“If it’s not planned, it can’t be ruined!”

Amelia is four years old and lives in London with her mum, Lauryn. She was diagnosed with autism just before her second birthday. Her mum Lauryn tells their story, and how she supported Family Fund to help families ‘just like hers’.

Can you talk us through Amelia’s condition?

“Amelia was walking by her first birthday and had started using words. And then it stopped. She wouldn’t respond to her name, but would run from one side of the house to the other when she heard the Peppa Pig theme tune.

“Amelia was very young when she was diagnosed with autism. She also has a sensory processing disorder, and we’re looking into a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).”

How do you manage day-to-day?

“Some days are very difficult, but some are very rewarding. I was 19 years old when I had Amelia. I look back and think that I was just a child myself! So it was a big adjustment, and I could’ve never anticipated having a child with a hidden disability.”

“Amelia loves her routine, so we stick to that to make the days easier for her. She is non-verbal and finds it hard to express how she feels. Balancing my work, her appointments and school is so difficult. 

“Amelia recently started a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) school where she is coming along well. She is such a happy child, and goes running through the school door each morning! She really connects with the children at her new school, I think she realises that they have lots in common.”

“Though Amelia is non-verbal, she always makes people around her laugh. When you’re having a bad day, you just want to be around her.”

“Raising Amelia, I realised that no matter how much planning you do, it would never be enough and your day will never go fully to plan. Get up in the morning and do what needs to be done. You spend a lot of time battling as a parent of a disabled child. Whether it’s over disability allowance, school or medical appointments, no one day is the same. I’ve stopped planning now, and my saying is, “If it’s not planned, it can’t be ruined!””

How did you support Family Fund? 

“I work for Nationwide, and they have a scheme for employees that allow you to apply for a grant for a charity of your choice. I know lots of people who have received support from Family Fund, and Amelia’s medical team kept telling me to apply.

“Right now, I don’t need that support. But it means the world to know that if I ever did need it, Family Fund would be there.

“With the help of the Fundraising team at Family Fund, I applied for a £10,000 grant for Family Fund through Nationwide. And I was successful! I could’ve cried when I received the news: It’s all I talked about at work all day. I’m so pleased we did it.

“I know how expensive it is raising a child with additional needs. It can take months for families like ours to save the £150 needed for a new sensory toy. Things get broken quickly in my household too! It’s so nice that Family Fund offers a place for families like ours to go.”

The team at Family Fund were delighted when we heard Lauryn secured a £10,000 donation. Thank you for choosing to help families like yours, who will benefit from your kindness in the future.