Sunday Prayers Answered, Boy Comes Home
Two stories were in the news yesterday with a compelling juxtaposition, but the same theme. Autism and wandering. While a 5 year old Michael Bolden wandered away from his father during a shopping trip, found water and drowned, another family was blessed with a happy ending.
My children are creatures of habit, that's a big part of their autism. Perhaps yours are too. Randy Marney of Springfield, MO did not run away or wander or bolt, he simply stuck to his routine and boarded the weekly bus to Church. Knowing he was A-OK, I have to say this story made me smile. I could see one of my own daughters doing this same thing. "Bus comes? I get on the bus!"
The Pastor did not know his Mother was unaware he was going to Church alone. Educating those who care for, work with, teach our kids is as important as educating our kids themselves. Next Sunday, I'm sure the Pastor will wait for Mom to wave from the doorway. Thank God Randy came home safely. From KY3 News:
8-year-old Randy Marney apparently went to church on Sunday and didn't tell anyone. His mom
, Lisa Roberts reported him missing at about 9:40 after one of her other children woke her up and said Randy was gone from their home in the 1700 block of W. Olive St. in Springfield.
Police launched an intensive search because Randy is a high-functioning autistic child. Officers went door to door in the westside neighborhood, and K-9 officers joined the effort.
Just before 1 p.m. Sunday, Randy reappeared, delivered home safely by a van from Berean Baptist Church. Berean is located in the 500 block of E. Norton St, not far from the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.
It turns out that the pastor of the church, who also drives the van, came to the door to pick up Randy and his brother just like he does every Sunday. Randy came to the door alone, and told the pastor his brother wasn't coming to church. So the pastor took Randy to church, and Randy evidently didn't tell anyone he was leaving.
Thank you for this. Even when children are brought back I think of the lifespan-shortening panic and terror the parents must be enduring. Happened once 7 years ago in our family. Despite the immediate recovery of child, I lost at least six months to a year off the tail end of my life. The diagnosis itself gave me a sentence of about 8 to 10 (lost years of longevity). I'm trying to get them back through ultra healthy living since, as we all know, we can never die.
Posted by: Nine Lives | June 01, 2015 at 01:04 PM