Hello, family, friends, and kind-hearted supporters,

We are Zyria and Jermaine Goldsmith, proud parents of our sweet and resilient 3-year-old son, Zosiah. As we recognize Autism Awareness Month, we want to share his journey with you and ask for your support as he takes a major step in his treatment.

At the end of April, Zosiah will begin his first round of stem cell therapy via IV in Florida. This therapy is a regenerative treatment aimed at reducing inflammation, which has been linked to autism. We are hopeful that it will help him in ways that traditional therapies alone have not.

Zosiah’s Journey

From the time he was a baby, Zosiah met many of his early milestones, but shortly after his first birthday, we noticed changes. He began to regress in his development, and as parents, we knew something was different. We brought our concerns to his pediatrician, who initially reassured us that children develop at different rates. While that is true, our hearts told us otherwise.

At 15 months, after continued advocacy, we finally received a referral for an evaluation. That led to speech therapy at home, and shortly after, we added occupational therapy. These therapies gave us tools to help Zosiah communicate—using ASL, picture boards, and hand-over-hand gestures—but challenges remained, especially in daycare settings where staff weren’t trained in autism support.

At 2 years old, after another evaluation, Zosiah was officially diagnosed with autism, which allowed us to access ABA therapy. Since daycare staff lacked the necessary training, we made the tough but rewarding decision to hire a full-time ABA therapist who worked with him daily while he attended daycare. This was a financial sacrifice, but investing in his development was our top priority. Thankfully, once we reached our insurance deductible, ABA therapy became fully covered for the rest of the year.

At 3 years old, Zosiah became eligible for a pre-K program specifically designed for children with autism, which has been a game-changer. Now, he attends school for 2.5 hours each day with trained teachers who understand his needs, while still getting the balance of home life.

Why We Need Your Help

As we continue to trust God’s guidance in this journey, we are now seeking additional support for Zosiah’s stem cell therapy. This treatment is not covered by insurance, and all donations will go directly toward the $12,500 cost of his first round therapy treatment excluding travel cost.

We know that every child’s autism journey is different, and we want to share Zosiah’s progress not only to show his improvements but also to bring awareness to other families who may be struggling to access resources for their own children.

We appreciate any contribution, no matter the amount, and ask for your continued prayers and support. If you’re unable to give, please consider sharing Zosiah’s story to help us reach others who may want to support his journey.

If you’re interested in giving through other means, feel free to reach out to us directly.

Thank you for being part of this with us. Your kindness, generosity, and encouragement mean the world to our family!

With love,

Zyria & Jermaine Goldsmith