Never been so scared in my life....

[Guest guest]

We had very nasty weather here last night...the worst I've seen in a while...and

as afraid as I am of thunder and lightning, nothing could compare to the fear of

thinking one of your children is gone forever.

Last night, the boys and I took my sister and her kids shopping. My niece was

looking from a prom dress. Anyway, we went to Kohl's because she had gift cards

from there. I had never been there so, obviously, neither had Evan. Well, of

course he was probably stressed to begin with because of how bad the weather was

and I know that he could sense my tension --- as hard as I tried to hide it

even. So, when we got into the store, he started having one of his meltdowns so

I told my sister and her kids to go ahead and look around and asked them to take

so I could stay with Evan. We were standing by the front of the store

so I could get him out of there if necessary. I actually sat on the floor with

him between the two sets of doors and held him, tightly, and kept trying to calm

him down. He started to calm down so we went inside the store but still stayed

by the front. Finally he was calm enough for me to put him down to walk. This

woman comes up to me and says, " Stand your ground, you're doing fine. I was

watching Dr. Phil today and he did a show about kids who have control over their

parents instead of parents controlling their kids and you just have to be firm. "

Well, STUPID ME turned my head for two seconds to tell her that I appreciated

her concern but that my child was autistic and autistic meltdowns are " a bit "

different from temper tantrums and when I turned back around, Evan was gone! I

looked in the close vicinity of where we were standing and another person in the

store saw the panic look on my face and came to ask me what was wrong so I told

her and then she went and told the cashier in the front and he announced " Code

Yellow " and we had every store employee looking for him. They had me sit in the

front because, of course, by this time I was hysterical. This has never

happened before. I'm sitting here crying, again, telling you about it.

Finally, two store employees came walking down the main aisle and I saw one of

them holding Evan and I started crying even harder. I'm thanking God I have my

baby back and all is well. But try explaining to people that, being autistic,

Evan doesn't realize what was going on to begin with. I kept hearing people say

he needed to be yelled at or spanked. Someone explain to me what good that

would do if he doesn't understand what he is being yelled at for???!!!! He

thinks he was just walking through the store....what's the problem?? Yeah,

right! Meanwhile, Mom is hysterical and I've not stopped shaking since last

night. I need a shot of something....LOL....and I don't mean from a syringe. I

just can't imagine not having either of my babies anymore.

Love, prayers and heart hugs,

Debbie (GA), Mom to Evan (4.5 y/o with ToF, RBBB, Autism Spectrum Disorder,

Asthma); (now a whole year old and HH and NT?); and my 3 angel babies

whom I will finally see when God says it's time!

9:1-3