Michelle Choairy – My Complex Kid

Michelle Choairy is the mother to her “complex kid.” Since his birth, she navigated her way around developmental delays such as autism, ADHD, and special education services, along with other life happenings. Michelle devoted nearly 10 years to searching for a way to help her son through his developmental issues. He is now diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called TBR1, which only 170 kids worldwide are known to have. TBR1, or T-box brain transcription factor 1, is a crucial protein in brain development, particularly in the cortex and olfactory bulb. It acts as a transcription factor, meaning it regulates the expression of other genes by binding to DNA. TBR1 plays a vital role in neuronal migration, axonal projection, and establishing laminar and areal identity within the brain. Mutations in the TBR1 gene have been linked to neuro-developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability. Michelle speaks of her journey through this process and how she can help other moms on a learning journey to gain clarity to advance children and save time by reducing the need to visit doctors and therapists. Michelle is her son’s best advocate. She has learned through the years what is required to get the best care for her son. She founded Collective Wisdom for Complex Kids, a support group for mothers with children with disabilities. She is passionate about working with families to help them re-evaluate and prioritize their dynamics, along with guiding them from confusion to clarity while raising complex children.