Stand With Jude :)

With the occasional shouts of joy, playful giggles, constant skipping and the occasional hope; it is very easy to forget about Jude’s condition. However, on those bad days when he is uncomfortable or frustrated, his mood suddenly shifts from this sweet, happy boy to a sad, inconsolable 11 year-old with a temper; frustrated because he cannot give voice to his thoughts or emotions - he cannot speak. Communication with him is usually a guessing game, with my family and I following his lead or gestures to guess what he wants. What’s more, it is truly heartbreaking to watch this sweet and very mischievous boy miss out on the fun, wonder and adventure that life has to offer.

Jude is a non-verbal autistic, in simple terms this means that he currently lacks the ability to communicate or interact with others; he experiences difficulty making eye contact and has some sensory sensitivities. The more complex explanation is that he suffers from a neuro-developmental disorder which has rendered him unable to speak, made it impossible for him to make social interactions, affecting his senses, overall behaviour and thinking ability. Unfortunately, his autism presented with associated troubles such as: a sleeping disorder, pica (hunger food items that are not edible) and a learning disability. Jude enjoys music and loves to dance. When he sees a football game on TV, he gets very excited; he enjoys being outdoors, but his first love is water (whether he’s swimming, bathing, washing or playing in the rain – he is at peace and filled with limitless joy). It is not easy being the child that is always one step behind his peers, this just means he is deserving of a little extra love, support and care.

Using adult stem cell therapy, the Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute in India is offering Jude the chance to improve his overall quality of life. The way we understood it, this treatment will use Jude’s own stem cells to help heal his brain. You can learn more at www.neurogenbsi.com. We are very excited by this opportunity and need your help to make this happen. The required fee is approximately USD $10,000 (not including transportation/air fare fees/visa or his medications after the procedure). We hope that you can help Jude get this new chance at life.

If you have been moved by this story and seek to help us get Jude to Neurogen, please contact:

Helen Mwase

Email: [email protected] Tel: (+256) 702 499 270