Help Marissa get the diagnosis she urgently needs

My name is Peggy and I'm trying to get the money together to organise the specialist appointments and diagnosis that my daughter Marissa really needs.

Marissa has had long term speech issues that we have been getting help with. But recently there has been definite confirmation that her issues are deeper than that and very much need to be explored immediately.

Her speech therapist and school teacher feel that she may have a complex form of dyslexia with dispraxia. This means that the neural pathways in her brain aren't working in a normal way and she struggles with her learning. Marissa is great at reading and talks well. But anything to do with physically writing and spelling is difficult for her. After receiving speech therapy for a few years on and off, this shouldn't be such an issue for her if she was just a bit slow in her developed due to speech issues. So we are confident that there is a lot more going on.

I need to take Marissa to the GP to get a referral for a paediatrician. The paediatrician will then probably refer her to a specialist psychologist/psychiatrist who can diagnose learning difficulties. While there we also need to explore possible ADHD or spectrum disorder as well. As she has had symptoms of those possible conditions for many years now.

With all the specialist appointments, testing and diagnosis going on. It will cost a lot of money that I simply cannot cover with me being on a disability pension and her dad barely scraping by.

Please help me raise the funds so I can get the diagnosis that Marissa desperately needs.

Without these diagnosis, the school cannot allocate the extra help Marissa needs. Now that she is in grade 3, they are starting to do most of their learning through writing. Marissa is already a little behind with her speech issues and severe separation anxiety causing days off school. If we cannot get her the extra help she needs, Marissa will start to fall behind in a drastic way. Which will effect her way more than it needs to, with the right help.

My whole family truly appreciate any help you are able to give.