Two Autistic Children
On a day when all attention in the autism world has been focused on the woes of three relatives of an autistic child, 5-year-old Christian—-Bob, Suzanne and Katie Wright—-there are two autistic individuals I have been thinking of, and with much sadness and worry beyond a “family feud.”
14-year-old Ariel Small was found drowned in the bathtub of her northern New Jersey home on Sunday night. The Bergen Record notes that Ariel’s mother pulled her from the tub and administered CPR, after which police and paramedics arrived, but they were unable to resuscitate her.
7-year-old Benjy Friel has been missing since Thursday evening; he was last seen playing in his basement in Saratoga, Wisconsin. There is a river in Wood County where a search has been underway, but rescuers think it “unlikely” Benjy might be in the river. You can see his photo here.
Thinking of Ariel and Benjy, and their families, tonight.
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POSTED IN: Safety
8 opinions for Two Autistic Children
Daisy
Jun 18, 2007 at 10:20 pm
I’m encouraged at the number of searchers that turned out to look for Benji. It’s rough terrain, bog and marsh style. I still hope he’ll turn up in a hunter’s cabin or tree stand.
MomtoJBG
Jun 18, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Those poor parents!
Since he wandered off once before, and was found in a house, I’m hoping he’s once again hiding in someone’s home.
Karen
Jun 19, 2007 at 11:28 am
Please let them find Benji. :-(
Nell
Jun 19, 2007 at 1:22 pm
What a horrible time for both sets of families. I pray they find Benji alive and well.
Suzanne
Jun 19, 2007 at 3:52 pm
so sad. I so hoped he would turn up tired and dehydrated, but alive.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. - Searchers found the body Tuesday of a 7-year-old autistic boy missing since last week.
Wood County sheriff’s Lt. Dave Laude said Benjamin “Benjy” Heil was found about 11 a.m. in Ten Mile Creek less than a mile south of his town of Saratoga home.
Heil had been playing in the basement of his home Thursday when his family realized he was gone and called authorities.
Hundreds of people have looked for the boy each day since he disappeared.
The sheriff’s department will conduct an investigation into the death, which is typical in such circumstances, Laude said.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
Leila
Jun 19, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Benjy was found dead today.
In Memoriam Benjy Heil
Jun 19, 2007 at 4:09 pm
[…] going to quote Suzanne, who sent me the story. “so sad. I so hoped he would turn up tired and dehydrated, but […]
heidi
Jun 19, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Bless the Family and anyone dealing with loss of a loved one.. Prayers are needed for both families.
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