My name is Whit, and I am creating this fundraiser to help my sister and her family who are struggling to keep up with the overwhelming financial and emotional burden of raising children with severe special needs.

My sister herself has disabilities, and she is raising three daughters with special needs alongside her husband. Their two youngest daughters are severely autistic and nonverbal. Despite how hard they work, they make just enough money to disqualify them from receiving most assistance programs, yet nowhere near enough to cover the reality of what their family truly needs.

Every month they spend over $1,200 on speech therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT), not including gas, medical appointments, sensory needs, safety equipment, and everyday living expenses. They are now reaching a point where they may have to stop therapies simply because they can no longer afford them.

Their greatest concern right now is safety.

Their daughters are known to elope and escape the home, even after installing Ring cameras, coded locks, and other safety measures. It only takes a moment while cooking, cleaning, or using the restroom for a child to run. They desperately need additional home safety modifications and support to help protect their children.

One of my nieces has recently begun experiencing severe behavioral and emotional struggles. Nationwide Children’s Hospital has classified her as a Tier 4 autistic child and she is currently waiting for further care and treatment. Her behaviors have become heartbreaking and dangerous. She recently pulled out so much of her hair that her scalp bled severely, leading her father to shave her head. She now continues to pick at her skin until it bleeds and scabs repeatedly. She screams constantly, has violent outbursts, and has even injured staff at school badly enough that there are concerns about whether she will be able to remain in a traditional school setting next year.

Another one of my nieces suffers from seizures and requires daily medication to help prevent them. Unfortunately, the cost of her medication continues to rise. Both girls also suffer from severe allergies and require EpiPens at all times for emergencies, creating yet another financial burden for the family.

As a family, we are exhausted emotionally, physically, and financially. I spend as much time as I can helping my sister because her husband often works second and third shifts. I also have an autistic son of my own, and part of these funds will help provide safety accommodations for him and for my nieces when they are in my care.

Coming here and asking for help is not easy for either of us. My sister and I have always been the type of people who try to handle everything on our own and help others whenever we can. But she truly needs help right now, and I am willing to do anything I can to support her because I know without a doubt she would do the same for me.

My sister is losing hope, and I am doing everything I can to help hold her together while trying not to drown myself.

Any donation, prayer, or share would mean more than words can express. These funds will go directly toward therapy costs, seizure medications, EpiPens, safety equipment, home modifications, transportation, and helping this family continue getting the support their children desperately need.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting a family that is fighting every single day to give their children the care, safety, and love they deserve.

Thank you so much to everyone who donates.