Ali and Orooba Hamideh of Hamburg have been fighting for their 9-year-old son Ameer since the day he was born.
"Fighting through the condition, getting him stronger, getting him better," said Orooba Hamideh.
Ameer has cerebral palsy and a rare seizure condition, now at the center of an even bigger battle facing his parents.
"We didn't expect that we'd have to fight but we're going to do whatever it takes," said Orooba Hamideh.
For the last five years, Ameer was a student at CHC Learning Center in Buffalo, and was not required to get vaccinated because of his family's religious beliefs.
Earlier this year when the state removed that provision, Ameer's parents applied for a medical exemption based on his reaction to vaccines he was given until he was 2.
"He started getting high fevers and he started seizing very bad. So we actually rushed him to the hospital," said Ali Hamideh.
Ameer's neurologist provided state health leaders with all the information requested, but the department wrote Ameer's condition was not a factor and did not recommend a medical exemption.
The letter did say it was up to the school's principal to make the final determination, leaving the district to side with the state, and deny Ameer access to the school.
"It's extremely heartbreaking, because Ameer loves school. He gets his PT, his OT, speech therapy, and even I mean the teachers consider it special education so he does that five days a week, so he's literally missing out on everything," said Orooba Hamideh.
In a statement, the Frontier Central School District said, “With respect to medical exemptions, school districts often seek a review and recommendation from the professionals at the New York State Department of Health, and then consider that recommendation when making determinations."
"It's been very frustrating. We were very shocked because Ameer has very bad seizures, and a very rare seizure condition in which he should be exempt from these vaccines," said Ali Hamideh.
Once the district denied Ameer access to the CHC Learning Center and the services he needs, his family had no other choice but to homeschool him.
"I don't have the equipment in my house that they have in the school. They have special rooms, they have swings, chairs," said Orooba Hamideh.
The Hamidehs are working to get their son limited therapy.
They're also looking at possible legal action, as they may have lost the battle, but not the fight.
"You have to be strong, I'm his mom. I have to be strong. Have to keep fighting for him," said Orooba Hamideh.
Family and others will hold a protest rally outside the Frontier School District on October 16 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.