Autistic boy who drowned taught family how to say 'I love you'

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Autistic boy who drowned taught family how to say 'I love you'

without saying a word

August 11, 2008 - 3:47PM

Millard

Grayson Sherrell didn't say much.

But he didn't have to.

" He taught us to say I love you without saying a word, " said his

mother Donna Sherrell.

The 6-year-old from Kernersville drowned in a backyard swimming pool

Friday.

Police say Grayson wandered off from the backyard of his

grandparents, and Betty Saunders of the 3600 block of Raven

Hill Drive, Gastonia.

They realized he was gone after three or four minutes and began

searching for him. When they didn't find him after several minutes

they called police, according to a press release.

A resident of 1105 Colony Court found him in the pool after coming

home and began CPR. The boy was taken to

Gaston Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Grayson would have started first grade this fall.

" He had autism, " said Sherrell. " He was diagnosed at age 3. "

Many times a child with autism has an emotional distance from other

people that makes them seem standoff-ish, Sherrell said.

" That was never Grayson, " Sherrell said. " He was a very loving little

boy. "

Grayson knew all of his sounds and could name and label things. He

had begun to say his sounds again, Sherrell said.

Grayson also had a great memory and would remember if someone pulled

out a treat.

" He knew all my hiding places in my pockets and purse for chewing gum

and candy, " Sherrell said.

The 6-year-old loved playing outdoors.

" He loved to swing. The higher the better, " Sherrell said.

Unlike some children with autism, Grayson didn't have to stick to a

strict routine.

" He was a big adventurer. He loved going places, " Sherrell said. " We

took him to the mountains. We took him to the beach. He really liked

being out and about. "

Grayson was also starting to be like a typical little boy. Sherrell

recalled that if she'd tell him to stay and wait he'd raise his

eyebrows, look at her and slowly stand up and inch away.

" He'd get to a certain point and just take out running, " Sherrell

said. " He really was starting to have a real mischievous side to him. "

Sherrell's parents started a Web site for him to raise awareness and

garner funds for expensive tutors and therapy that made great gains

in helping Grayson. The resources to help children with autism can be

expensive and sometimes hard to find, Sherrell said.

" Now that he's gone we're going to take that offering to donate

directly to families that need it, " Sherrell said.

The family is doing as best they can given the circumstances.

" My son was full of life, " Sherrell said. " We've just got to keep

going on. I know he didn't like us to be sad and he didn't like if

you were crying. "

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