This is my beautiful Megs. She's had a rough ride so far in her short life. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 11 after we nearly lost her. It was a really hard time for her as she is autistic and it took a lot of meltdowns and heartbreak to accept that she would be injecting herself for the rest of her life.
Her autism prevented her from being around people, she wasn't able to talk to people. School became a living nightmare for her, she missed most of the last 2 years, unable to tolerate the crowds and the noise and the deadlines. She tried to attend college but found herself in the same position. The panic attacks got so bad that she couldn't leave her room for months. And throughout all of this she was dealing with my cancer and treatment.
And then, this summer, something amazing happened. ....a circus came to town offering 3 days of training. The second we stepped in the circus tent our lives changed... it was like a light was switched on in Megs. She lit up, a huge, beautiful, amazing smile spread across her face. .. for a child who doesn't have facial expressions it was, for me, like the sun coming out.
Megs walked straight in and spent 3 days talking and laughing and actually not only having physical contact for the first time ever but doing acrobatics with the male teachers. There were only two panic attacks and she dealt with them with determination.
Since then she's carried on being happy and smiley and has gone back to college, joined a darts team, made friends and has just been offered a teaching role at the circus skills club she goes to.
I can't express in words what it's like to have my baby able to live in her world and feel safe.
This year Megs turns 18 and she has asked to go to London for her birthday weekend. We can just about afford the hotel and food etc but I'd love to take her to see a show, a museum, anything really. But we just don't have enough.
Please help us to make this an 18th to remember. Xxx