Give Amian a bunch of helping hands

Amianan Sigrid, “Amian” as family and friends fondly would call him is a healthy 5 year old boy that was recently diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

“Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.

Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior and level of severity — from low functioning to high functioning.

Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. Other children with the disorder have normal to high intelligence — they learn quickly, yet have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org.)

Amian was born on December 5, 2013 via normal delivery, as a full term, healthy baby. He was exclusively breastfeeding until weaned at 15 months. Symptoms of delayed speech and failure to follow simple commands became obvious by the age of 2, but his family brushed it off as just a ‘natural’ speech delay/ behavior among toddlers.

Suspicions that there might be something wrong was when he first began schooling at two different community day care centers at age 3 but had a hard time keeping up with the class. The second attempt for school was in a private playschool, but like the firsts, it was a hard time for him. On all three schools, 2 months was the longest time he stayed attending his classes.

He was first misdiagnosed with Apraxia of Speech (speech delay) on 2017. Until further tests and assessment this early 2019, he was officially diagnosed with ASD.

Until now, experts says that the cause of ASD is still unknown, and no specific medication would be able to cure its symptoms. But early intervention, such as therapies (behavioral, communication, and educational) would help children function through life.

Right now, Amian’s treatment plan includes one year of Occupational, Speech and Language therapies and attending SPED school.

The cost is very overwhelming, given the fact that his family are just low wage earners and doesn’t have much financially. But just like any parents, they will do anything and work double for their child’s future and well being.

In this light, I am knocking to your kind hearts to please support Amian’s fundraising for his therapies and future schooling. Any amount/financial support will go a long way. Each single peso counts.

And most of all each whispered prayer, and a gesture of understanding to children like him is very much appreciated.

Amian is a very active boy who loves to ride his bike, climb monkey bars, play with his toy cars (and knows every kind of automobiles there is, though speaking them in distorted speech) and loves taking care of his baby brother, AK.

Let us continue to support his therapies so he could live a life, as normal and as happy as any child should be.

Donations can be made by depositing through her mama’s BPI bank account 2819 1125 28 or can contact her on messenger (Carol Mismo) for any direct donations or concerns.

Thank you very much for your love and concerns! Let us help this bike loving boy and his family to have bright days despite bumpy roads. ♥️

(This write up is lovingly made by Mommy Grace Bragais-Lao—my ninang, and Amian’s tita.

~Carol.🙂 )