Mikey is my beautiful, amazing little boy. He is my gift from God, my personal sunshine, and my loudest cheerleader. He's also struggling to learn to do the things other parents take for granted. He is still learning the dynamics of walking, and often loses his balance. He does not try to catch himself when he falls, because his brain is not aware of where his body is in space. He has problems with speech, chewing, and swallowing, global developmental delays, hypotonia, a hip flexion contracture, pronated heels, macrocephaly, hydrocephaly, complex partial seizures, failure to thrive, chronic vomiting, chronic diarhhea, reactive airway disease (asthma), sensory processing disorder, and an umbilical hernia. He's still being tested for an overall disorder causing his problems. He wears braces on his feet/ankles. He had a feeding tube placed in his abdomen surgically in January to feed him special formula (Elecare Jr) by pump to help him gain weight and grow. He struggles to gain weight because he can't hold food down well. He is limited in his communication. He lost the ability to speak for several months after he turned 1. He's started speaking some, and does some signing, but one of his biggest problems is oral motor weakness. This makes it difficult for him to use his mouth in the ways necessary for clear speech. He also struggles with being able to use words he knows to express the thoughts he has without a concrete idea or picture to help him choose it. I'm struggling to find a way to help him communicate better with me, his therapists, etc. He still needs to work on fine motor skills, and needs to continue practicing social skills we are learning (such as maintaining eye contact), participating in conversations, etc. He works hard at matching games and puzzles and problem solving (one of his greatest skills!), and is getting better at manipulating things with his hands. He's smart. He loves technology, animals, Disney Pixar Cars, and his family (his few words he says without being prompted are carcar, uck (for truck), mama, and yoove you (love you). I found out about the apps available on the iPad for children like Mikey and I was super excited for him. The only problem? I'm a single mother, and taking care of Mikey is a full time job by itself. I just can't afford to get it for him. I'd like him to get an iPad 2 (so we can use the camera to create "cards" for AAC apps, PECS, etc), with enough left over for a case (We'd like to get a Trident Kraken II in Blue and a Zagg Screen Protector) and the communication, fine motor, and social skills apps he needs. If you don't want to give, or don't have the money to give, that's fine. Just share this with someone you know who may want to donate.