Support Alan: Autistic Trans Teen in Crisis

Help Us Support Alan: Trans, Autistic, and Fighting for His Life

Dear friends, family, and compassionate strangers,

My name is Michelle, and I’m reaching out with a mother’s heart in crisis. My 13-year-old child, Alan, is an extraordinary, bright, creative, and tender-hearted boy. He is also autistic and transgender — two identities that carry incredible strength, but also invite tremendous challenges in a world that isn’t always kind to differences.

Over the past year, Alan has faced more than any child should ever have to. He’s been targeted by bullying at school to the point of no longer feeling safe in a classroom. His mental health has spiraled into deep depression, self-harm, and heartbreaking suicidal ideation. We’ve been through emergency room visits on 5150 holds, inpatient hospitalizations, intensive outpatient therapy, and most recently, residential treatment. Each step was taken out of desperate love — trying to keep our son alive and help him rediscover a reason to keep going.

Yesterday, our worst fear became reality: Alan ran away from home and went missing. We were beside ourselves with worry, terrified for his safety. Thankfully, he has since been found, but this incident was a sobering reminder of just how fragile everything still is. Alan is in crisis. And so are we.

As his parents, we’ve been doing everything humanly possible to support him. Six months ago, my husband Chris quit his job to be home full-time — to care for Alan, and to be present for our young daughter Ryleigh, who is also deeply affected by her big brother’s pain. I’ve continued working as much as I can, juggling two jobs and a business to make ends meet while also homeschooling Alan to protect his mental health.

But the weight of this situation is crushing. Between the loss of income, the mounting medical, psychiatric, and therapy bills, and using credit cards just to help cover living expenses, we’re drowning. We’ve maxed out every card and exhausted every resource. And still, Alan needs more care. More time. More healing. And he needs his mom to be present — not burnt out and stretched thin.

That’s why I’m asking for your help.

We’re raising funds to:

-Cover the cost of ongoing residential and outpatient treatment

-Pay for therapy, psychiatry, and medical care not covered by insurance

-Offset living expenses so I can take time off work to support Alan through homeschooling and recovery

-Relieve the debt we’ve taken on just to survive this crisis

Every dollar donated goes directly toward helping us give Alan the care, support, and stability he so desperately needs. It will also allow our family a moment to breathe — to focus on healing, rather than surviving.

I know times are hard for many, and it is not easy to ask for help. But if you’re able to give — whether it’s $5, $50, or simply sharing this campaign — please know that it means the world to our family.

Alan deserves a future. He deserves to grow up feeling safe, supported, and loved exactly as he is. And with your help, we can give that to him.

With deep gratitude and hope,

Michelle, Chris, Alan & Ryleigh