Murdered MP Jo Cox fought to shorten the shockingly long wait that parents of autistic children had to endure to have their sons and daughters diagnosed.
It was then a bitter irony, that four-year-old Fredi Kilgallon finally attended his diagnosis assessment on June 16 – the day Jo was killed.
Now the family, who waited more than three years for Fredi’s diagnosis and who are fighting to improve services for autistic children, have paid tribute to her.
Anne Marie Kilgallon, of the Whole Autism Family, said Mrs Cox “did everything within her power to make a change.”
Ms Kilgallon contacted Mrs Cox in desperation after learning that her two autistic sons, Fredi and Tolan, would have to wait years to receive diagnoses.
Mrs Cox, who was killed outside Birstall Library on June 16, brought the family to Parliament and addressed the Commons on the problem.
Ms Kilgallon, of Mirfield, said: “We had the pleasure of knowing Jo Cox through the work that she did with our charity.
“She listened to us at our moment of desperation and reassured us that she would do everything within her power to make a change. She did that and so much more.
“Jo took our campaign to Parliament in March of this year to shorten autism diagnoses within Kirklees .
“On the June 16, 2016, Fredi – our youngest son – attended his diagnosis assessment thanks to Jo’s work.
“We had planned to call and thank Jo, but we decided to leave it until the afternoon as she was holding her regular surgery.
“Unfortunately we never got to make that thank you call.”
Ms Kilgallon added: “Jo was an inspirational, devoted and compassionate women who had so much to offer. She had an amazing spirit and a fantastic sense of humour.
“Jo was much loved member of the community and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
“I hope that she will be remembered for all the fantastic work that she did and not for the way she was taken from us.”
