Xander is my nephew.  He is a loving, kind and handsome 5 year old boy.  My sister, Angela is a strong, hard-working mom who is desperately trying to connect and communicate with this loving 5 year old boy.

Somewhere around 18 months, we knew something was wrong….

Ahead of all milestones, Xander was walking at 11 months, and at 15 months began to talk.  Around the age of 18 months, all speech stopped, eye contact was lost, toe walking and hand flapping began.  He lost interest in playing with toys, our pets, and with us.  His facial expressions were that of a child who was lost, confused, and afraid.  We had lost our boy.

An autism diagnosis is a difficult thing for a parent to accept.  In denial, we had every possible test run to find something.  Anything we could fix. Yet, Autism remained the answer to “where did Xander go”?

Through ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and the love of our family and friends, we have seen so much improvement in Xander, but the road ahead is a long one filled with so many unknowns and unanswered questions. One thing is certain:  Autism currently has no cure.  So the search continues for therapies and treatments that can help Xander have the best life possible.  


Stem Cells for Autism has proven successful for many families, and Xander has been accepted to the Stem Cell Institute of Panama.  My sister, Angela and Xander will be making this exciting journey December 16-22nd.  Insurance does not cover this expense for us in any way.  If you would like to contribute to Xander’s Journey to Panama, and be apart of a potentially life changing outcome we would be so very grateful.  Thank so everyone in advance for your contributions, your prayers, and your love for this amazing child!