Almost 2 years ago now our Rylee bear was diagnosed with Autism. I haven't spoken about it on social media, not because I'm ashamed but because I didn't feel like we needed to put it out there, everyone who is close to us and around us regularly already know about what Rylee is going through, some people understand what autism is and others don't but most people around us don't understand the weight and the reality that Rylee faces and that we as a family face as we walk this road with our princess.
When we got the diagnosis, my heart was so sore not because we would now be known to have a child with "special needs", but it heart to think about the fact that my daughter has to walk such a hard road ahead of her that people around her won't understand and possibly reject her for it. She wasn't reaching her milestones like others were at her age, at the age of 4 years old not speaking and still wearing diapers at age 5.
We began to look for schools for Rylee which was a very painful road because it felt like a lot of rejection and closed doors for all of us as a family, not realizing that God was closing all those doors to guide us to Nikki Charles, we didn't know her from a bar of soap but this amazing woman really took our Rylee as her own and she sowed into her and poured into her and carried our Rylee and our whole in prayer. I really want to thank God for bringing her into our lives. Our Rylee has started talking, she's off diapers and she is really excelling because of the love and care that mam Nikki gives her every day.
We are so grateful that God is so faithful, because even though he put us on this journey he didn't leave us or forsake us. He keeps surrounding us with people to stand by us and help us along the way like mam Nikki. We love her so much.
Ashlee Da Costa - Rylee's Mum
15 August 2025
