My name is Joemel Reyes, a Filipino father currently working in Qatar. With hope and humility, I am asking for your benevolent support for my beloved 5½-year-old son, who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Like every parent, we dreamed of watching our son grow, speak, play, go to school and experience the world with joy. As time passed, we noticed that he was developing differently. At first, we didn't fully understand what we were seeing. We hoped he would simply develop at his own pace, but eventually we realized he needed specialized support. That realization marked the beginning of a new journey for our family—one filled with learning, acceptance, and unconditional love.
From birth until he was four years old, my son lived in the Philippines with his mother while I worked in Qatar to provide for our family. Being away from him during those precious early years was one of the greatest sacrifices of my life. Although I was doing everything I could to support them financially, I always wished I could have been there for every milestone, every challenge, and every hug.
When he turned four, we began therapy sessions in the Philippines. We saw small but meaningful improvements that gave us hope. A year ago, I was finally blessed with the opportunity to bring my wife and son to Qatar so we could be together as a family again. Here, after further medical assessments, our son was formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He is now a Qatar resident, and continues to receive professional care.
Although he receives free therapy through the public healthcare system, the available sessions are limited. To ensure he continues making progress during these crucial early years, we supplement his care with private therapy centers. These additional sessions have become a significant financial challenge for our family, but we remain committed to giving him every opportunity to grow, communicate, and become more independent.
The funds raised through this campaign will be used exclusively for:
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Behavioral and developmental therapy
Medical assessments
Learning materials
Transportation and other therapy-related expenses
To ensure transparency, I will share updates about my son's progress and how the donations are being used. I can also provide supporting documents, including his ASD diagnosis, therapy recommendations, and therapy receipts, while protecting his privacy.
Every donation, no matter the amount, helps our son take another step toward understanding the world better in his own way. If you are unable to donate, sharing our story with your family, friends, and community would mean just as much.
This journey has taught our family that we are not alone. We have been blessed by the kindness, encouragement, and generosity of others. If, by God's grace, this campaign succeeds and our son's therapy needs become more secure, I hope to pay that kindness forward by supporting and encouraging other families who are walking the same path. I want our experience to become a source of hope for others facing similar challenges.
As his father, I cannot promise him a life without obstacles. But I can promise that I will never stop fighting for his future. Every child deserves the chance to learn, communicate, and reach their full potential.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our son and for becoming part of his journey. Your kindness is helping build a brighter future—one therapy session, one milestone, and one smile at a time.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Joemel Reyes and Family
