Dear All,

I never imagined I would be writing something like this.

On Friday night, my beautiful son Luca, who is only 13, tried to take his own life.

He has been living with severe Tourette syndrome, and in his case it causes constant, injurious physical pain. Over time, that pain has simply become too much for him to bear.

Those of you who know us know how hard we have been trying — countless medical appointments, specialists, emergency visits, and ongoing advocacy here in Australia. Despite all of this, Luca’s pain has not been adequately managed, and effective treatment options for severe Tourette’s have been extremely limited.

What has been particularly devastating for me as his mum is discovering that treatments used internationally for severe, focal tics — including botulinum toxin (Botox) therapy aimed at reducing pain and injury — were never even mentioned to us here.

Only now, in the midst of this crisis, have I learned that specialist Tourette clinics in the United States routinely assess and treat children like Luca with a far broader and more nuanced range of options.

This is not cosmetic treatment.

It is about pain relief, safety, and giving Luca a chance to live without constant suffering.

I am setting this up because I cannot accept that my child should continue to live in unbearable pain — or risk losing his life — simply because the care he needs is not accessible to us here. I am hoping to take Luca to the US to be assessed by a Tourette’s specialist team and, if appropriate, receive targeted treatment for his most painful tics.

As Luca’s full time caregiver, this level of specialist care and international travel is not something I can manage on my own.

If you are able to help in any way — by donating or sharing — please know that you are helping me fight for my child’s life, his safety, and his future.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for holding us in your thoughts.

With love and gratitude,

Bridget