Frustrating yet disappointing at the same time...........
As I am sure you know by now, I am related to "Abu Sinan". He is my husband and "Sinan" is our son. We have recently decided it's time for us to throw our pride and glory outside the window in order to try and get the necessary help for our son.
Yes! We have become sort of beggars. That's the last thing, trust me, on a parents agenda. Especially ones, who DO take their pride and dignity into consideration. But there comes a point, where nothing matters but the wellness of your children. I am sure many parents out there can relate. You will go beyond what you normally do for your child.
Anyway, as many of you also know we decided to open up a donation button through "PayPal" for our son's ABA Therapy (Applied Behavioral Analysis). It is a type of therapy PROVEN to be the ONLY thing available at the moment to help children with "Autism". Our son was diagnosed with Autism since the age of 2. He is now almost 4 and a half and still not talking.
This therapy, as some of you may have a clue, is EXTREMELY COSTLY and health insurance companies do not cover it. Over where we are at there is the known "Autism Learning Center". They charge anywhere between $2400 to $3500 PER child PER month (depending on the hours needed..........15 hours a week=$2400 a month for the program set for the child).
Anyway, we set up with "PAYPAL" and they decided to give us a hard time so we had to refund the money. Over at my husband's blog "Abu Sinan", he explains it thoroughly on what happened. But we did REFUND back the money to people. Some actually were kind and sincere enough to donate again. Some, unfortunately, decided for what ever reason not to.
It is quite disappointing because we were once about half way to getting the money to START Sinan on his path towards his first month's therapy. But with the "PAYPAL" issue, it threw everything back. When we started again, this time free and clear without any issues with the darn site, we have received donations but to this day, we never received even remotely close to what we got previously. Currently, we have a total of about $500 in our account. We started doing this all the way back in the beginning of October and we are nearing the end of November and the results are upsetting to say the least.
It isn't a matter of us being lazy and unwilling to work to make the money. First of all, we would have to be quite rich to be able to come up with this amount. $2400-$3500 a month is one person's salary alone. My husband works TWO jobs. I am a stay at home mother. Both little boys go to Pre-school, thus the hours don't allow me to easily get a full time job. If I were to work and get daycare or a babysitter or what have you, it would cost us an arm and a leg. That's just the way it is!
Sure we are both educated with degrees but even so, our jobs don't make the amount of money where you can pay for therapy and take care of a household as well so that you can live comfortably. As it is today, we live in subsidized housing and even when I start to work, sure we will move up a ladder but about two steps. No way will we ever be able to reach the top!! Not with the kinds of salaries we will both have and not with a household of 6 members. Therefore, we will never be able to give Sinan the therapy he needs even if I worked along with my husband. Unless, we were to move in with our families or share a one bedroom apartment or something along those lines which are unrealistic solutions in our circumstances.
For those who have given, we (my husband and I) both have wished and prayed for them to get 10times fold what they gave and we know that you will be rewarded by God, sooner than later. For those who have prayed for us, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We know that not everyone is able to give. Yet, believe it or not, we have had some people give $10 bucks just because they DO care and they DO want to help! That to me, says A WHOLE LOT about that person. You know, the sad part is that if people were to give as little as $10 bucks, we might have had the opportunity to start Sinan with his therapy.
Sure, Sinan is not the only kid out there, but you know what? I am a mother and my concern is my son and I am asking for help! To those who have a disabled child and have the money to get him/her the best care, then be blessed and thank God everyday for you are lucky indeed! But for the rest of us who do not have the financial means to help our disabled child, every day living becomes extremely difficult.
I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are reading this and you have any place in your heart to help us, we would really appreciate it. We are running out of time for it is crucial for Sinan in the next 2 years to get ALL the therapy and treatments he does need. May God help us and may God help those who are in need as well..............With the spirit of Al-Hajj and Eid, please remember Sinan and the rest who are in need as well! Thank you!
PS........On the off chance somebody is reading this and DOES want to help us by donating, please go to my husband's blog where you will find the donation button for PayPal. Thanks a bunch! :)
