Our Shining Stars
Aylen
Aylen is 8 years old and lives with both parents in a tiny 550-square-foot apartment with no car. Aylen faces challenges in fine motor skills such as handwriting, using a fork, body and spatial awareness (lots of bumping and bruising), and angry outbursts when frustrated with his inability for his body to keep up with his active mind. After reading an article about a "sensory-seeking" child who kept his finger on a hot lightbulb until the skin was blistered only a week after Aylen had burned his finger in the same way, his family was desperate for help. With the help of Starry Foundation, Aylen gets OT (occupational therapy) to help him control his body (saving him from harm) and helps keep his emotions and behaviors from getting too frustrated or destructive.