Help Angel Gabriel Get the Therapy He Needs
Donation protected
Meet my delightful young boy, Gabriel who has a spirit like an angel, filled with happiness, kindness, and love. I hope you take the time to read about his history and find it in your heart to support his current journey toward further progression and goal attainment.
Gabriel, my miracle baby was born on September 17, 2015 at a healthy 6 pounds, 8 ounces. He was the happiest and friendliest baby you ever did meet. He captured the attention of everyone with his bright eyes, infectious smile, and a personality that was always happy.
At 13 months, Gabriel began to suffer from severe inner ear infections that continued on and off for just over a year. Gabriel was often ill, medicated and had to endure two surgeries in order to rectify his hearing. During this course of time, at age 1 year and 6 months, Gabriel was also diagnosed with a speech delay in which I sought treatment for immediately.
While I worked tirelessly to observe, learn, and implement all the strategies that I attained through attending Gabriel's Speech therapy sessions, I began to notice something different in him. Gabriel, who was once a very social boy began to turn inward. He didn't respond to his name, had no interest in toys, didn't socialize, and began to demonstrate self-stimulating behaviours. At 2 and a half years old, Gabriel was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
At this time, I was devastated. The future that I had envisioned for my son seemed shattered. However, there was something in my gut that told me that my little boy was in there and had the potential to thrive in all aspects of life and learning. I knew as his mother that I had to be the one to help get the true Gabriel out. It was me that had to initiate the process of Gabriel's healing and improvement. I began to do endless research and immersed myself into a world of advocacy and resources to help my son.
Soon, Gabriel was involved in various therapies including: private Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy and ABA Therapy, amongst swimming and gymnastics with neuro-typical peers. While this makes for an extremely busy schedule while also holding down a full time job, the gains that I saw and continue to see are totally worth it. I also work with a Naturopath and have learned that Gabriel also suffers from fecal loading which in turn affects his cognition, sensory systems, and communication. As a result, Gabriel must only consume foods that are gluten, dairy and grain free. He must also take numerous daily supplements to improve his gut and brain health which are not covered by our Healthcare. This in itself has become very time consuming and costly.
That being said, things can become very difficult at times, emotionally, physically, and financially. From the time Gabriel was diagnosed on April 5, 2018 up until April 1, 2020, I paid for ABA therapy out of pocket. As well, I paid the aforementioned therapies once I exhausted my insurance benefits, which happened in a matter of a few months. Now, I was blessed enough to raise some monies on my own with the help of some family and friends, but this only put a small dent in the actual costs. I've easily have spent $60 000 out of my own pocket, and have had to use a line of credit in order to do so.
After being on the Ontario Autism Program waiting list for 2+ years, in April of 2020, the Ontario Government provided families with children under 6 years old with a one-time funding of $20,000 for therapy for those with autism. With ABA Therapy alone for Gabriel, which costs roughly $3500/month for 20 hours of therapy/week, our 20K didn't even last 6 months. So, once again as we wait for the Ontario government to figure out a needs-based program ( along with 40, 000 other kids with autism on the waitlist), I am paying out of pocket again, Gabriel's ABA therapy costs alone are $42,000/year.
Through Gabriel's therapies, he has developed better eye-contact; he responds to his name; he makes spontaneous verbal requests and comments on activities; he can spell his name, understands the value of numbers up to 10, and is beginning to read; he is toilet trained; he dresses and eats, independently; he reciprocates greetings, and now engages in small conversations and play with peers at school, when prompted; and he is full of hugs and kisses for family and friends. We are so very proud of you, Gabriel!
Nonetheless, Gabriel still has a ways to go and he needs the support so that he can learns to acquire and use more language, socialize with peers his age, play functionally with toys, improve his fine motor skills for daily living skills and to one day write and/or type, to follow instructions both at home and school for learning purposes and for safety, to reduce his self-stimulating behaviours in a manner which are more socially appropriate, and to acquire skills necessary for school and community living.
Gabriel has so many gifts to share with this world and I want the world to "see" him for who he really is, and to recognize that he is truly amazing. He is bright, affectionate, has an incredible memory, is musically talented, and has a love for reading, gymnastics, swimming, and dance. Gabriel is also a determined, compliant, happy, and strong boy, who I know that with continued support can accomplish some big things in this world.
With your financial support, our boy will continue to flourish in all areas of life, and learn to generalize those skills at school, with family and friends, in extra-curricular activities, in the community and his future.
I thank you in advance for your contributions and/or sharing this GoFundMe fundraiser with your family and friends.
As our village, you will all have a hand in raising our boy and assisting him along this amazing journey!
Gabriel, my miracle baby was born on September 17, 2015 at a healthy 6 pounds, 8 ounces. He was the happiest and friendliest baby you ever did meet. He captured the attention of everyone with his bright eyes, infectious smile, and a personality that was always happy.
At 13 months, Gabriel began to suffer from severe inner ear infections that continued on and off for just over a year. Gabriel was often ill, medicated and had to endure two surgeries in order to rectify his hearing. During this course of time, at age 1 year and 6 months, Gabriel was also diagnosed with a speech delay in which I sought treatment for immediately.
While I worked tirelessly to observe, learn, and implement all the strategies that I attained through attending Gabriel's Speech therapy sessions, I began to notice something different in him. Gabriel, who was once a very social boy began to turn inward. He didn't respond to his name, had no interest in toys, didn't socialize, and began to demonstrate self-stimulating behaviours. At 2 and a half years old, Gabriel was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
At this time, I was devastated. The future that I had envisioned for my son seemed shattered. However, there was something in my gut that told me that my little boy was in there and had the potential to thrive in all aspects of life and learning. I knew as his mother that I had to be the one to help get the true Gabriel out. It was me that had to initiate the process of Gabriel's healing and improvement. I began to do endless research and immersed myself into a world of advocacy and resources to help my son.
Soon, Gabriel was involved in various therapies including: private Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy and ABA Therapy, amongst swimming and gymnastics with neuro-typical peers. While this makes for an extremely busy schedule while also holding down a full time job, the gains that I saw and continue to see are totally worth it. I also work with a Naturopath and have learned that Gabriel also suffers from fecal loading which in turn affects his cognition, sensory systems, and communication. As a result, Gabriel must only consume foods that are gluten, dairy and grain free. He must also take numerous daily supplements to improve his gut and brain health which are not covered by our Healthcare. This in itself has become very time consuming and costly.
That being said, things can become very difficult at times, emotionally, physically, and financially. From the time Gabriel was diagnosed on April 5, 2018 up until April 1, 2020, I paid for ABA therapy out of pocket. As well, I paid the aforementioned therapies once I exhausted my insurance benefits, which happened in a matter of a few months. Now, I was blessed enough to raise some monies on my own with the help of some family and friends, but this only put a small dent in the actual costs. I've easily have spent $60 000 out of my own pocket, and have had to use a line of credit in order to do so.
After being on the Ontario Autism Program waiting list for 2+ years, in April of 2020, the Ontario Government provided families with children under 6 years old with a one-time funding of $20,000 for therapy for those with autism. With ABA Therapy alone for Gabriel, which costs roughly $3500/month for 20 hours of therapy/week, our 20K didn't even last 6 months. So, once again as we wait for the Ontario government to figure out a needs-based program ( along with 40, 000 other kids with autism on the waitlist), I am paying out of pocket again, Gabriel's ABA therapy costs alone are $42,000/year.
Through Gabriel's therapies, he has developed better eye-contact; he responds to his name; he makes spontaneous verbal requests and comments on activities; he can spell his name, understands the value of numbers up to 10, and is beginning to read; he is toilet trained; he dresses and eats, independently; he reciprocates greetings, and now engages in small conversations and play with peers at school, when prompted; and he is full of hugs and kisses for family and friends. We are so very proud of you, Gabriel!
Nonetheless, Gabriel still has a ways to go and he needs the support so that he can learns to acquire and use more language, socialize with peers his age, play functionally with toys, improve his fine motor skills for daily living skills and to one day write and/or type, to follow instructions both at home and school for learning purposes and for safety, to reduce his self-stimulating behaviours in a manner which are more socially appropriate, and to acquire skills necessary for school and community living.
Gabriel has so many gifts to share with this world and I want the world to "see" him for who he really is, and to recognize that he is truly amazing. He is bright, affectionate, has an incredible memory, is musically talented, and has a love for reading, gymnastics, swimming, and dance. Gabriel is also a determined, compliant, happy, and strong boy, who I know that with continued support can accomplish some big things in this world.
With your financial support, our boy will continue to flourish in all areas of life, and learn to generalize those skills at school, with family and friends, in extra-curricular activities, in the community and his future.
I thank you in advance for your contributions and/or sharing this GoFundMe fundraiser with your family and friends.
As our village, you will all have a hand in raising our boy and assisting him along this amazing journey!
Organizer
Vittoria Spadafora
Organizer
Pickering, ON