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LAWRENCE, Kan. – "I remember looking at the nurse saying" why? He was just hot. Rachel Mikel said:
The subway is relaxing, but this summer has been brutal.
Last week, the extreme heat proved deadly for a Lawrence teenager. autism. His parents now hope that their tragedy offers a critical lesson for others.
"He was so brilliant, he made such amusing noises and drew joy from the simplest things," Mikel said.
Rachel Mikel is still trying to understand that her 18 year old son Elijah is gone.
"The silence is deafening" she said.
Elijah was diagnosed with severe autism at two years of age. Even though he could not speak, the 18-year-old knew how to have fun and bring joy to others.
"His autism did not define him, he really put everything in perspective for us and what's important in life," said Mikel.
He loved being outdoors, swimming and walking. Had done several times before, Elijah and her caregiver went to nature trails along Clinton Lake in Lawrence last week.
It was a hot day, with temperatures around 102 and a heat index close to 110. 15 minutes outside, the caregiver of Elijah worried.
"She called me and said me" Something is wrong, he sits and will not get up, "recalls Mikel.
Since Elijah had non-verbal autism, the only way for the caregiver to say something was by his behaviors
.One of the stubborn moments of Elijah, but she rushed to the park to watch him.
"At the moment 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. No matter how old you are, you can overheat very quickly and the transition from heat exhaustion to heat stroke can happen much faster than many people appreciate, "said Dr. Steve Lauer, Pulpit Chair. of pediatrics.
And many times, weather warnings about intense heat are not taken seriously.
"We're used to it in Kansas – it's just a part of life here – ok, there's a heat notice, I'll run the air conditioner," says Mikel.
But now, this family has learned that heat can be deadly and fast. They share their story in the hope that it could help save someone's life.
"Drink water, take a break, go inside.This is not a joke.This is not something that happens to d & # 39; Other people, it's real, he was 18 and was in good health, so be careful, "said Mikel.
Doctors say that critical signs of heat illness include excessive sweating and abnormal behaviors or fatigue. If you notice these symptoms, get out of direct sunlight and drink some water.
Elijah's family is grateful for the overwhelming support of Lawrence's community, including doctors and nurses who treated him at the hospital and paramedics with Douglas County Fire and Medical who helped. [19659002Discoveryfactsinthemembered'ElijahàlaLawrenceHumaneSocietyandAutismSpeaks
His Family Also Expects Elijah's Story Raises Awareness Of Autism
' I Want to Emphasize That Autism Does Not Define Him He was special anyway, you never know the story of anyone else, we often have people watching and watching and watching and sometimes people commenting, "Can not you Do you not keep your child quiet? "And I think something I want everyone to know, is that you do not know other people's stories – just worked to make him say two or three words. Was a challenge with which we lived, but it made us love more and that made us realize how precious life was, "said Mikel
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