Single Mother With Chromosomal Deletion Disabled Son Seeks Education Grant
by Nicole Panzer
Max with helmet to reshape head
Although he wasn't interested in having another child, it happened. In my late thirties I made certain to take all recommended tests for any possible problems with the fetus/pregnancy. Every test came back perfect. My son was born and spent over a month in the NICU. By the time he was brought home the trouble began. His father's disinterest and anger was obvious. Max has a rare deletion and was enrolled in NIH for 11P deletions. But his deletion does not come with a specific syndrome or name. He can't crawl. He can't eat or drink on his own. He just learned to sit and can do so for a maximum of 3 minutes in rare instances. I take care of him alone and am always happy but exhausted. Max has low tone and is in need of all types of therapies: vision, speech, physical, occupational, etc. He does not speak, but does make noises that are loud and painful to hear. He can go on with these noises or may just scream for hours and hours. He also has epilepsy. He has been hospitalized multiple times. His father and I separated almost a year and a half ago. To date I haven't received a penny of support from him and I depend on my elderly parents to help. I have less than 15 credits remaining at George Mason's School of Management to complete my degree. If I have to take care of him alone I need to do so to the best of my ability. Max is always in need of something and it is always costly. He just developed a polyester allergy. There are only 2 medically documented individuals I am aware of with his exact deletion. Doctors can give me no definitive answers to his future prognosis. But he will likely be mentally retarded to some degree. Max has a multitude of specialists and we are quite busy with many doctors appointments and therapy appointments. I love him more than I ever could have imagined. But I am also exhausted and sad and alone. I want only to finish school but find it difficult to study once I return home. Max is especially attached to me and while he is awake demands 100% of my attention. I need financial help with everything but really just want to finish my degree. I was forced to live alone with my son, as his father does not have an interest. His father actually began causing seizures as he was ranting and raving all the time. Any physical or mental stress can bring about a seizure. I made the difficult decision to leave. At the time his father, a pool builder, was out of business and could not feed Max. I left, as I had no other option. Max's entire paternal family deserted us. His father talked Max's paternal grandparents out of any financial help for his son. All I want is to provide the life Max deserves. I want to finish school and work and provide these things myself for him. I am unable to do so now. Without financial assistance I feel I will always be stuck in the system barely surviving and not being able to give Max all he deserves. I am looking for help to provide for my son who is a sweet loving boy and deserves everything the world has to offer. With help I can finish school and obtain a job making the kind of money I need to support him. I take care of him alone and I want to provide for him on my own as well. Please help me take care of my son so I may give him all he needs and deserves. He also has a cortical vision problem and is nearsighted with only a 4" range of sight without glasses. He is obsessed with food and we have been warned of possible obesity. But he is a wonderful child and happy and beautiful and I would cherish the opportunity to help him thrive. I have previously been unable to work, as I was unable to find care for Max due to his health problems. He just started pre-school in Fairfax County and it is the perfect opportunity for me to focus some of my time on my studies if I were able with financial assistance. My son is my life and I want to give him the world.
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