When a towering hog plum tree crashed on top of her home late one night last November, Afiesha Young and her husband Chris Martin not only lost their home but also their stability and the routine that their autistic daughter Amelia depends on.
Amelia, who is non-verbal and still in diapers, struggles to communicate and is sensitive to changes in her environment. The tragedy set her back so far that she is now unable to sleep through the night.
Emotionally drained, and struggling to cope, Young said they can no longer afford the occupational therapy that Amelia needs.
Standing in the ruins of her home at Park Ridge No 1, Siparia, Young said she and Amelia were not at home when tragedy struck.
“It was after 10 pm and my husband called and said a hog plum tree just fell and mashed up the house,” she recalled.
Martin dashed out just in time and fell on some stones while the tree smashed the sewer lines causing filth to contaminate precious documents, trophies and medals which Martin won in multiple races over the years.
Amelia began grieving for her home.
“Autistic children are accustomed to a routine, and when that’s broken, it upsets everything. Now, anything triggers her,” Young said.
“Amelia has trouble sleeping. Some nights, we’re up at one o’clock because she can’t settle,” she added.
She said prior to the incident, the family was in the process of extending and improving their home to provide Amelia with the environment she needed to thrive.
But with the house gone, they now live apart—Young staying with her parents, Martin with his relatives, and Amelia caught in the middle.
“It’s heartbreaking. We were preparing for her to start school in January, and she was making so much progress with occupational therapy. Now, it’s all gone,” Young said.
“She doesn’t even have a space to learn. Where can I put alphabet charts? When the rain falls, it wets everything. We have to cover things with plastic.”
She said Amelia’s progress had come to a halt. Before the accident, she was undergoing occupational therapy, which helped her eat with a fork and develop basic skills. But therapy costs $300 per session, and the family can no longer afford it.
Expressing feelings of despair, Young admitted she now questions her ability to provide the care Amelia needs.
“I’ve had the awful thought—maybe she would be better off with someone who can give her the therapy and care she deserves,” she admitted.
“As a parent, you just want the best for your child. But it’s so hard. She’s still in pampers, and her skincare products are expensive. I don’t want her to suffer because of me. If someone could give her better, it would be better for her.”
She said Amelia’s condition required constant vigilance.
“Autistic children don’t know danger; they tend to wander off and are drawn to water. I have my eyes on her 24/7. I bathe with her and eat with her. When I take her out, people stare or make comments, and they don’t understand. It’s so hard when people judge us,” Young said, her voice breaking.
Adding to Young’s burden is her own declining health. She suffers from severe stomach pain and swelling, believed to be caused by a gastric blockage or gluten intolerance.
“Every time I eat, the pain gets worse. I’ve been waiting for months for an appointment at the hospital, but it’s not until February. I can’t eat grease, sugar, rice, or provisions, and it’s getting harder to cope.”
Meanwhile, Young’s mother, who once helped care for Amelia, is battling Stage Three cancer.
“My mom isn’t doing well. She’s recovering from chemo and radiation, but it’s hard to see her in bed, weak and unable to help like she used to. Amelia and my mom have a bond—they eat together and spend time together—but now, everything is different.”
Young credited her family for helping her hold on.
“If it wasn’t for my family, I don’t think I would have had the strength to be here. My parents, sisters, and father are my rock. The world isn’t a nice place, and it’s not safe out there. Right now, they’re everything to me.”
Despite her struggles, Young remains focused on rebuilding her home and giving Amelia the stability she desperately needs.
“I just want to get the house rebuilt. Amelia needs her routine back. She needs her therapy, her space to learn, and her chance to thrive. Without it, she’s losing everything we worked so hard for.”
Anyone wanting to assist can make donations to First Citizens bank to Afiesha Annah Young, account 2414489 or call 707-8437.
