Deja was just like any other baby, up until her first year of life. She walked at 9 months old (which I thought was phenomenal), fed herself, and even said "Mama" when she was 7 months old. However, after her first birthday, things quickly took a drastic turn. Deja wasn't babbling or calling for me anymore. She seemed frustrated all the time, and even tried to hurt herself on occasion. As a mother of a child (already suspected diagnosis) of Autism at the time (my older son), it concerned me greatly. Soon after, she stopped making any noise altogether unless she was screaming at the top of her lungs because she couldn't communicate her wants or needs (this is currently still happening today due to speech regression). 

In February of 2020, We went to a local restaurant and got milkshakes. I handed out the milkshakes to all of the children per usual, and we went home. We went inside our home, which at the time, the living room was at the entrance. All of the kids were enjoying their milkshakes, when all of a sudden, my older daughter proclaimed loudly that something was wrong with Deja. I immediately ran to her and it was apparent that she was having an all out seizure, not Grand Mal due to the lack of shaking and convulsing, but it was later determined to be a Petite Mal seizure because it was as if she was frozen in time. Her face lost color, she wouldn't look at me. I scooped her up and ran to the bathroom where I placed a lukewarm rag on her face. That's when she snapped out of it.

Since this event took place, it has been determined that Deja didn't recognize the need to quit drinking the milkshake due to sensory needs (relative to SPD) and the severe "brain freeze" sent her into a seizure. Furthermore, she now has multiple petite mal seizures per day, with no trigger or warning signs.  

I just wanted to share a bit of her story with everyone before I get to why I am fundraising for Deja. 

Deja would benefit GREATLY from the use of an iPad with a communication app from the app store. I have witnessed, first hand, in speech therapy sessions where she was drawn to the AAC apps that the therapist had on her own iPad. She is able to unlock and navigate a tablet and an iPad, and she is very responsible when it comes to caring for one as well. Her last iPad got lost when we were moving, and it has been a mess since then. I wouldn't have traded that thing for all the money in the world and I know she wouldn't have either. Definitely a prized possession in our home. Borderline a NECESSITY. 

Having a way to communicate when she wants or needs something would benefit her (and the rest of our little family) greatly due to the fact that it would help her feel like she has a voice even if she can't verbally express her needs or wants. So many times I look into her eyes knowing she has so much to say but just can't get it out. Imagine how frustrating that would be for us as adults, much less a child!!!! :( 

If you can donate, I would be so thankful. Our budget will not allow us to purchase one as of now, and insurance will not cover anything of the sort due to us STILL waiting for a proper diagnosis! If you cannot donate, please do me the BIGGEST favor of the due diligence of researching to see if there's any way I could get one donated to her without a diagnosis. 

Thank you in advance and blessed be :)