Autism Therapy for Leo - Please, Help Us Unlock His World.

Hello, my name is Sidney, and I am the oldest sister of Leonard Overby (Leo). Along with Leo's other five siblings, we are fundraising to help our parents afford the therapies deemed medically necessary to help treat Leo's autism.

Before Leo was born, we had been a family of six for well over a decade, and by all accounts, we would have been considered "The American Dream".

Our mom was born on a small island in the Caribbean and moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. Our dad is a native of Mississippi; born and raised. Our parents met in high school when they were 16, and were married right after graduation. Before they left their 20s, they were parents to four healthy, thriving human beings; myself, my two brothers, and our younger sister. Our dad joined the Marines right out of high school, then moved on to a career job with the postal service after his discharge. Both of our parents attended college, earning bachelor's degrees in History and English, all while our mom homeschooled us four. My brothers and I have graduated from college, while our younger sister is now a junior in high school. By all accounts, they did everything “the right way”.

On February 6th, 2023, our baby brother Leo was diagnosed with ASD Level 3 (nonverbal). He was only four years old. In an instant, our entire lives changed. This is Leo's autism journey thus far.

On January 4, 2019, our little brother, Leonard Andrew, was born.

Seemingly, this was an uneventful pregnancy, and delivery, and after the allotted time for mommy, and baby to be observed in hospital, both were able to go home.

For the most part, to all of us and everyone else (but our mom), the first year of Leo's life seemed very normal. My brothers and I were in our early 20s, and our little sister was ten years old. Then, with the entire planet still reeling from COVID, like a vast majority emerging from lockdown, our parents were surprised by the news that once again, they were going to be new parents—this for the second time in less than 3 years. We (the older kids) were just excited that now we were going to get a new baby sister to go along with our new baby brother!

As young adults, we watched our mom navigate her pregnancy with Leo, where everything seemed textbook. And after a very uneventful 40 weeks, Leo was here! All we saw was that Leo was the picture of perfection! Mom eased through labor and delivery, and Leo had the perfect APGAR score—all 10 toes and all 10 fingers! VISUALLY, there was nothing to signal concern from any of his doctors—but our mom remained apprehensive. Or rather vigilant. Over the next nine months, Leo met certain milestones at his monthly doctor's visits, and all was well right up until his one-year visit.

Having been deemed of advanced maternal age (anything over the age of 35), mom was always hyperaware about anything and everything concerning her pregnancy. While we were made aware of the myriad of things that existed for a pregnancy at our mom's age, we also knew where our parent’s beliefs rested. Whatever it was would be accepted, and we would navigate the waters as a family. Because of this, the decision was made, and there was no fetal testing done. So when pregnancy and delivery were behind us and Leo was rounding out his first year without incident (other than this nagging feeling our mom had), all was well in our world.

At Leo’s one-year visit, our mom did mention to his pediatrician all the things she’d noted over the past year. Leo still wasn't babbling like we had when we were his age. There was no "mama" or "dada." There really was no eye contact, and he would not respond to his name. Also, not acknowledging anyone, at all. No "stranger, danger". Most everyone attributed this to Leo being an "easy" or "good" baby. He never cried or fussed. Even then, his pediatrician didn't seem to be too concerned, so medically, nothing was done. My mom persisted, though; she just knew something was going on with Leo and the way in which he was developing.

A few months after his one-year visit, Leo began doing some things that were very interesting to us. He had still been what our mom viewed as abnormally quiet. There was still no babbling. The label of being a very "good" and "easy" baby was cemented. And there had still been no "Mama" or "Dada." He was, however, able to identify colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and animals. If you asked him to identify these things, he would! He would point to whatever you named, and he was always correct!

Then, right around two years old, Leo began putting puzzles together! Right out of the packaging! We would open it up, and he would get it done; zero help needed! And then, he spoke! No pointing! Actual WORDS! He would identify letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and animals! All by name! Not just pointing anymore. Even if he still hadn't said mom, dad, or of our names, we were thrilled that he had actual words! Then he began singing nursery rhymes while watching TV! I mean, he would sing the same song over and over and over again, but to us, he was speaking! Our parents excitedly took all of this back to his pediatrician, and that's when all the testing began.

Even if Leo was doing all of these things, the fact that he wouldn't LOOK at you, SPEAK to you, or just acknowledge his name even...Because he wouldn't take part in anything spontaneous, all of those things he was doing essentially amounted to nothing and pointed to textbook signs that Leo was possibly on the autism spectrum.

Given that this was at the height of COVID, the most our parents could do was consult with Leo's pediatrician on how to navigate what was going on in that moment. The thought that Leo could possibly be on the autism spectrum meant nothing; he needed to be tested, and rendered a diagnosis before he could get any kind of treatment. At that time, in the state of Florida, most everything had a two year or longer waiting list. And given that testing was usually done after the age of 2, or even 3 years of age, we were at an impasse. We believe that all of this lost time did negatively impact Leo. Early testing and early diagnosis MATTERS! As Leo got older, we observed him retreating more and more into himself. He would look right through anyone and not acknowledge anything around him. This was very evident with his little sister. If she was crawling on the floor, he would walk right ON her if she was in his path. He wouldn't walk around her. When she began to walk, if she was in his path, he would walk right into her. If she cried, or was sad, he didn’t react. Just a blank face. And while none of these things were intentional or malicious, the fact that one or both of them could be horribly injured was very real. So we spent a lot of time then, and even now, monitoring their interaction with each other. Neither understands what is going on with the other, and we know this is extremely heartbreaking to our parents.

Right before the end of summer, 2022, Leo began his testing. We saw Neurologists for EEGs, and pediatric psychologist, and developmental psychologists for mounds of testing. Audiologists to make certain that Leo’s hearing is unimpaired. Speech pathologist, occupational therapist, food therapists—we saw what seemed to be everyone. And after Leo’s diagnosis came in, our parents hit the ground running with everything they had been told to do to help Leo acquire the skills necessary for daily function, and to become self-sufficient. Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Food Therapy (due to the fact that Leo had began refusing certain foods attributed to sensory issues), and ABA Therapy. While baby steps were achieved, over the past year, the core of Leo's impediments remain. Leo is still not sleeping, efforts to have him utilize the bathroom in any capacity have all failed, so at five years of age, he is still in a diaper. Leo is unable to be left alone even for a split second, because he still has no sense of danger, is at great risk of elopement, and WILL hurt himself or someone else.

Leo's Autism has him in a place where he is unable to tell you if he is hot, or cold, or has a tummy ache. He can't tell you if he is hungry, or thirsty. And while we have been able to get him on a feeding schedule to where he is fed regularly because he still won't ask for any food or drink, his sensory issues limit the foods he will eat. His scripting has become more amplified, and the sleep depravation is physically affecting his health, so at five years old, he is always exhausted. He now randomly descends into fits of screaming which can last for hours at a time. HOURS! This is without exaggeration. He screams for hours! That has to be damaging to him in some way. Then there's the crying. We have no way of knowing if he is in pain, or just frustrated, or if he just likes the sound of himself screaming. Whatever it is, the not knowing, it’s devastating to our parents. As I sit here typing this, I can hear Leo in the other room screaming, and growling, and grunting. We are at a complete loss. Leo is struggling—needlessly! I feel that we all are. And because our insurance won’t adequately cover his treatments, we feel as though we are out of options.

While there is no cure for autism, there are a number of treatments available right now that would drastically change Leo's life! Most of these treatments aren't covered by insurance, or what is covered still leaves a substantial monetary amount to be covered by our parents.

So, here we are, appealing to whomever should come across Leo's story. Anything will be more than appreciated. If you are the praying type, we most definitely accept prayers!! We desperately, desperately need prayers! We know our parents are tired, but they keep going for Leo and for all of us. We can see the weight it's taken on both of them, and we just want some peace and continued strength for the both of them.

Well wishes, good videos, and all things positive? ALWAYS! Yes, please!! If you're the activist type and one who appeals to those in power, please see fit to petition those in positions of influence to offer up more research and funding for autism research and treatment. There are countless families in our situation. And yes, if you are able to, any little bit will help. We would love to reach our goal and help unlock Leo's world with the autism therapy he so desperately needs.

My siblings and I thank you! I know our parents thank you, and one day soon, I pray with every fiber of my being that Leo will be able to thank anyone and everyone who has ever advocated for him to have a full life!