My name is Aiden. Many of you know me, but for those of you that don’t, I would love to share with you my story.
I was born with Tetrology of Fallot. This is a congenital heart defect that caused me to be in heart failure from the day I was born. When I was 3 months old, I had open-heart surgery in Ann Arbor, MI. My medical team there was incredible. They still take care of me today! During that surgery, I was put on a heart/lung machine to keep me alive, and my heart was removed from my body while they fixed it. At the time, my heart was the size of a strawberry! The surgery was very successful, and 3 of the 4 defects in my heart were corrected. They could not replace my pulmonary valve at that time because I was too small, but my heart was strong enough to function without it.
Over the years, I have had multiple procedures to buy me time to grow and get my heart as strong as possible. In August, 2014, my heart was ready. I was in heart failure and needed a pulmonary valve to in order to continue to be big and strong. The stents they had put in the year before had bought me time, but we were all ready.
I have now undergone a second open-heart surgery and will continue to have many more ahead of me, but I am strong and brave.
A large percentage of babies that are put on a heart/lung machine do very well. I did! However, I was on it for over 8 hours! In addition to that procedure, I have been put under anesthesia multiple times.
Sometimes, kids with my condition can have additional challenges to deal with. My body had to work hard to heal, so normal growth and milestones as a baby and throughout my life came slower for me that others.
I also learn different than my peers. Some of you may know my challenges as autism. I don’t care what you call it, but my family has helped me to grow and learn and be a fairly normal 9 year old boy.
Some of the things that I have to work harder at are basic skills, like even getting dressed in the morning. I am very social, but I have a very hard time making friends. I do not understand social cues, jokes, sarcasm, or paradigms, so I feel left out in social situations which makes me feel more comfortable to play by myself. I have a lot of fears. I cannot be in a room alone, even to go to the bathroom or to go to bed, I do not handle change from my daily routine, and when I get scared or feel anxious, I throw a tantrum, not because I am being defiant, but because I am overwhelmed and afraid.
I am very smart. I love the titanic, bowling, the computer, I am an amazing artist, and I am extremely compassionate. I just want to be a normal 9 year old boy.
I have recently been offered the opportunity to receive a new friend. This friend could change my life and the life of my family. He would go everywhere with me. It is important for you to understand that this ‘friend’ would be working while with me to help me with even my most basic skills. An autism service dog is trained to my specific needs, allowing me to be able to function in my daily life. He will give me comfort, help me learn, calm me down, keep me safe and help me from wandering. He will also give my family some additional support in helping with my care.
In order to receive a friend like this, I need your help. I cannot pay for him…he must be donated to me by my friends and loved ones. His care, training, and services are guaranteed to me for the next 10 years with your help!! This will change my life!! Please help if you can. If you can’t help yourself, feel free to share my story so someone else you know may be able to help!
I am just a 9 year old boy, who has overcome many obstacles in my life and will continue to try and live as normal as any child wants to. Thank you for your help!
www.sdwr.donordrive.com/campaign/Aiden
