AgoraphobicTeenRGS

COVID had a huge impact on all of our lives; it changed the world as we knew it. For many, that world went back to normal, but for us, it is yet to.

RGS is our 15-year-old son, one of four siblings ranging in age from 2 to 19.

A much-loved child who, sadly, has been unable to leave the house at all since July 4, 2023. We would love your help to try and change this — to make our outside space safe and welcoming for RGS to begin exposure therapy.

RGS has shown traits of being neurodiverse since a very young age, mainly related to sensory issues and food preferences. It did not impact his school life or social interactions, so we, as parents, did not seek outside support. Everything that made him "different" was what we loved about him. His honesty and black-and-white mentality drew all of his peers to him. He was a very popular, sporty child, excelling at school.

In March 2020, we welcomed a second sibling for RGS, and we also entered our first lockdown. As a family, we took this very seriously to protect everyone, especially our newborn and various vulnerable family members.

While other people found ways to connect online, RGS seemed to struggle with these activities. We first noticed it when his football coach encouraged them to do online workouts and challenges. He refused to film himself or go on FaceTime to participate. It also impacted his online schooling. While many were thriving with the new way of life, cracks began to show, and he was losing more and more contact with his friends and the outside world, along with the fitness required to compete in elite sports.

When lockdown eased, RGS seemed excited to return to normality and school, to see his friends, and to go back to his sporting activities. However, when reality hit, he struggled massively. He started getting into "trouble" at school, walking out or hiding in the toilets. He did not seem to be coping at all with the change in routine.

The daily and weekly updates from the government, often changing bubbles and relaxing/tightening restrictions, seemed to increase his anxiety, and OCD traits began creeping in.

RGS has been out of school since Easter 2023. Following a meeting in early July 2023 at school to discuss his attendance and medical issues, he has refused to leave the house since.

The toddlers cannot remember ever being outside with their brother. They can't swim, run, go on holiday, or share ice creams in the sun with him. His older brother can't take him for drives or show him his new car. RGS has never seen his siblings' preschools or workplace.

RGS has been unable to engage in any of the support he has been offered, as many provisions require him to leave the house to be effective.

We would love it if you could help us make our garden secure from onlooking neighbors so we can begin, as a family, doing exposure therapy with RGS.

Having spoken to charities and sought advice from others suffering from similar issues, we propose and hope to do the following:

We would like to level our garden and either turf, patio, or add fake grass to an area directly outside our property. Most importantly, we would like to add a secure metal pergola-type structure with fitted shutters on all sides. We hope to fill it with enticing activities for him to do with his siblings.

We will then very slowly, inch by inch, and shutter by shutter, expose RGS to the outside world.

Please help my children make memories together outside, not just inside.

Who knows what the world could hold for RGS if we can just get him outside?

Thank you!

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives. If, in those circumstances, we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.