X FACTOR winner Sam Bailey has opened up on her personal heartache amid a devastating struggle with her son’s health.
The mum-of-three rose to fame when she won the tenth edition of the ITV talent contest in 2013.
Since then, she has continued to sing as well as perform in a slew of theatre productions as well as being a TV regular.
However, behind the scenes, Sam has been privately dealing with her son Tommy’s struggles.
Tommy is autistic and Sam has struggled in receiving the support the teen needs.
According to Sam, doctors became unable to help the 14-year-old and he found his transition from primary school to secondary school extremely difficult.
Speaking to GB News, the singer said: “I knew the transition from primary school to secondary school was going to be difficult for him.
“And I think as parents we were kind of in denial that there was anything untoward that was different or anything and we were told that he would really struggle and to get a diagnosis.
“I actually went private to get his diagnosis and by doing that it was a quicker process, but after that diagnosis was the hard part because you have to kind of prove that he can’t be in a mainstream school. He would bang his head against the wall.
“He really, really struggled at school.”
In a heartbreaking admission, Sam even told the channel that Tommy had threatened to take his own life after feeling extremely down.
Sam’s son’s shock admission came after he spent 18 months out of education after refusing to go to school.
Reflecting on the hardship of the time period, Sam said: “He just festered at home and put on weight. He was threatening to take his life.
“So it was a really, really tough time and I went to the doctors on my own and said to the doctors, I’m really concerned about my son. I said I’m really concerned about my son, because of how he’s been.
“I was like, you know, he’s saying some stuff and they said that we can’t deal with this.
“There needs to be autism outreach and they turned me away. I’ve got a letter to say that the GP turned my son away because he was feeling low and told us to go to the National Autistic Society. I was absolutely baffled by it.”
Amid her own personal struggle, Sam is hoping to raise funds for Children’s Activities Week autism initiative after aligning with the charity as an ambassador.
Thousands of children will take part in classes all over the UK. And, as well as having fun, they will be able to support the meaningful work of Caudwell Children, a charity changing the lives of children with autism and disabilities . For more information visit: https://childrensactivitiesweek.co.uk/activity-search/
