Alex Swigart

Alex Swigart, 12 Years

Alex Swigart was 12 years old and had autism. Alex Swigart died on April 2, 2011, at the age of 12, when his home near Bisbee Junction, Arizona caught on fire. Alex Swigart was the first in the family to smell smoke and he woke his father Joseph Swigart. This quick action probably saved the life of his father and his father's girlfriend who was in the house. In the chaos of the fire, Alex separated from his father and ran back into the house. He was found dead in the house after the fire was put out.

Links about Alex Swigart: 

Blogs: 

• Autism Light #128   

• Can-do-ability 

• Lives Lost to Autism 

• The Stir: Austic Boy Saves Family From Fire, But Dies

News:

• Autistic Boy, 12, Dies Saving His Father from Fire that Destroyed Their Home 

• Autistic Boy Dies in Mobile Home Fire Near Bisbee 

Memorial Page: 

• Alex Swigart Tribute Page on Facebook 

• Alex Swigart: Find a Grave Memorial 

Mason Allen Medlam

Mason Allen Medlam (2005-2010)

Mason Allen Medlam was 5 years old and had autism. He was born on July 7, 2005 and was from Colwich, Kansas. He escaped a partially open window in his home on July 27, 2010, and wandered to a neighbors pond and drowned. Two days later on July 29, 2010, Mason Allen Medlam passed away. His parents are Kenneth and Sheila Medlam, who established The Mason Allen Medlam Foundation in his memory. The foundation is dedicated to autism awareness, wandering prevention, and wandering safety in order to help prevent future autism deaths. You can read a CNN iReport on Mason's Legacy.

Tributes: 

"My son, Mason, was born on July 07, 2005. He was brilliant, beautiful and full of joy. He lit up our world and was the center of our universe. Sometimes he would break out into this glorious laughter, and even though you couldn't figure out what he was laughing at, you would join in because the sound of it touched your soul and filled it with joy. He was the most incredible child I have ever known. He loved life and life seemed to love him. He overcame more obstacles in his life than many adults ever have to even contemplate and he did it with a smile on his face and laughter in his heart (Sheila Medlam as Quoted on the Mason Allen Medlam Foundation Website

Links about Mason Allen Medlam: 

Obituary: Legacy Obituary for Mason Allen Medlam

Blogs: 

• Age of Autism 
• Autism Light 
• Lives Lost to Autism 

News: Child Pulled from Pond Dies 

Kaliya Sullivan

Kaliya Sullivan (2002-2010)

Kaliya Marie Sullivan was seven years old and had autism. Kaliya was born on December 2, 2002 and lived in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. On June 23, 2010, she was reported missing from her home and within the hour discovered unresponsive in a neighbor's swimming pool. She had found a way to climb the fence around the neighbor's pool. Her parents are Anthony and Karie Sullivan.

 Links about Kaliya Sullivan: 

Obituary: Obituary for Kaliya Sullivan (Dickinson Funeral Home)

Blogs: 

• Autistic Lives Lost to Wandering 

News: 

• Autistic Girls Death Ruled Accidental Drowning (Lacrosse Tribune, June 26, 2010)

Bernard Latimore

Bernard Latimore (1999-2009)

Bernard Caleb Latimore, Jr. was 10 years old and had autism. Bernard lived in Ocala, Florida. Bernard wandered away from his home on November 27, 2009 and his body was discovered in a neighbor's pool later that day. Bernard's mother is Katese Richardson and his father is Bernard Latimore, Sr..

Links about Bernard Latimore: 

Obituary:  Obituary for Bernard Latimore at Ocala.com

Blogs:

• Autistic Lives Lost To Wandering 

• Lives Lost to Autism Blog 

News: 

• More Details on Autistic Boy, 10, who Drowned in Neighbor's Pool (Ocala.com, November 28, 2009)

Tyler Jones

Tyler Jones (1992-2009)

Tyler Jones was 16 years old and had autism. Tyler lived in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and attended the Connecticut Center for Child Development in Milford. On September 18, 2009, his mother went to wake up him up for school and he had passed away in his sleep. An autopsy report determined "no apparent cause of death (SFARI, Deborah Rudacile, April 21, 2011)." His parents are Duane and Linda Jones.

Tribute to Tyler Jones: "There are so many memories to record. He struggled to learn and to communicate but he never struggled to love. Tyler adored his twin brother and older sister. They spent time together playing basketball, listening to music, or playing instruments--his brother on the piano, his sister playing the violin, and Tyler drumming. His smile and gentle 'butterfly' kisses let you know that no matter how bad his behavior he still loved you. Tyler loved to go to school and could hardly wait to walk down to the van in the morning. He loved to learn and he loved to make people proud of him (Linda Jones, Tyler's Mother)."

 Links about Tyler Jones: 

Obituary: 

• Tyler Jones Obituary at Legacy.com

Research

• Sudden Deaths in Autism and Epilepsy Baffle Researchers, SFARI, Deborah Rudacile, April 21, 2011

Jett Travolta

Jett Travolta (1992-2009)

Jett Travolta was 16 years old and had autism. He lived in Ocala, Florida. Jett Travolta was born on April 13, 1992.  He died on January 2, 2009, after suffering a seizure and hitting his head on a bathtub, while his family was on Christmas vacation in the Bahamas. Jett Travolta's parents are Kelly Preston and John Travolta. In his memory his family founded The Jett Travolta Foundation to provide for special needs of children with special needs.

Links about Jett Travolta: 

Obituary:  Legacy.com Obituary for Jett Travolta

Blog:  Lives Lost to Autism Blog

Facebook Page: R.I.P. Jett Travolta 

News:  

• John Travolta Reveals Crippling Grief After Losing Son Jett (DailyMail, Danielle Gusmaroli, February 18, 2014)
• Kelly Preston Opens Up on Late Son Jett Travolta's Medical Conditions (New York Daily News, Nancy Dillon, November 20, 2012) 
• John Travolta's 16-year-old Son Dies (People Magazine, January 2, 2009) 
• Travolta Family Returns to U.S. with Son's Remains (USA Today, January 8, 2009) 

Kaitlin Bacile

Kaitlin Bacile (2003-2008)

Kaitlin Elise Bacile was five years old and had autism. Kaitlin was born on July 28, 2003, in Tampa, Florida. Kaitlin had been a kindergartner at The Renaissance Learning Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. She died on September 21, 2008, when she wandered away from her home in Wellington, Florida and was found drowned in a nearby body of water. Her parents are Kalen and John Bacile.

Tribute to Kaitlin Bacile: "Her smile was contagious and she touched so many lives in her 5 short years with us. Kaitlin is an angel who represented pure love, and will be missed by all who loved her (From Kaitlin Bacile's Obituary)."

Links about Kaitlin Bacile: 

Obituary: Kaitlin Bacile Obituary at Legacy.com 

Blogs:  Lives Lost to Autism Blog

News:  

• Missing Autistic Girl Found Dead (WPBF.com, September 22, 2008)