I’m Stephie Conn, mama to Griffin Conn, who is a young adult on the autism spectrum who is mostly non-speaking. We have been experiencing a family crisis that is rooted in Griffin’s health challenges and we need your help.

Due to Griffin’s critical support needs, I am on scheduled medical leave from my talent acquisition position. Though this medical leave has been crucial to his healing, this has left us at a serious financial disadvantage. We are currently in a very uncomfortable position. 

Griffin was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of 2 following an injury at 11 months old. He has also had the diagnoses of Lyme and Epstein Barr. He is going through periodic medical testing and we are continuing to make adjustments for him nutritionally and biologically, as we can. He was in and out of the hospital earlier this year, finally concluded by a 9-day stay, which has led us to where he is now- trying to heal. While Griff has been experiencing many physical symptoms, he has also been suffering emotionally due to what his medical team has deemed “autism fatigue”- an emotional breaking point, if you will, that has resulted from Griffin being locked in a body that doesn’t allow him to communicate. His extreme challenges this year led us to finding SPELLERS and training for him to learn to successfully communicate and it works! I have known my sweet boy is brilliant, full of knowledge and opinions and we are learning more and more every day. SPELLERS is literally life-saving as this has given him hope to thrive in a world that often dismisses the non-speaking as cognitively challenged, which is most often completely untrue. We have learned that the non-speaking/“non-verbal” aspect to so much “autism” is neuromuscular! It’s literally a lock that prevents speaking their thoughts, needs, goals, opinions, dreams and having every day conversation. 

Griffin is doing better mentally/emotionally now that we’ve found this and he’s doing better physically, but there’s still much to accomplish. In the midst of all this healing and training, we’ve created approximately $20K in debts which has created a huge problem for us to move, which we desperately need to do right now. Debts are due to his current needs, medical bills, trips to Spellers in Tampa, his nutrition needs and just simply surviving while I have taken this 100% necessary leave to support him. I’m currently going through SPELLERS CP (communication partner) training which is important for me to help him and that alone was $1000. Griffin still needs to work with a developmental ophthalmologist to strengthen his eye muscles for Spellers training. He needs to work with a physical therapist to strengthen his core, arms and shoulders to successfully work with the SPELLERS letter boards. We need to schedule our next session with his trainer, Dana, in Tampa in January or as soon as we can afford to get there. 

I cannot or could not ever adequately verbalize the immense uphill climb this has been, with financial challenges, sleep challenges and a lot of fatigue thrown in. We could truly utilize an army right now. I wish I had the help of about 10 highly capable people who could help with SPELLERS, appointments, running back and forth to the pharmacy, cooking, cleaning, packing up our house, fixing things that need fixed to successfully sell our house so we can move closer to needed family, help Griff build the muscles he needs, someone to help with community outings and a strong male figure who demonstrates calm, patience, compassion and a genuine interest in Griffin’s success.

We have lived 500 miles from all family for way too long, but we are changing that. I know you may wonder where Griffin’s father is- he has a no contact order in effect for the rest of our lives and that’s a very good thing (Milwaukee County Case number is #2016CF002338, State of Wisconsin vs. Cory R. Geho).

When it was suggested that we start a GoFundMe, I instantly had such a reluctant and sick feeling. I’m not good at asking for or accepting help. But this isn’t about me; it’s about Griffin.

We are exploring all possible avenues to get him to the healthiest, happiest place in life he can be. It’s really disheartening to see the lack of options for our kiddos aging out of school programs and transitioning to adulthood. It’s also such an injustice for so many to not yet be made aware of SPELLERS. It seems like the things that really help these kiddos are so often hard to find and the supports commonly offered to help people like Griffin are most often sub par or have waitlists that last years before families get the help that they need. We hold more hope right now, though, than we have in a long time. 

Any donation, however large or small, will be a huge help to Griffin’s needs and his optimal wellness.

I believe in this boy so much. He’s my best friend in the world and I need him as much as he needs me. I’m crazy about him and will do anything in this world for him. He’s brilliant, he’s beautiful and he’s often such a joy to be around. He’s precious. And I know at the core of my being that SPELLERS training and the medical and nutritional support he’s currently receiving are the answers for his success and a better life for him. I have full faith in GOD and that the best is yet to come!

I would like to thank those of you who have been with us for all the emotional support throughout this crisis. I have not forgotten the faces and voices who helped lead us out of the dark. We will not stop fighting until Griffin’s future is filled with anll the goodness and happiness that he deserves.

*Donations will go to support medical needs, nutrition and supplement needs, SPELLERS training, our regular bills during this time of my medical leave, travel and expenses associated with therapeutic interventions and care, assistive technology, as well as Griffin’s comfort/stimulation needs.

We do not expect anyone to help out who cannot afford to as we are fully aware that these are tough times for so many right now after this last 4 years. Sharing this effort will also be much appreciated as well as your prayers for Griffin’s optimal wellness. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate these challenges.

If you’re wondering why there’s been such a gap in this fundraiser for raising funds…well, as I said previously: asking for help is hard, which has gotten us into quite a pickle.

I will share more about Griffin and our little family via social media. You can find me here: @patriotsteph17 on X, @stephseventeen on TikTok and hopefully META will give me my Facebook and Instagram accts back soon that were banned 3 wks before the 2024 presidential election (same thing happened to me in 2020)- @Steph Conn (FB) and @stephconn17 (IG). I’m kicking around starting another TikTok which will be more Griffin and family focused…we’ll see what happens as there’s not a lot of time for such things.

For more information on SPELLERS, check out Spellers Freedom Foundation and PLEASE see the documentary, SPELLERS by Spellers Freedom Foundation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8h1rcLyznK0?si=CC7jRm3MVtW8Z-Uq

There’s also an excellent book co-authored by our Spellers trainer, Dana, that is full of excellent information which would be a great help for anyone to understand what we, or other families like us, are experiencing: The Spellers Guidebook by Dana Johnson and Dawnmarie Gaivin

If you read through all of this, THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

Heavenly Father, I not only pray for Griffin’s peace, joy and optimal wellness, but for the person reading this right now. Please assist them with any challenges they may have; please bless them with peace, so much love, abundance, joy, optimal wellness, your divine protection and faith in YOUR goodness. Help them to know that while the world looks extra wild right now, THE BEST IS YET TO COME and that you have already won.

Thank you, GOD! In Jesus’ precious and Holy name, AMEN.

#GODwins #OperationRescueGriffin