Harrison Bannon was just 14 months old when his world fell apart.
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Described as a healthy, happy boy, he developed severe autism soon after his first birthday.
Now nearly four, he has lost the ability to speak, is highly sensitive to sounds, smells, touch and crowds, gets so distressed he runs away and is at the mental level of a 12- to 18-month old.
Harrison needs constant deep pressure applied through hugs and squeezes, he struggles to eat, cannot dress himself and battles to sleep for more than a few hours.
It’s been a heartbreaking battle for his family, but hope has arrived in the form of a puppy.
Smart Pups is an organisation that trains golden retrievers and labrador pups to be autism assistance dogs.
Harrison’s mum Bonnie Parry-Jones said a pup could be trained to assist Harrison’s needs.
“Getting the dog is Harry’s best chance going forward,” she said.
“It will be utterly life changing for our Harry and our family.”
The family needs to find $20,000 and have turned to the Orange community for help. They haven’t been disappointed.
Miss Parry-Jones said $6500 had already been raised through a GoFundMe account, singer John Swan would be auctioning Billy Joel memorabilia at a concert in Orange on August 12, a raffle was being organised and a charity car drive starting in Orange was planned for November.
He may speak one day, he may never speak.
- Harrison's mum Bonnie Parry-Jones
She said the puppy would increase Harrison’s independence and well-being.
“The dog will be trained to sense when Harry needs deep pressure and provide it for him,” Miss Parry-Jones explained.
“It will help keep him safe and stop him from running away.”
She said it had been an incredible struggle to see her son’s change.
“He regressed really badly. I struggled a bit at first,” Miss Parry Jones said.
“We had to get used to a new child. He was nothing like the child we had raised.”
However, she said it was unclear how her son would develop.
“He may speak one day, he may never speak,” she said.
To make a donation go to www.gofundme.com/harrisons-autism-assistance-dog