Jaxon Buerge

Jaxon Buerge (2002-2018)

Jaxon Buerge was 16 years old and had autism. Jaxon died on December 27, 2018, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident, after his family's vehicle was rear ended by a semi-truck on a snowy night. Jaxon Buerge was the inspiration for the Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism at the Ozark Center for Autism, because of his inability to secure autism treatment near his home in Joplin, Missouri as a child.  Jaxon and his mother had to temporarily relocate from Missouri to Cleveland, Ohio to obtain ABA autism treatment when he was a young child. Today treatment is available in Missouri at the Ozark Center for Autism. His parents are Trisha and Justin Buerge.


Tribute to Jaxon Buerge: 

Jaxon will be remembered as a joyful, gentle, and sweet-natured soul, a boy with a pure, kind, and happy heart, and an infectious smile and giggle. He loved people generously, and changed the lives of all who had the privilege to know him. (Read more at the Joplin Globe Obituary for Jaxon Buerge).


Links about Jeremy Garcia:

Obituaries:

• Obituary for Jaxon Buerge (The Joplin Globe)
• Obituary for Jaxon Buerge (Parker Mortuary) 

News:

• Former Joplin teen, inspiration for Leffen Center for Autism, dies in traffic crash (Joplin Globe, Emily Younker, December 28, 2018)

Maddox Ritch

Maddox Ritch (2012-2018)

Maddox Ritch was 6 years old and had autism. He was born on August 14, 2012. On September 22, 2018, Maddox was walking with his father and a friend at Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia, North Carolina, when he wandered away and went missing. After a community search, his body was discovered in Long Creek on September 27, 2018. His parents are Ian Scott Ritch and Carrie Irene Ritch.

Tribute to Maddox Ritch: "Maddox was a sweet and loving little boy who was full of laughter. He loved Paw Patrol, his Teddy, playing with bouncy balls, but above all he loved his mom and dad the most (From Maddox Ritch's Obituary at Raymer Funeral Home).

Links about Maddox Ritch:

Obituary:

• Maddox Ritch Obituary at Legacy.com
• Maddox Ritch Obituary at Raymer Funeral Home 

News:

• Police believe they've found body of missing Maddox Ritch, an autistic 6-year-old boy (USA Today, September 27, 2018) 
• Medical examiner confirms boy found dead in creek was Maddox Ritch (WFTV9, September 27, 2018) 
• Police offer update weeks after 6-year-old Gastonia boy found in creek (Fox8, October 19, 2018)

With heavy hearts we announce a body believed to be 6-year-old Maddox Ritch was found at approximately 1 p.m. off of Marietta Street/Old Dallas Highway in Gastonia. Maddox’s parents have been notified of the discovery. The investigation is ongoing.

— FBI Charlotte (@FBICharlotte) September 27, 2018

Reece Coleman

Reece M. Coleman, 9 Years

Reece M. Coleman was 9 years old and had autism. He died on July 19, 2018, in Branson, Missouri, when his family was sightseeing on a Duck Boat. The boat capsized in a storm while crossing Table Rock Lake. He is from Indianapolis, Indiana. 8 members of his family died in the same accident, including his father Glenn Coleman and two siblings, Evan and Arya. His mother Tia Coleman was on the boat but survived.

Tribute to Reece Coleman: Reece Coleman loved the water and his family took the Ride the Ducks tour because it was something he'd enjoy doing, said his mother, Tia Coleman. She described her son, who had autism, as "the happiest, sweetest boy," who made every day worth living (A look at the 17 people killed in the Missouri boat accident, Chicago Tribune, Hannah Grabenstein and Brian Slodysko July 22, 2018.)

Links about Reece Coleman:

Obituary:

•  Reece Coleman Obituary at Legacy.com 

News 

• AP News, The Latest: Family went on boat for boy who loved the water, July 21, 2018
• Warren Township school mourn loss of student, Reece Coleman, killed in duck boat tragedy, RTV6, Katie Heinz and Katie Cox, July 23, 2018
• A look at the 17 people killed in the Missouri boat accident, Chicago Tribune, Hannah Grabenstein and Brian Slodysko July 22, 2018.

Elijah Mikel

Elijah Mikel (1999-2018)

Elijah Mikel was 18 years old and had autism. He was born on August 15, 1999. He died on July 11, 2018, in Lawrence, Kansas from heat exhaustion. Elijah was walking on a nature trail with his caretaker on a day when the temperature was 102 degrees outside. Elijah Mikel was a graduate of Lawrence High School. His parents are Matthew and Rachel Mikel

Tribute to Elijah Mikel: 

"He found so much joy in the small things. He had such a big smile (Rachel Mikel as quoted by FoxNews.com)."

Links about Elijah Mikel:

Obituary:

•  Elijah Mikel Obituary at LJWorld.com

News 

• Teen with Autism Dies of Heat Exhaustion After Walk on 102-Degree Day (People, Emily Zauzmer, July 19, 2018)
• Lawrence Family Warns of Heat Dangers after Losing Teenage Son (Fox4KC, Kera Mashek, July 18, 2018) 
• Kansas Mom Warns of Hot Temperatures After Teen Son With Autism Dies of Heat Exhaustion (FoxNews.com, Madeline Farber, July 19, 2018). 

Zander Brown

Zander Brown (2012-2018)

Zander Brown was 5 years old and had autism. He was born on October 8, 2012. On July 8, 2018, he wandered away from his home in Lauderdale, Florida in Broward County north of Miami. He was discovered deceased at the bottom of a canal near his home.


Links about Zander Brown:

News:

• Missing 5-year-old with autism dies after found in canal behind his home (Miami Herald, Rebecca Ellis, July 8, 2018)
• Child with Autism Dies After Being Found in Lauderhill Canal (NBC6, July 8, 2018) 
• A 5-year-old autistic child dies who fell to a canal in Florida (SunPost, July 10, 2018) 

Raheel Uddin

Raheel Uddin (2012-2018)

Raheel Uddin was 5 years old and had autism. He was born on August 19, 2012. On June 29, 2018, he wandered away from his home in Calgary, Canada. He was found later that day and discovered to have drowned in a nearby retention pond in the Saddle Ridge area of Calgary. His parents are Rozina Mina and Mohammad Rashad Uddin.

Links about Raheel Uddin:

Obituary:

• Memorial Networks: Raheel Uddin 

News 

• Five year old boy with autism dies after being found in Calgary Pond, CTV News, June 30, 2018
• Calgary parents grieve loss of little boy who drowned in Saddle Ridge pond, Global News, Tracy Nagal, July 1, 2018 

We bow our heads in silence and send love and compassion out to the family and friends of Raheel Uddin.

A five-year-old boy with autism who went missing and... https://t.co/4ufcZD7iiX

— Project Autism (@ProjectAutismCA) July 2, 2018