Katie Price has made the gut-wrenching decision to put her disabled son Harvey into care, and has said he will be living in a residential college to try and become more independent.
The mum-of-five, 42, has been left heartbroken by the difficult decision, which will see 18-year-old Harvey stay in care until he is 25 once he starts in September.
Despite the agony of Harvey leaving home, Katie has said she knows it is the best thing to do, as the specialist care will cater for Harvey’s disabilities, as he suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism and partial blindness.
She told The Sun: “It breaks my heart. I don’t want him to think I’m just getting rid of him.
“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.”
Katie revealed she made the decision to try and help Harvey learn to be independent now that he has turned 18, and has her heart set on the Northern Star long-term living accommodation in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Katie has made the difficult decision to have Harvey put into care (Image: katieprice/Instagram)
The mum and son have spent six months looking at colleges that specialise in helping children with autism and learning disabilities.
Katie said: “This is his chance to live an independent life, learn skills and socialise with people other than me.
“I’m trying to get him used to me not being there all the time. But he’ll call on his iPad and say, ‘Mum, I need you’, and I run to him.
She hopes that Harvey will learn to become more independent (Image: Katie Price/Instagram)
“When he’s three hours away it will break my heart because I won’t be able to get there as I’ve got to juggle him with my other kids.”
Katie also opened up on their special bond, admitting that she is worried about how Harvey will react when he realises his mum is not nearby.
The mum previously said that she struggles to calm her son down as his autism can mean that loud noises will cause him to lash out, which has ended in him smashing windows.
Harvey suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome and autism (Image: katieprice/Instagram)
At 5ft4, Katie doesn’t have the strength to physically restrain her son, who is 6ft2 and weighs almost 29st.
Harvey had started in a residential school for five days a week at the start of last year, but moved back home in March due to the pandemic, as he is considered at high risk to Covid.
He was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome and autism, which has left him partially blind and struggling with weight gain.
Katie had Harvey with footballer Dwight Yorke in 2002, and was left heartbroken when he denied he was the father until a paternity test proved it.
He has not seen his son since he was four, despite Katie’s many pleas for the pair to reunite.
She hit out at Dwight last July for not getting in touch with Harvey after the teen was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.
Katie said at the time: “Whether you want to be in your son’s life or not, you still created him and he’s still your son.
“If you know your son is in intensive care and there’s a chance he could die, as a human being with feelings you should get in contact.”
Now, Katie has said the door is always open for Dwight to see Harvey, as she would like her son to get to know his step-brother, Dwight’s other son.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
