Hi

I'm Rowan's mother, Brandy Smith. My husband and I hate asking for help. We haven't made a GoFundMe in years for our Row because we worry about the judgment of others, but they're not living in our shoes.

Rowan was a preemie, a 29-weeker... little did we know this baby boy was going to bring so much joy and happiness into our lives! We see the world differently. Before I became a mother, I just knew what type of mom I would be. Boy, I was wrong! This young boy is about to turn 9 years old.

He comes with some big goals and dreams! We wish we could make it all happen, but we just can't and hate to ask for help, but here we are.

Juggling paying out of pocket for two insurances to cover the therapists he desperately needs weekly and now paying out of pocket for his counselor due to an insurance change through work, we're now out of network. We're going every other week now. (Please don't think changing counselors wouldn't be a big deal to him because it would be.)

Rowan not only struggles with his Ataxia Cerebral Palsy, but he also has some battles with anxiety. Weekly counseling would be in his best interest, but we can't even afford every other week. Call and ask what his balance is.

Intense therapy at NAPA isn't cheap. Roughly $10,000 for a 3-week trip. That's including Airbnb and food. He really needs this twice a year. We do all the fundraising you can think of. It shouldn't be this hard!

He has weekly occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. Currently receiving hippotherapy, swim lessons, and softball. Next season it's wheelchair basketball and sled hockey. He loves it all so much!

He gets tutoring weekly and goes to TWO libraries!

Currently, mom and dad are homeschooling. He has online classes and one-on-one with professional teachers online. He's in a few social clubs and meets with multiple homeschool groups. Homeschooling isn't cheap. I didn't go to school to be a teacher, and I struggle myself. So we need professional help, and so far he's thriving much more in a homeschool setting. But again, on top of everything else, when can we enjoy our money and go on family trips? We haven't started saving up for retirement because we just can't right now. How is this our forever? He's not even going to get much when he turns 18. The system is a joke, and everyone is struggling.

I'm just a special needs mom asking for some financial freedom for my family.

My husband's job - don't get me started.

My husband does absolutely everything he can to make sure we're good. He's struggling. Let me help ease his mind, please!

Rowan does qualify for SSI but they say we make too much. We disagree. But you know how that goes with the system.

Thank you for reading. Please donate if you can. Share as much as you care to share. Please