We’re raising funds for our daughter, Emerson Grace, to receive stem cell treatments at the Stem Cell Therapy Center of Nashville. Emmy was diagnosed with Autism at 2 years old, and has faced significant cognitive regressions in her speech, emotional regulations, and more. We’re hopeful that this treatment can offer her significant improvement and a better quality of life. We're especially thankful to our family at The Owners Box in Lakeland, Amanda and Philip, and all of their amazing staff for assisting us in the fundraiser.

Emmy's Story:

At an early age, as young as 6 months old, our daughter showed signs of Autism. Quick, jittery spells of happiness where it seemed that she just couldn't contain her excitement; emotional regulation.

She exhibited signs of "stimming" very early, often pairing the above emotional irregulation with fast, flapping hands. As first time parents, we didn't think anything of it.

As she grew, we noticed more and more that while she was developing in her speech, she was often behind the expected milestones relative to her age. She eventually grew a short list of vocabulary, her favorite words being words like "no" and "big poop" which we always LOVED and hated to hear of course!

Sadly, around 18 months of her life, we began to notice that set of vocabulary had dissolved. We consulted her doctors as we became suspicious of her cognitive deterioration, and, at the age of 2, she was diagnosed with Autism. By this point, her speech had completely escaped her, and as such she had no way to express her wants, needs, or emotions. To go along with this, she has experienced extreme sleep regressions, and has often avoided eye contact, among other things. All we have known since that age (from her) is happiness, or sadness and anger, the latter of which is always a guessing game.

The last word she ever spoke, deliberately, came shortly after her 2 year birthday. As my wife and I enjoyed dinner and a movie on the couch, Emmy ran into our hallway and poked her head back into the room a few times yelling "Boo!" to scare us and get a reaction. It is one of our fondest yet painful memories.

But not all is lost. The last 12 months have been incredible in Emmy's development, and have given us reasons to hope. Emmy will perform deliberate behaviors and responses to certain words and actions such as "kiss," "hug," "come here," and "high five" to name a few. These words can be formed into questions and she is responsive all the same. It's allowed us to find a way to actually connect with her, finally. To add to this growth, she has actually been repeating short versions of the alphabet, and counting numbers between 1-5.

Emmy has been thriving at Lakeland Elementary School and it's Pre-K program that have provided her a phenomenal set of teachers and in-school speech and behavioral therapists. Despite all the hurdles that have been thrown at her, she's found ways to make friends and is enjoying her childhood as well as she can. We're thankful to the parents of any classmates who may be reading this, as well of course the teachers and staff who have helped along the way.

Recently, through genetic testing, we discovered Emmy has 3 gene mutations in her DNA. Emmy underwent a methyl-detox panel which showed 3 out 5 individually tested gene variants are only partly functioning in her body the way that they should be. The MTHFR, COMT, and MTRR genes. In short, these adverse mutations prohibit her bodies natural ability to detox heavy metals and other toxins in her blood, causing inflammation. Additionally, they cause her to be extremely deficient in Vitamin B-12, Folate, and Magnesium, as well as preventing Vitamin A from reaching her brain. All of this plays a negatively vital role in her cognitive shortcomings.

The hope is that stem cell therapy treatments will help her body adjust, reducing inflammation and improving cognitive functions. This is not a cure, there is no cure for Autism, but it has been shown to reduce severity of symptoms.

For more on stem cell therapy and autism, read this article from the Stem Cell Institute of Panama.https://www.cellmedicine.com/treating-autism-with-stem-cell-therapy/

Unfortunately, stem cell therapy is still considered experimental in the U.S., which means insurance does not cover the steep costs involved. The financial goal of this fundraiser will help us cover the cost of her first round of therapy. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to giving Emmy this opportunity, this chance to find her voice. We are deeply grateful for your support, prayers, and shares.

With love,

Chet, Gabby, Emerson, and Barrett