To all my online friends

Thanks for taking your own personal time to visit my fundraising page and finding out a little bit about me and the unique medical condition I may be facing.

So a little bit about me, my name is Aston, I am 6 years old and live with my grandparents in (xxx) I have been in my grandparents care since the age of 4 weeks old after both of my parents left. When i was 3 years old my pre school teacher noticed there was something different about me.

After talking with my teacher, my grandparents decided to make an appointment with the doctors. I don’t know about you but i dont like doctors, they’re boring. My grandparents wanted to discuss with the doctor the issues i was facing. Since my first appointment a few years ago they have been having regular appointments with a paediatrician exploring the possibility of me being diagnosed with FASD.

They knew this could be a possibility because, as much as its not nice to admit, my mum was drinking alcohol during her pregnancy with me.

I am still learning about my possible condition but my grandparents tell me FASD is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. If you’re reading this and expecting a baby please do something my mummy didn’t and not drink alcohol. Celebrate when the baby is born.

This condition is something i will potentially now have to live with and will affect me both physically and mentally and I may possibly have learning difficulties as i grow up. There are around 6000 babies like me born every year.

At school i struggle with concentration and I have a sensory issue as well as a slight brain damage which means I have the mentality of children half of my age. I am currently in main stream school, I like it there being with friends my own age and being treated like a normal child.

My grandparents tell me if i want to stay there I will need extra support and a one to one teacher to help me with every day school activities. My school currently doesn’t get any funding for me because I have not yet been diagnosed. The only way I can be diagnosed is for me to see a specialist. This will cost me lots of pennies out of my piggy bank, my grandparents tell me its £3,500 which is lots of money.

Please help me by donating any spare change on my fundraising page, lots of my friends and family will be doing various fundraising events throughout the year.

Thank you all for your help and support.