A ten-year-old stopped talking after his first word and hasn't spoken since.
Francis Field Jr, from Childwall, said his first word when he was just shy of 20 months old but hasn't spoken a word since. When his mum, Gail, and dad, Francis, noticed his regression they decided to take him to see the doctor.
Following appointments and meetings, Francis was diagnosed with autism, being non-verbal and having a number of neurological developmental problems, but this hasn't stopped him from enjoying his life. Thanks to the work of Addvanced Solutions and Alder Hey, Francis has been able to use books to communicate and is a typically excitable ten-year-old.
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Gail Field, 49, now works as a community development officer for Addvanced Solutions helping families in a similar situation to her with the adjustment of having a family member living with neurodevelopmental conditions, leaving her job. She told the ECHO about the adjustment her own family went through eight years ago.
She said: "Prior to about 20 months he was making noises, counting, he had said 'dadda', he hadn't said 'mamma' unfortunately and then he disappeared. He stopped engaging, stopped talking, didn't make any sounds and we just thought this isn't right.
"When we went to Alder Hey and met with the paediatrician who said he was showing traits of autism and social communication issues and then since then there have been further investigations and we went to an assessment panel where it was confirmed. For us, at the time, it was heartbreaking because the child you thought you were supposed to get you don't and leads you on an entirely different path.
"That's why I changed my job to what I do now. It comes as a shock because you're sort of told this news then given a diagnosis but after that, you're left in limbo to support yourself until you come into contact with organisations that can help you."
Francis Field, 43, is now raising money for Alder Hey this weekend by cycling from London to Paris, with him aiming to be finished for Sunday, June 12. Speaking on Wednesday, Gail said: "It's a challenge. He's actually doing it with his business partner as well who has been cycling for some time.
"His little girl has juvenile arthritis so they're doing it for her as well. At least he's got support during the ride.
"He was really anxious thinking about whether he was fit enough and whether he will make it. He set off at 7am and I think they're doing 87 miles today. I'll know how they're doing when he rings me."
