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Stephanie Gilliard hasn't added a story.
I'm Steph.
The beautiful boy in the photo is my son, Ethan.
He suffers from severe Cavus Foot, which means his arch is so high that he literally walks on the very tips of his toes. In addition he has scoliosis, which means his spine curves to the side.
He cannot ride a bike. He can barely balance when he wears his book bag. Stairs are a death sentence. His lower back is in constant pain. I have kept him home from school at least 10 days due to severe cramps in his legs and feet.
He is also an aspy (has asperger's). Though I think this makes him THE MOST amazing person I have EVER know, others, unfortunately, will not even give him a chance to show them. He has been constantly bullied since the 2nd grade and has always hurt him so much because he really does love people and gets so upset with himself because he doesn't know how to talk to people without them thinking he is "a weirdo". This breaks my heart in half. So imagine the way he is treated by his peers when you combine his social "awkwardness" with his feet problems. I can assure you that the worst things you think kids say and do are ten times less awful then what kids really say and do to him.
To give you an understanding of how much my son feels for others, I'll give you this one quick example of countless instances like it...
I was called to pick him up from school one day because he was sick. When I got there, I went to the nurse's office and he just started crying. I asked "what hurts?! Do we need to go to the hospital!?" He replied, "No mom, I just feel really bad that you had to leave work and pay for a cab ride all the way here to pick me up."
He is unbelievably compassionate and empathetic and for those who know others on the spectrum, you know they tend to have hypersensitivity to some or all senses.
Ethan is hypersensitive to sound and emotion. He wants to make everyone happy and it hurts him so much when he thinks he causes any kind of stress, pain or disappointment, even when he is sick or hurt.
So, yes, he is so sad. And I would never do anything about his way of thinking, even if I could, because he is so awesome, but, with your help, I can help him with his only other wish.
He wants to be able to walk into his first day of high school, like the rest of the kids. He wants to run and ride his bike and walk home from school without someone calling him twinkle toes or pterodactyl.
After months of doctor visits to his neurologist, neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon, EMT test, 2 MRIs and x-rays, We will finally see his orthopedic surgeon next week to set a date for his surgery.
The surgery will consist of the cutting and extension of multiple tendons in his arch and achelles, the largest being a heel extension over 2' long. He will also have tendons removed from some parts of his feet and legs, then placed into other areas of tension. He will have incisions around calves and just below the knee, as well as larger incisions above the knees around his quads and hamstrings.
If his full MRI results show that his spinal cord is not tethered, he will not have to have surgery on his back, but will have to wear a back brace until he is 16 years old for at least 20 hours per day.
I cannot work, as he will have all surgery at once and will be nearly immobile for 8-10 weeks (at the very least). Once his casts come off, he will need extensive and extremely frequent physical therapy for a long time. Full recover will be at least one year.
His insurance will hopefully cover most of the surgery, but will not cover anything else. Bills, food, simple things like soap and toilet paper.
Anything you can donate is more appreciated than you can imagine, as I am his mother and I want what is best for him. Unfortunately I cannot do this alone.
With that, I am swallowing my pride and asking for your help.
Thank you so much for your love and support.
Love, Steph
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