What care is Katie Price’s son Harvey going into?
KATIE Price has been tirelessly caring for her son Harvey, who was born with a rare genetic condition.
But the mum-of-five has made the tough decision to send Harvey to a residential care home in order to let him learn vital skills and his own independence.
What care is Katie Price's son Harvey going into?
After spending six months visiting colleges for children with autism and learning disabilities, Katie and Harvey have settled on the National Star long-term living accommodation in Cheltenham, Gloucs.
The college provides award-winning education for people aged 16-25 with "complex disabilities".
Katie has sent in Harvey's application, and is expecting to hear back in March.
The college costs up to £350,000 for full-time care, and she needs to get her local authority to fund his placement.
Katie added: “He will live there until he’s 25 and have his own space to study and keep fit.
"I need to get him the help he deserves because he will die if he doesn’t exercise."
At National Star college, Harvey will be able to go swimming and work out with trained specialists.
The college features en-suite bedrooms and common areas, where residents can socialise with one another.
It also has accessible gardens and kitchens and offers everything from aquatic therapy to dramatherapy and physiotherapy.
Why is he going into care?
Harvey Price is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome.
In the past, Harvey's condition has led to major health concerns, as his condition makes him constantly feel hungry.
Harvey’s autism means that sudden noises can lead him to physically lash out, and at 6ft 2in and almost 29st, Katie struggles to calm or restrain him and the protective mum said that she would never want Harvey to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
She said: “You hear about people with autism being arrested and when they’re restrained they go mad and get sectioned.
“That’s why I want to find the right college for him so if there’s ever a case where he kicks off, I’m involved."
In February 2021 Harvey was rushed to hospital after he appeared to have a reaction to his first Covid vaccine jab.
It was claimed his temperature shot up to 39.9 degrees and he started "shaking uncontrollably".
He had X-rays in hospital where doctors are said to have confirmed his illness was down to a reaction to the vaccine.
What has Katie Price said?
Mum-of-five Katie has said the move is best for her son.
She said: “It’s so upsetting to think I won’t see him every day but this is the best thing for Harvey and we have to think positively because I don’t want him to think I’m just getting rid of him.
“This is his chance to live an independent life, learn skills and socialise with people other than me."
She added: “I need to learn to let go but it’s tough — anyone in my position knows how hard it is.
“We have an incredible bond. I don’t know how Harvey will react or how he’ll feel when I can’t get to him. It’s too painful to think about.”
Katie has also started thinking about how she will fund Harvey's residential care.
She said: “National Star is an amazing school. It was so nice to see Harvey smile when he was there and it’s got so much stuff for him.
Katie, 42, says when it comes to her kids she knows she has raised them well.
When speaking to The Sun in a brutally honest chat ahead of new BBC documentary Katie Price: Harvey and Me, she declared: "I don't need to justify myself as a mother - I know I'm a bloody good mum.
"I can take my kids anywhere and wherever I've taken my kids, everyone is like, 'I can't believe how polite your kids are they're a pleasure to have', and that is down to me, their parenting and their dads as well.
"The kids love coming to me, I'm completely different, I'm the laid back one.
"They get a bit of both, they get the strict parent and the easy going one where they can stay up later and watch a movie."
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“It’s important for me to see him doing fun things. Harvey is lucky as I’ve already set up a plus-size clothing firm for him, because he needs income himself.
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“I want him to write children’s books in braille because he loves to draw. We’d give a percentage to charity and Harvey can earn money from it.
“I want him to make a song for the NHS. He draws the rainbows so I’ve asked him to do that so he can play it every Thursday when we go outside and clap."