Logan and LJ Brown

Logan and LJ Brown both have an autism diagnosis although they struggle in polar opposite ways. Several years of therapy, research, medications and more research, medications and therapy has led to us finally saying “it’s time to try something else”. As their parents, we don’t want to be in the position of wondering if the outcome would have been different if we had just tried that one more thing.

Logan, born premature and oxygen deprived, was later diagnosed with autism. He has struggled his entire life, yet does so with a contagious smile on his face. But now, he is falling farther behind his peers and is no longer “blissfully unaware.” That smile now comes and goes as he knows his motor skills are lacking, and no matter the effort he puts in, he just can’t make gains. He tries so hard to fit in socially. Being 12 is hard enough on its own, but struggling socially and fighting to make his body work properly has become increasingly difficult and discouraging.

LJ’s autism diagnosis was given when he was 18 months old. He is level 3, and he is completely nonverbal. He has difficult days and cannot communicate which makes it all the more challenging and heartbreaking. His epilepsy was diagnosed over a year ago. Mix all that in with his extensive gut issues, seizures that leave him hospitalized, sleep deprivation, elopement, and PICA, and you have not just a daily challenge, but a minute by minute one.

After much research and prayer we’ve come to the conclusion, it’s time to try stem cell therapy. As you can imagine, it’s very costly. But we simply can’t put a price on helping them! There’s so much research of positive outcomes for kids just like Logan and LJ. I couldn’t believe it at first, but in true mom fashion I researched through the sleepless nights (thanks LJ) and came to the same conclusion every time. Stem cell therapy.

So it is with great humility that we are doing one of the hardest things we have ever done: we are asking for help. We are raising money through the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund medical expenses for our boys not otherwise covered by insurance (such as therapies, medications, and support that will raise the quality of life not only for our boys, but our entire family.) As their mom and dad, we have chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses. We also chose this specific fundraising organization because we were attracted to its attention to accountability. We humbly ask for your prayers regarding this venture.

– Logan and LJ’s Mom and Dad and their supportive sister Livi