eventually (after chasing, pleading and begging) saw a paediatrician in September 2014. As luck would have it, he was a well respected Autism expert. On 9th November 2014, David was diagnosed with Autism.
With a diagnosis under our belts, we were determined to get our beautiful boy the help and support he needed to feel happy and safe. Due to the complexity of Autism, we saw various proffesionals both at home and at clinics; a Speech Therapist, an Early Years Teacher, a PhysioTherapist, a Disabilty Health Visitor and Occupational Therapists. Via charity funding, we met an amazing Applied Behavioural Therapist who has given us back eye contact from David, and requests through gesture.
Autism is a neurological disorder, put simply, a type of brain damage that promoted David's regression. It is thought to be down to the synapses in the brain not fusing as they should, similar in a way to Dementia - In Autism's case they don't un-fuse like they should, with Dementia they start to fuse too much. There is also strong suggestions that the immune system plays a part, which is certainly possible in our case.
Autism has a "spectrum" and we set on the journey to discover where David sat on it. Socially, Autism affects three main areas; communication, imagination and interaction. There are still studies being done around the further 'symptoms' Autism produces, however learning and motor difficulties are common with Autism, as is Sensory Processing Disorder, Epilepsy, Immune Disorder and Sleep Disorder.
David is now three, and so far we have additionally been officially diagnosed with; Sensory Processing Disorder, Sleep Disorder, Speech Delay (he is non verbal), Gross Motor Delay, Learning Delay (he's functioning at around the 20 months old level), Hypermobility (loose joints) and Foot Pronation. David is also severely short sighted (he cannot see past around 10 feet) and has an Immune Disorder which we're presently investigating. He will be attending a Special Needs Nursery with an Autism Unit, but at present he is at home. The Mother and Toddler playgroups he used to attend are sadly no longer suitable for his needs and a 'typical' toddler outing is impossible due to behaviours and sensory issues. David is in a specialist disability pushchair for journeys on foot and we use junior reigns for very short trips on foot, for David's wellbeing and safety.
The combination of all of the above makes it extremely hard for David to enjoy the things that typical 3 year olds can. He cannot walk very far without falling or tiring, yet he is a sensory seeker - he needs to feel deep hard pressure to register any touch. The rigidity in thinking that Autism produces means that David suddenly needs to sit, spin, change direction or make noises. He cannot control this. He yearns to run and climb, yet he cannot see far and falls due to gross motor issues. He cannot keep his glasses on, and he has no danger awareness. On a typical park, he would jump off the top of the slide, walk in front of a swing or lay his head on rough tarmac. He is obsessed with cars, and will run into the road to touch one. He does not sleep, cannot feed himself and does not sit on a chair.
What does make sense to David, and what our Occupational and Physio Therapists have suggested will help develop David's skills massively, is soft play. He is so happy tumbling, crashing, and climbing big soft play shapes. The uneven terrains of soft play steps and bumps help to develop his motor skills. The phycial feedback addresses his sensory need. As parents, our greatest wish is for our children to be happy, and an environment where David can not only be happy and have fun, but also be safe and develop his skills is perfect.
We have set up this fund to raise the money to turn David's bedroom into a safe space, a fully padded haven of soft play. Budgets are so tight that even the therapy balls and balance tools that David would benefit so much from, fall to us to fund. We have sourced a few items second hand and are doing all we can to provide this resource for David, but it needs to be of a high quality and ultimately be safe. After much research and recommendations, we are hoping to purchase from Rompa - www.rompa.com
On a basic level, we are asking for donations which will fund wall padding, soft play equiptment, therapy balls and sensory tools. This will help David to develop cognitive skills, meet sensory needs and walk confidently. Oval shapes will strengthen his trunk, steps will build motor confidence. Learning through play will be possible even with his motor issues, thanks to padded walls. But, additionally, as parents, we know that this will be giving David access to a carefree world, and the opportunity that all children deserve; to play safely, and be free to have fun.
We hope to buy seperate pieces of equiptment which will build David a bespoke room tending to his physical, sensory and safe play needs. We have set a funding goal which will allow us to build the perfect room. We didn't know this would be our path when we set out to start a family, and it isn't easy to ask for help. David gives us so much joy, and pride; he is happy throughout all of the obstacles he faces. Please, if you can, help us to make his world a happier one.
From our hearts, thank you for reading about David B's Go Fund Me.
Organizer
Helen Brown
Organizer