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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The extreme heat in Kansas has proven fatal for an 18 year old with autism. His parents speak, hoping that their tragedy will offer a critical lesson to others.
"I remember watching the nurse say" why? He was just hot. He was just hot. He was such a bright light. He made such amusing noises and drew joy from the simplest things, "said Rachel Mikel
Mikel still tries to understand that his son Elijah is gone.
" Silence is deafening ", she says.] Elijah was diagnosed with severe autism at age 2. Even though he could not speak, he knew how to entertain and bring joy to others.
"His autism does not did not define. He really put everything in perspective for us and what is important in life, "said Mikel.
He loved being outdoors, swimming and walking .As they had already done it many times, Elijah and her caregiver went to nature trails along Clinton Lake in Lawrence, Kansas last week
It was hot, with temperatures around 102 and a heat index close to 110. After only 15 minutes at Outside, Elijah's caregiver worried.
"She called me and said," Something's wrong. It's been seated and will not recover, "said Mikel.
Since Elijah had nonverbal autism, the only way for the caregiver to say anything was through his behaviors
Mikel hoped that He just one of the stubborn moments of Elijah, but she rushed to the park to watch him.
"By the time I'm gone arrived and I saw it, I knew something was wrong, "says Mikel
. It turned out that the temperature of Elijah was 108. He was suffering from heat exhaustion. The paramedics tried everything to cool him on the way to the hospital.
"Things seemed to improve," says Mikel.
But his temperature did not drop enough. Doctors claim that heat exhaustion quickly wears the muscles of the body, including the heart.
"Being out in the heat for days like this, it's really hard for the body. Regardless of your age, you can overheat very quickly and the passage from heat exhaustion to heat stroke can happen much faster than many people, "said Dr. Steve Lauer, Ph.D. [19659002] And many times warnings against hot weather are not taken seriously.
"We are used to it in Kansas. It's just a part of life here. OK, there is a heat notice, I'm going to run the air conditioner, "says Mikel.
But now, this family has learned that the heat can be deadly, and quick.They share their story in hope it could help save someone's life.
"Drink some water. Take a break. Go inside. This is not a joke. This is not something that happens to other people. It's real. He is 18 years old and is in good health, so be careful, "said Mikel
Doctors say that critical signs of heat illness include excessive sweating and abnormal behavior or fatigue. symptoms, get out of direct sunlight and drink water. "
Mikel said his family was grateful for the overwhelming support of Lawrence's community, including doctors and nurses who 39, have treated at the hospital and paramedics with Douglas County Fire and Medical who helped.
Memorials are made in memory of Elijah at the Lawrence Humane Society and Autism Speaks.
His family also hopes that the story of Elijah raises awareness of autism
"I want to emphasize that autism did not define it. He was special despite everything. You never know the story of someone else. We often have people watching and watching and watching us and sometimes people commenting, "Can not you keep your child quiet?" And I think something that I want everyone to know, is that you do not know the stories of others. worked just to make him say two or three words. It was a challenge we were living with, but it made us love more and made us realize how precious life was, "said Mikel.
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