The Journey Of Jayden Mark Smith The Next Step

Hi everyone and thank you for visiting my campaign. Im Darren Kontista and boy do i have a special story to tell you all. 18 years ago my beautiful amazing son Jayden was born.. well things didnt go so well for his beginning of life.. jayden was born with a syndrome called velo carido facial syndrome in short (vcfs22q11) plus di george syndrome, also many other things and complications. Jayden had to have an emergency open heart surgery, which ended up nearly taking him completely. thank goodness he is a very strong boy, and was determined not to give up. Jayden faced alot of big medical challenges from then onwards. His diaphram had collapsed during heart surgery because the surgeon accidently cut through a very important nerve that collapsed his diaphram, and he was breathing in reverse. the heart surgeon at the time was amazing and fixed it up, it was more so because of reasons his heart was extremely close to his rib cage as far as i can remember. Jayden ended up also needing a tracheostomy for many yrs i think it was around 14 yrs or so, before it was finally ready to come out.. Jayden spent the first 3 and a half yrs in westmead children's hospital here in Sydney, and 2 yrs of that alone was in ICU. he was a very sick boy. many times he got close to dieing but still kept showing everyone how strong he is.. and still 18 yrs later he is still proving that point. god love him. jayden also has had a kidney removed and many other things.. Fast forward to this day in time, Jayden is now a beautiful 18 year old man that has turned into the most beautiful earth angel iv ever been so proud to say his my son. Jayden is also Severely autistic level 3 non verbal. he does make sounds and laughs but no we havn't heard him talk as of yet. There is alot more to Jaydens Medical journey, however it will end up being a book to read. At the tender age of 18, our son Jayden may need a spine surgery in the near future, well he will need, but not sure when, as it will be an 11 hr operation in its self.

Therefore he does use a wheelchair alot for outings and for his appointments as its his safety net, helps to keep him calm and relaxed. Jayden does walk and run around, however once this spine surgery ends up happening, he will need to be highly supported for a number of months.. Now to todays point in time, Jayden recently moved house and his mum who (is the most amazing mother/carer iv ever known or met) does the most upmost amazing job around the clock 24/7 for him. Jayden sleeps with her because he feels safe, she revolves her life around him to a magnificent level which is beyond amazing. The strength his mum has shown over the 18 years of Jaydens life, is just unreal. I am very proud of her, and I honestly dont know how she does it day in night out.. i am talking big hours to especially when his unwell. I cant thank jays mum enough for what level job she has done over his 18 years.. therefore, i have something very important to tell everyone.. unfortunately her commodore wagon broke down right at the end of moving house.. the mobile mechanic was very nice and said its going to cost too much to be even worth fixing it to be reliable again.. i suggested to my sons mum, why dont you let me as a proud father of a special needs child run a go fund me for getting him a much needed new car that can be converted for wheelchair access.

(please note, Jaydens mum doesnt want to be contacted through this campaign that I am running mainly because she is too busy looking after Jayden, and she gets overwhelmed with peoples kindness) may i ask everyone to please respect that of her.

Anyone is welcome to contact myself as i am Jaydens Father, and i can try my best to assist you all on anything furthur.

I dazz, would like to ask anyone to please feel free to help in anyway you can, even just $1 helps us to reach our goal..

I have a special friend who will help me at the end of the fundraiser to collect the funds and give them directly to My son and his Mother to purchase the new car. Their dream is to buy a 2020 kia Carnival and with the help of ndis, we can get the conversion done to be a wheelchair car..

I feel sad that I have to do a go fund me, but I did promise my beautiful angel Jayden many yrs ago, if I can always have a reliable car for his medical life, I will do anything in my power and reach to achieve that goal.

thank you so very much to anyone who wishes to help and support, anything helps us to get there as this young man doesn't have a car to even get his fav choc ice creams. not until someone helps her to go and get them anyway.

Thank you ever so much everyone who views and helps towards my fundraiser for my son..

Please note I personally wont be handling or collecting the funds raised, I have a beneficiary person i highly trust that will help when/if that time comes.

please be safe everyone and always be kind and love one another.

many thanks

dazz

Hey everyone, just an update, i am so greatful for the love shown just on the first day towards my son, i want to thank everyone who has helped already, and this has really lifted my day up. ill see if i can post another pic of our son jayden

my son has the most amazing cheeky smile dont you think.. thank you to all from the bottom of dads big heart.

This photo was when i first met my son, and it was alot to take in. he was on life support for nearly 4 yrs after his first heart operation

This was jaydens 3rd heart repair, poor kid fell very sick with a heart virus called Endocarditis, which completely stuffed his artificial heart valve, almost taking him from us. this wasnt all that long ago.

This by far has to be the most cheeky pic i have of jayden when he was younger, (wonder what he was thinking about) lol

It breaks my heart to share this image but this is the recent xray of his spine and how twisted it actually is.. this is the reason im trying to fight to get him a much needed wheelchair car. To support his next step in life.

Jayden loves his coat hangers.

I had to add this one, jayden being cool

Jayden after a big dental surgery. his had two of these now i believe

This photo is how jayden's mum used to take him for a stroll around the hospital when he was in there for his 3 and a half year stay from birth. because he was on full time life support

Ill give you all updates of this journey as we go. thank you so much for being apart of his Next step

Good morning everyone, here is a talk video update and thank you to you all. a bit of information of jayden's journey

Kind regards to everyone who has supported and wishes to help our little man jayden

This was a number of years ago when he was younger but its the most special happy video i ever caught on camera, jayden somehow knows even when you try use your phone, he knows you have the camera open and he doesnt show emotions. I had the pc set up and webcam to catch this special moment

You might wonder why im sharing this, i mentioned i have autism myself and my escape in life is playing piano and writing my own stuff, this is prob my favorite piece iv attempted to write. I just wanted to share something nice for people to listen and relax to.

hey everyone who views my story, this next image is jaydens Diagnosis when he was only 2 and a half yrs old maybe it might give a little info on how severe his medical life is. Depending if you can understand medical terms.

That is alot for one child, Kind regards to those who have and wish to help in the future

Id like to add this very special photo, this is my sister Karena,

She was jayden's auntie.. Karena unfortunately passed away on the operation table from Trunchus Arterious in 1986 the same heart surgery Jayden had in 2005.. what are the odds of that history. I thank my sis every day for looking over him.

In memory of Karena

Hey there everyone, just a bit of an update, as you can see we are at $1520 already, no words can describe how much this means to me. below is another pic of the amazing Jayden

Jayden has the most amazing beautiful smile. Despite what his gone through in life, he still shares his beautiful smile. Jayden your a true solider and the most strongest person iv met in life.

Im doing what i can for you son, i wont stop until challenge is completed... Always love you my boy