Just4Children are fundraising for an Autism Assistance Dog for Ni. He would be reassured by the familiar and safe presence of the assistance dog during social situations and that would reduce his anxiety.
Ni is aged 8 from Shrewsbury. When he arrived in June 2015, he was everything we had wished for and still is after 5 miscarriages he was our rainbow baby!
When he was a few months old I noticed some things that were a little different about him but thought no more of it, he went to preschool and seemed to be managing.
Then he started primary school and everything turned upside down. Within a few weeks of starting he wasn’t coping and started having aggressive meltdowns, he screamed and had to be restrained for his own safety. He was eventually diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and a sensory processing difficulty.
Unfortunately, Ni really struggled with his emotions and felt the only way to stop this was to die. I can’t tell you how scary it is to have to have a safe in your own home where knives and scissors are locked away, bolts on all the doors; to have to inspect party bags in case they contain the stretchy worms which could double as a noose. This isn’t the reality anyone expects when they embrace parenthood. He has made several suicide attempts but fortunately wasn’t successful.
His meltdowns became far more aggressive and he eventually stopped going to school, this has impacted his mental health and he’s lonely. Ni was finally referred to the mental health intensive support team and they had been a constant part of our lives for months. They were fantastic but things have started to escalate again in recent months. The intensive support team eventually discharged us as they couldn’t help us more than they had and we have to carry these risks forever. He has unsuccessfully tried multiple medications now and this has left us looking for alternatives to support him.
Ni adores animals and this led us to consider an Autism Assistance Dog. We believe it would make the world of difference to him, and our family dynamic by providing him with safety and friendship during times he can’t interact with humans. The dog would be something of his own, but separate from us and capable of giving him reassurance and empathy throughout multiple environments and situations.
Thank you