Asher J Soto therapy and medical help

Hi, my name is Efrain Castro, and I'm the fundraiser for my grandson's campaign. Here is his backstory:

My name is Asher Josiah Soto Castro, and I am 2 years old. My parents are Steven Soto Bonet and Grecia M. Castro Morales.

At the time of my birth, I was diagnosed with Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome, as it is commonly known. Immediately my parents began to look for all the help I needed to be able to get ahead. Currently, I am taking occupational therapy, physical therapy, sensorimotor therapy, and speech-language therapy.

Recently, my parents were taking me to an evaluation with a physical therapy doctor specializing in neurodevelopment in San Juan, PR. From this evaluation, it turned out that I have "Plano Valgus" on my feet. This means that when I stand up, my feet go inward. In addition, the doctor noticed severe hypotonia in my legs when I walk or stop; my knees go further back than they should. Because of this, he told my mom that they should send me to make some templates called BioTodS. BioTodS is a bio-dynamic splint of progression that will help me correct the "Plano Valgus." In addition to taking my knee to the right place and strengthening my legs through exercises, they will help me start walking. Being a team that will be helping me in maintaining my legs and correcting the "Plano Valgus". Also, the doctor told us that I must use them at least until I am 21 when my bones finish growing. The BioTodS have a minimum cost of $ 3,000.00 and have an approximate duration of 1 year, depending on how I grow. At this time I must take physical therapy with the doctor at least once a week and the treatment cost is $130.00 each.

Another specialist that I must visit frequently is the optometrist. My mom was already taking me to an evaluation in Ponce, PR with a conductive optometrist. From this evaluation, it turned out that I have visual immaturity and given this I have slight astigmatism, so I was prescribed therapeutic lenses. I have to go back to a follow-up evaluation in about 5 months. Between the initial assessment and the therapeutic lenses there is an approximate expense of $ 500.00 without counting the follow-up evaluations which are $ 75.00 each. Unfortunately, medical plans do not pay for these types of treatments, so specialists are forced to carry out their practices privately.

Moreover, I have been recommended a healthy diet free of gluten and lactose plus exercises to promote the development and strengthening of my muscles like swimming. Monthly between diet and swimming are $350.00.

To this, we add the expenses of the other therapies that unfortunately are private since they do not take medical plans in the different centers where I take them. These therapies are Speech-language therapy which I take in Cabo Rojo, PR twice a week at a cost of $35.00 each; sensorimotor therapy which I take in Caguas, PR once a week at a cost of $50.00 each; Occupational therapy which I take in Cabo Rojo, PR twice a week at a price of $ 45.00 each and finally the visit to the Chiropractor with a specialty in neurology that helps me improve the "Plano Valgus" with chiropractic adjustments to have a better neurological function with neurological therapy. The visit to the Chiropractic is in Hatillo, PR twice a month, costing $ 70.00 each.

To all these expenses, we must add other visits such as the pediatrician, the geneticist, the neurologist, the cardiologist, the hematologist, the otolaryngologist and others. In addition to that most of the therapies and some of the specialists are outside the area of Cabo Rojo, PR which is where I live with my parents. This causes expenses to increase for gasoline and toll approximately $120.00 per week.

Unfortunately, the aid offered by the government and the Department of Health in Puerto Rico is minimal. Health plans cover virtually nothing or simply do not pay the health provider what their services cost so they are forced to do their internships privately. Given this situation in Puerto Rico, many professionals have decided to leave for the United States, making the situation even more complicated.

Getting therapists and doctors with the specialties I need in the western area is challenging. This is why most of the therapies are in the metropolitan area and north of the country. Because of this, my parents decided that my mom would stop working so she could devote herself completely to me. So she can take me to my therapies and medical appointments so that within my diagnosis my development is one where there is a constant positive evolution and specialists monitor my health at all times.

As Parents of Asher Josiah, we can say that he is a great blessing in our lives and we thank God for allowing us to be his parents. We ask for your prayers for God to continue the work He has begun in Asher's life and that he may continue to be a blessing to all who surround him.

In order to continue with Asher's therapies and medical appointments, we need your cooperation and generosity. Any contribution you can make to help cover these expenses will be a great blessing. We thank you in advance for helping us continue to give our child what he needs to keep his development moving forward.