Aiden’s Journey: Fighting Chiari, POTS, and So Much More
Supporting Our Family of Three Special Needs Warriors
We’ve created this new fundraiser page to help share where our journey has taken us—and why we now find ourselves in a position of needing support more than ever.
Just a few months ago, our oldest son, Aiden, was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a condition where part of the brain pushes into the spinal canal, causing painful pressure, neurological symptoms, and a host of complications that are now affecting nearly every aspect of his daily life. Since this diagnosis, things have moved quickly. He was also recently diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and his medical team now suspects EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) due to his joint pain and other symptoms. About eight months ago, he was diagnosed with bilateral tibial torsion, which causes misalignment in his legs and makes walking difficult.
These new diagnoses have been added to conditions we’ve been managing for years. Aiden was diagnosed with autism and EOE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis) years ago. His EOE is managed through ongoing procedures and weekly injections. He has always been in therapy, working hard to overcome challenges—and for a long time, he was our energetic, always-on-the-go little boy.
But over the past year or two, things have changed. We’ve watched him slowly transform into a child who struggles daily just to make it through the day. His pain, fatigue, and physical limitations have become overwhelming. After much thought and maturity well beyond his years, Aiden made the decision to use a wheelchair to help him participate more fully in life again. The heat makes everything worse, and most days are simply hard.
He is currently in multiple therapies each week and sees specialists often—some locally, and others requiring travel.
And it’s not just Aiden who needs constant care.
Our youngest son, Adrian, has severe autism and is nonverbal. Our middle son, Tony, also has autism, speech delays, and gliosis of the brain. He was recently diagnosed with a very rare condition called MYCBP2-related neurodevelopmental disorder, which has left us with many unknowns, as research and understanding of this diagnosis are still so limited.
To be honest, we’re overwhelmed. We’ve done everything we can to plan, budget, and stretch our resources. But with so many appointments, procedures, therapies, and the increasing level of care all three boys need—my husband has had to miss a lot of work. And as a result, we’re facing a very real financial strain.
Donations go directly toward our daily needs—groceries, gas, utilities, and bills—to help us keep a roof over our children’s heads while we fight to give them the care they need. This support helps fill the gap when we simply can’t keep up due to missed income and growing medical responsibilities.
And yet, despite everything we are going through personally, we’ve continued to push forward—not just for our boys, but for other families too.
We founded a nonprofit organization, The ATA Lopez Foundation, to help support families like ours—families raising children with disabilities, facing medical challenges, and often feeling lost or alone. Through support groups, inclusive events, advocacy, and free services, we try to be a lifeline for others even when we’re struggling ourselves. Because we know how important it is to be seen and supported—and we don’t want anyone to feel as alone as we once did.
We don’t like asking for help. But we’re learning that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is open your heart and let others in.
If you’re able to contribute, no matter the amount, your donation will help us provide stability for our boys during an incredibly unstable time. It will help us stay afloat, keep up with daily life, and continue giving our children what they need.
If you can’t give financially, we would be so grateful if you could share our story or simply keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Every act of kindness matters.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts—for believing in our family and standing beside us in this journey.
With love and deep gratitude,
The Lopez Family
