Donate to Guide & Grow's Brick by Brick campaign

Sylvia’s Brick by Brick Campaign - In honor of Dysautonomia (PoTS) Awareness Month this October

10 Years on from my PoTS Diagnosis

I remember the day when everything went black like it was yesterday. Imagine waking up with a team of nurses and doctors gathered around you and your body is paralyzed. I thought the worst, I could hear but nothing else was responding, it was all a blur.

I was a fit, healthy and very active 26-year-old with dreams of opening my very own Montessori preschool. But suddenly, I found myself unable to stand without the world spinning, high HR and passing out, battling constant nausea, entrenched in brain fog that wouldn’t lift, and succumbing to fatigue from relentless migraines.

After a month in the hospital and numerous tests, I was diagnosed with PoTS (you can read my full story here). PoTS is a nervous system dysfunction, which affects the vagus nerve bridging the brain to the body, it turned my world upside down, literally. Yet, even from the hospital, my dream of the school persisted as I began designing my school's logo from the bed. I distinctly remember how excited I was to be able to be standing up from the bed for a second just to take that picture above before I fell to the ground. Progress...it was all in the baby steps.

Nine months of intense therapy I was learning how to function again, being upright, walking a short distance, gaining functionality and filled with relentless spirit and determination in which I finally founded my school. I was able to find a home in which I could live in, whilst continuing to learn how to manage and live with PoTS, with accessibility to my school I built in the back!

Almost 10 years on, we're a thriving community with 100's of families coming through the school with some of my first graduates in high school now! I am so proud of our achievements with numerous awards won over the years, Western Sydney's first ever authentic Montessori school and I also sit on the Board of Directors for Montessori Schools & Centres Australia (MSCA).

As if living with a chronic illness and running a Montessori school wasn't enough whilst completing my Masters degree in Teaching & child development, I launched 'Guide & Grow.' Guide & Grow is a support platform for caregivers globally wanting to learn about Montessori & parenting. From a humble community of 1,000 members, we now stand strong with 228,000+ global members. This is a completely free platform to serve the community, providing resources, monthly events and more with a team of volunteer and paid staff to help run it.

5 years on, we are starting to feel the weight of keeping it alive and thriving...

The school has been the cornerstone and the rock that supported me through my recovery, helped build Guide & Grow, support its volunteers, staff, and our broader mission to shape future generations. We are so proud of the impact it has made globally and continues to do so, but it couldn't be done without My Montessori...this is where we need your help.

We need to relocate the school to a new premises so we can expand our services so we are able to fund and continue the work that Guide & Grow is doing as well as serve more of our community. We are seeking the help and support of our community because without you none of this exists. We have given so much and now we are humbly asking for help so we can continue our mission to help YOU raise our future generations. We are seeking to raise an initial investment of $55,000

We cannot continue to support the community without your help!

Breakdown of the total amount needed:

- Infrastructure and Renovation: AUD $30,000

- Montessori Materials: AUD $20,000

- Licenses and Certification: AUD $10,000

- Staff Training: AUD $5,000

We're committing 5% of funds raised towards POTS research and finding a cure for this illness. Invisible illnesses need visibility and advocacy – I'll keep championing this cause, driven by my personal journey.

Supporter Rewards:

- All Contributions: Receive a Montessori resources pack & appreciation certificate.

- $100: Your name & personal message featured on our commemorative wall. Celebrate our vision, leaf by leaf.

- $1,000 - $10,000 : Secure a cube on our Montessori Pink Tower. Only 10 spots available, making your donation a lasting visual testament in our journey.

Here's How You Can Help (any of these actions are a positive action forward):

1. Donate to our campaign - every $1 brings us closer!

2. Share our campaign with friends & family

3. Refer friends or family to our Montessori School in North West Sydney

4. Schools/organizations with spare Montessori materials, we welcome donations!

5. Support me on Instagram @sylviaarotin

Your involvement directly shapes the future of countless children. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us on this transformative journey to raise our future generations!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Sylvia x

Join us this Dysautonomia Awareness Month and help shape the future, brick by brick.

Donate now and be a part of this revolution! Together, we can build a brighter, better tomorrow.