Most people hear the word “elopement” and think of running away to get married, but in the autism world, it means a child unexpectedly running or wandering away from safety.

Our son Noah struggles with elopement, and it has become one of the scariest parts of our lives as parents.

In the last few months alone, Noah has gotten out of the house 3 different times. He has ended up on neighbors’ Ring cameras, we’ve handed out flyers, changed locks, added extra safety measures, and adjusted our entire routine trying to keep him safe. Even stepping outside to water a plant while holding his hand can turn terrifying in seconds.

Two days ago, while my mother was watching him so we could attend our younger son River’s kindergarten graduation, Noah got away again and was bitten by a dog. Thankfully he is okay physically, but it was another wake-up call for how urgent this situation has become.

Behind our home is a retention pond, and Noah has recently started pointing toward it saying, “go swim.” He does not understand danger the way most children his age do.

We are good parents who love our son deeply. We supervise constantly, rarely relax, and have tried every affordable solution we can think of. But autism-related elopement can happen in seconds, and families like ours live in constant fear trying to stay one step ahead.

We’ve received quotes around $6,000 for a secure fence for our backyard, and we simply do not have that kind of money right now. After a lot of embarrassment and hesitation, we decided Noah’s safety matters more than our pride.

If you feel led to donate, share, or pray for our family, we would be incredibly grateful. Every dollar will go directly toward building a secure fence to help keep Noah safe at home. ❤️

Sincerely,

Luis and Kimberly