This week in my small town, a non-verbal, 73 year old man went missing. He was with his friends and staff at a local park walking the track..and somehow, some way.. someone got distracted and he kept walking..when staff turned around, he was not there. Non-verbal. Can't cross streets on his own. Has 24 hour personal care attendants, 7 days a week. Kenny kept walking; it was 2pm when he went missing. Police, K9 officers, Fire teams, harbormaster, community volunteers.. walked the streets into the darkness of the night. By the next morning, the community was either in volunteer mode to keep searching, or like myself (a mom of a non-verbal child), was praying as I cried over my morning coffee. Every parent's fear is losing their child, but add an extra element of a disability and it's the worse. My fear for this man, who probably had no idea where he was or what happened to his caregivers was alone all night and well into the next morning.
Grateful, GODFULLY.. he was found late morning in a car. He knew enough to find an unlocked car in a driveway and was sleeping soundly at noon, when they found him. Thank you, Jesus.
I write this as my post today to remember this horrible day. But also to remember and be grateful for the police and the team of individuals who spent the day/night looking for Kenny. A community brought together .. instead of alot of the political bullshit we are dealing with on a daily/weekly basis.
#thankful for Kenny.
pattie
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