My son, Gilen is 10 years old and was disgnosed with autism aged 3. He had many challenges in the beginning emotionally and intellectually but has recently emerged as someone with many passions from politics to travel. Socially, he struggles terribly and is having a very hard time right now with trying to establish freindships at school.

Further to this, I (his mother, Tracey), have been very ill for the last year and was hospitalised for 7 weeks last summer due to a portal vein thrombosis, where I was diagnosed with a rare blood mutation and a myloproliferative disorder. This was a harrowing time for Gilen as he saw me at a very low ebb, being fed through a tube etc.

I have suffered poor mental health in the past and the uncertaincity of my illness has, sadly excacerbated this. As a combination of severe social anxiety and symptoms of my condition have made it impossible for me to work at present, our finances have been extremely difficult.

we have flights and accomodation booked from this coming Tues 14th of August until Sunday the 19th, to take Gilen to Barcelona - a city he is obsessed with at the moment! The trip was booked a while back when things were slightly easier. Just recently though, I‘ve had a particularly rough time and my husband has had to take time out to care for me and Gilen. This has affected his earnings badly and we are now faced with ignoring some bills or cancelling the trip and the thought of this breaks my heart. Gilen will be devistated.

we would dearly love to go ahead with the trip and make precious memories whilst allowing him to see all the buildings and attractions he has been reading up on.

if anyone can help, it would mean the world us 🙏🏻

Many thanks,

Tracey (Gilen’s mum)