A Warrior Mom Fighting For Her Neurodivergent Son

Hello neurodivergent family. My name is Ashley Munoz, and I've spent the last 9 years of my life discovering what it means to be a neurodiverse parent to some pretty amazing neurodiverse kids. First and foremost, I am a mother.

From the first little flutter in my womb I knew what it meant to love someone unconditionally, with all that I am and with every fiber of my being I could not fathom loving anyone or anything more than my children. The fear of failing and the worry of a parent, the unknown and that deep dark pit in your stomach when your children need you; as a neurodiverse parent these feelings have a way of taking over. I am a WARRIOR for my kids. I am their advocate and I am their protector. There is absolutely nothing I won't do for my boys. But as strong and determined as I am, there are still times when one sword just isn't enough. Sometimes it takes an army. Sometimes what a strong warrior needs is their comrades right there beside them, because in the midst of battle, when you're on your last leg and you fear the ending, the best comeback is that hand pulling you back up to your feet. My friends, for the sake of my family, for the wellbeing of my son, I'm pleading for a hand.

It hasn't been easy, raising two beautifully neurodivergent boys. From the start I was alone. At the first mention of pregnancy I was faced with rejection. The man I thought would be there with me chose a life of drugs and alcohol over the possibility of being a father. And with that, I knew I had to protect my child from that life too. Going into the operating room after being bedridden for months, knowing my life and the life within me were both on the verge of extinction, no one there to hold my hand. The scariest, most traumatizing and yet magnificent day of my life was being wheeled into an emergency cesarean delivery and getting to finally meet the love of my life, my firstborn son Spencer.

My story today is about Spencer, my 9 year old blonde hair blue eyed wild spirited boy. From the day he was born he faced adversity, brought into this world feet first and screaming up a storm. Fighting jaundice and a severely tied tongue which required surgery at just 5 days old, this young warrior has proven to me time and time again just how resilient he is, while also testing my strength as his mother.

Spencer, right off the bat, was so full of energy. He was always on the move, always exploring, and always the center of attention. He can't help but light up the room, he is life's light in human form. Little did I know that this also has a medical name, ADHD. Yep, that would explain it! At the first mention of ADHD I dedicated every waking second I had to researching. What is ADHD, how does it affect my son, what can I do as his mother to help him succeed, and every other possible question you could think of I've googled it. Now, being a neurodivergent mom has had its perks too. This new special interest, hyperfocused on research, and the natural worry of a parent has molded me into my son's #1 advocate.

For the past 9 years I've raised my son to be the best young man he can be. He is intelligent and understanding beyond his years, he is kind and empathetic, he is loving and knows no hate. But he also has anxiety, he can be depressed, he is timid, and his self worth is painfully low. He struggles more than anyone should ever have to struggle with a heart as big as his. We are constantly fighting for his mental health. And now his mental health, and physical well being are in jeopardy.

In the state of Texas when a child is placed on Medicaid the state automatically files a petition for child support that the non-custodial parent is obligated to pay. Since 2013 a child support order has been in place and I've had sole conservatorship since day 1. Due to the history of drug and alcohol use from the other parent he's had no contact in all these years. While it was court ordered for him to pay child support, his failure to do so has collected into an arrearage of more than $49,000 over the past 9 years. In this time he has also been detained for drug possession and has continued to use drugs recreationally. We have maintained a no contact agreement but now that agreement has been brought into question.

September of this year I was served with a motion for visitation and child support modification. I was told that if I did not agree to forgive the arrearage and stop child support payments then I would be forced to fight a custody battle in the hopes that his debt be lowered. This is where my army comes into play. This man knows NOTHING about my son and the hardships we go through on a daily basis. This man ONLY wants to relieve himself of a financial obligation. It is NOT in the best interest of my son for this man to have contact of any sorts, and yet here we are. I have built a strong case against this motion for visitation and I have consulted with an attorney on how to proceed. It was advised that I hire an attorney to represent myself and Spencer in this case, custody cases in Texas can be very challenging and one misstep can determine the outcome.

The stress this has caused me as a neurodivergent mother has been overwhelming, for lack of a better word. Just this week I was admitted to hospital with an infection caused by compressed wisdom teeth. The sheer weight of my stress and anxiety was displayed in the way of my wisdom teeth having to be surgically removed due to the damage it caused from clenching my jaw. I was forced to use the savings I had set aside for an attorney to cover the cost of this emergency surgery. Now I sit here writing this plea with a swollen mouth full of stitches, a warrior mother on her last leg with battle scars and medical bills. I'm asking now with a bleeding and broken heart, for financial relief. Securing this attorney for my son's well being is crucial, but this is a task I cannot achieve without support. It is my hope that this cry for help does not fall on deaf ears, that every neurodivergent parent fighting for their child's rights will feel the weight of this plea and heed the call for aid.

I have consulted with an attorney and I believe them to be the best option. The retainer to secure this attorney starts at $3,500 USD. It is imperative that I secure this attorney as soon as possible so that we are prepared for our next court hearing. What I'm asking now is a pledge of just $1 USD. I know the neurodiverse community is vast but funding is limited, but if 3,500 people hear my call and pledge $1 we will have won this battle. I'm asking that anyone reading this who is compelled by this story to please pledge $1 to go towards the retainer for securing this attorney. If you are compelled to pledge more, it would be greatly appreciated and it would allow me to have a better fighting chance for the well being of my family. From one warrior parent to another, I thank you for your time and for your support.