Help Damien with testing and support for mental health

Hi my name is Bryan and I’m fundraising for my son Damien.

Damien is 13 and he has been struggling with mental health issues his whole life. He has the kindest heart you will ever come by. Always putting others before himself and a genuinely loving good person.

Noticing when he was a toddler, Damien would rarely be smiling. When he was it appeared as if he was mimicking the expression rather than is being caused by emotion.

He started to have troubles in school soon after starting. Over the years he has had many accommodations and special programs to try and help him get through. Doctors have been involved his whole post toddler life. Pediatrician, GP, Therapists, Psychiatrists, etc. They have tried a plethora of medications trying to find something to help.

Damien suffers from sever depression, severe anxiety, panic attacks, ADHD, chronic insomnia, nervous stomach, and learning disabilities.

Many nights he would be randomly crying. Constantly feeling worthless and hating himself. Saying he’s stupid and dumb when talking about school. His stress and anxiety manifest into being physically ill. A week doesn’t go by with out a couple days of throwing up. Honestly the list goes on.

Me and my wife Natalie have been heartbroken for years with seeing him having to go through this. We have constantly been looking for the next thing we could do to help.

His Psychiatrist from St. Catharines General recommended him having a “Psychoeducational Assessment” conducted which would help pinpoint his issues and help create a roadmap to getting him the proper medication and assistance he needs.

The “Psychoeducational Assessment” is not cover by OHIP or my work benefits plan.

The cost of the “Psychoeducational Assessment” is $5000.00.

We were also told he would benefit from specialized 1 on 1 tutoring which would be around $500.00 a month.

At the moment, our family is living paycheque to paycheque and these costs are not in our means. We have already been indebted due to other venues not covered by health care or benefits.

So were reaching out to try and get support to help Damien to be able to live as a happy, well adjusted young man and get him though his education so he can continue into his adult life and have a chance at a good job and enjoy the life this wonderful boy deserves.

We love our son more than anything in the world and would give anything and everything to help him anyway possible. Nothing would make us happier than to have him not have to deal with this horrible deck he has been dealt.

Thank you so much for your support.