A mother from Shepton Mallet has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to buy equipment to help her disabled son after long delays for NHS treatment have left him waiting months for the help he desperately needs.

Ten-year-old Harry Banks, began developing the first signs of Tourette's Syndrome back in September. His mum, Heather, said: ""At home, after school, Harry would be sitting on the sofa watching TV and he would be having neck jerks, eye rolling, twitches and shaking his hands. My eldest is autistic, so I knew these movements were called 'tics', I just thought they'd get better in time. Teachers at school didn't notice at first, because he was suppressing them or doing less noticeable things like clicking his tongue, scrunching his toes of tapping his leg under the table, but within weeks things had become much worse."

But the tics did not improve – in fact, they got progressively worse until by February Harry had developed the multiple complex and severe motor and vocal tics that people commonly associate with the 'classic' presentation of Tourette's Syndrome , including shouting swear words and making rude gestures, alongside odd looking muscle jerks and spasms.

These then developed further into full-blown seizures. The trauma of this, coupled with other family issues, has also led to a decline in Harry's mental health – to the point where he has self-harmed.

Thanks to lengthy waiting lists for paediatricians and occupational therapy, to even give Harry an official diagnosis Heather was unable to apply for help.

"While I was being moved from one service to another, without actually seeing anyone, due to backlogs and waiting times Harry was getting worse and worse, said Heather. "He started having fully blown tic 'attacks' and 'rage attacks' which look like meltdowns, but result in epileptic type seizures. They then became full seizures that can happen anywhere at anytime! I don't drive, so getting me and my two disabled children anywhere, became a nightmare. We began using the free wheelchairs at Tescos, but I felt a bit embarrased, and because people had seen Harry walking, I felt they'd think we were faking it."

"The self harm is the worst," says Heather. "I have been crying on my knees with him at 2am trying to stop him bashing his head off a table or cutting himself with scissors – we desperately need help. Even some friends and family have distanced themselves because they don't understand, or it's too uncomfortable for them.

It breaks my heart to hear my baby scream that he hates himself, and he hates his disability."

 "Harry is such a sweet polite boy, I really worried that people would hear him do swearing tics, and think he meant what he said, or that I had brought him up badly. He never swears or is rude , apart from when he is ticcing. His tics can be comments on people's appearance, like he might shout 'Baldy' at a bald man. This scares him, in case he gets attacked or shouted at.

"There really isn't much awareness around the condition. It's seen as something funny , because of the depictions on TV. There have even been teenagers 'faking' it on Tik Tok for likes. It's a serious, debilitating disability, Harry is in agony from the painful physical tics in his back , neck and legs."

After the paramedics were called out three times in one week, and Harry had a seizure on the floor outside Subway- Heather decided to use the money she'd been saving for driving lessons to purchase a wheelchair for Harry

"We'd been using an old shopping trolley to get Harry to school . I thought, enough is enough. But all I could afford was the cheapest wheelchair in Argos!" explains Heather.

"It was big and clonky and hard to fit together, after a few outings and taking it on the bus to Wells, the seat belt clip had broken, some screws had fallen out, and Harry said it was bumpy and uncomfortable to sit in. He desperately needs a new one, and so much more sensory aids to improve his quality of life, I feel helpless. I can't access NHS wheelchair services until Harry has been referred to Occupational Therapy, and I can't approach charities, until he has been awarded Disability Living Allowance - which takes around three months."

Heather kept fighting for an emergency cancellation to see the Paediatrician, and last week finally got Harry's official diagnosis - Severe Tourette's Syndrome with possible ASD. He has been referred to a neurologist to decide whether the seizures are epileptic or Functional Neurological Disorder, and if they can be treated.

In the meantime, Heather has taken matters into her own hands and set up a fundraising page to get Harry the help he needs right now. "I know times are hard for everyone, but if anyone can help by donating or even just sharing this page. It would make such a difference to our lives".

Heather and Harry also decided to raise awareness, and find Harry some online friends with the same disability, by joining social media platform TikTok and posting videos.

Harry said: "It's really helped me. I see other people with tics now, and we can talk to each other if we have a bad day. I like doing silly challenges and Live videos with my mum, where people ask questions.

"One of our videos, filmed in Shepton Mallet has had over 600k views and gone viral ! Now people at my school know a bit more about my Tourette's and I don't get bullied. People used to think I could swear on purpose, but I can't. Tics are like a monster that takes over. And the worst is when people say you are faking, thats just mean."

If you would like to help Harry, visit the GoFundMe page here

Follow the tiktok page at @heather_and_harry