The parents of autistic twins may have to take their children out of the US school which changed their lives if they cannot raise £118,000 to keep them there.
Two years ago, 10-year-olds Colm and Eric Isherwood wore nappies, suffered from an eating disorder and could barely communicate. Now they are toilet-trained, their eating disorders are cured and their communication skills improved.
Mr Eric and Mrs Veronica Isherwood, of Mahon, Cork, say the change had been amazing since their twins began at the Higashi Institute in Boston. "I'd love to see them stay until they graduate at 21, but I don't know if that's possible," said Mrs Isherwood.
They now rely on constant fund-raising to keep their children in the school. "People have been great. So many people have helped", she added. The Southern Health Board has already given them a grant of £25,000.