Help Michael Celebrate His 14th Birthday

On the evening of Halloween, 2007 a teacher from Texas gave birth to a little boy named Michael. Three years later he would be diagnosed with regressive type Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Having lost most of his communication ability, including speech, his loving family devoted themselves to providing the best care possible to meet his growing needs.

Now at almost 14, Michael has aged out of his Physical and Occupational therapy sensory gym as well as his swimming classes being closed due to COVID-19. These activities were essential to Michael's schedule because he is a child of routine, as many with ASD are.

A saving grace for Michael has been his beloved swing set. To fulfill the stimulation Michael has grown to need he spends a minimum of two hours a day, iPad in one hand playing Sesame Street clips while he soars high into the air. His laughter of pure joy can be heard from all around and it truly is the most heartwarming sound.

Three weeks ago while mid-air the seat to Michael's swing set broke, sending him face-first to the ground. After a trip to the ER for CT scans and x-rays, he came home to see his broken swing and desperately tried to piece it back together. Not understanding why he can't play on the swing anymore, Michael stands at the backdoor crying for his lost friend and the loss of the sensory input that he's had for nearly a decade.

At his age and size, he now needs a commercial strength swing set that will properly support his needs for another decade and hopefully beyond. Enter the Goliath swing set.

This swing set would allow Michael to fulfill his sensory needs safely without fear of injury. It can be installed in approximately six weeks, beating the wait time of five months as quoted by other companies. The need is immediate. With the loss of all of his sensory activities, it's imperative to find a replacement before he substitutes them for unhealthy behaviors.

At a cost with installation of $5,000, we are hoping to contribute half of that amount to help offset the cost to the family. Any money raised that exceeds the initial donation goal will be included.

Please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser so we can help Michael get back into the swing of things for his birthday on October 31st.