Help Me Honor My Brother and My Son
Donation protected
On October 13, 2017 my families lives were forever changed. On this Friday the 13th my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It was one of the most difficult days of my life and I was struggling with understanding how this could happen, what I was going to do, how was this going to affect my son and his quality of life. The only person who I could tell about the diagnosis at first was my brother, Eric. In that moment, he said something that I will always remember - that nothing really had changed. That Keagan was my son and no diagnosis or piece of paper was going to change that.
I don't know how I would have got through that day without him. Four days later he was killed in a car accident on his way home from work.
It is hard to believe but we are coming up on the one year anniversary of my son's diagnosis and my brother's passing. It is also my son's birthday on September 11th and my brother's birthday on September 28th. My son turns 3 and my brother would have turned 40. To remember my brother on his birthday I have decided to start a fundraiser for Balance Autism in his honor.
Balance Autism (formerly The Homestead) is the ABA school that my son goes to. They are an organization from Iowa that not only helps children with autism but also provides life long services to those on the spectrum.
"In 1991, a group of families, individuals and leading autism experts met at the heart of Iowa.
Together, we shared a vision: to find a better way to support people living with autism. A way that championed independence, rather than institutionalization. That offered not only safety and support, but self-empowerment. That united the best parts of the heart and the mind: science with imagination, evidence with creativity, and research with compassion."
I know that if my brother was here today that he would be a huge help to my family, to Keagan and his journey with Autism but unfortunately he is not able to do so. So to honor his memory I would like to raise $1,000 to donate to Balance Autism. An organization that has helped my son so much and an organization I know he would be proud to help.
I don't know how I would have got through that day without him. Four days later he was killed in a car accident on his way home from work.
It is hard to believe but we are coming up on the one year anniversary of my son's diagnosis and my brother's passing. It is also my son's birthday on September 11th and my brother's birthday on September 28th. My son turns 3 and my brother would have turned 40. To remember my brother on his birthday I have decided to start a fundraiser for Balance Autism in his honor.
Balance Autism (formerly The Homestead) is the ABA school that my son goes to. They are an organization from Iowa that not only helps children with autism but also provides life long services to those on the spectrum.
"In 1991, a group of families, individuals and leading autism experts met at the heart of Iowa.
Together, we shared a vision: to find a better way to support people living with autism. A way that championed independence, rather than institutionalization. That offered not only safety and support, but self-empowerment. That united the best parts of the heart and the mind: science with imagination, evidence with creativity, and research with compassion."
I know that if my brother was here today that he would be a huge help to my family, to Keagan and his journey with Autism but unfortunately he is not able to do so. So to honor his memory I would like to raise $1,000 to donate to Balance Autism. An organization that has helped my son so much and an organization I know he would be proud to help.
Organizer
Ryan Berding
Organizer
Bettendorf, IA
