Matthew Shaw

Matthew Shaw (1974-2012)

Matthew Shaw was 38 years old and had autism. He is from Portland, Maine. Matthew Shaw died on September 16, 2012, from the effects of a pulmonary embolism he suffered on August 24, 2012. He was the son of Wayne V. and Rosemary J. Crooker Shaw. His father Wayne preceded him in death.

Tributes: 

"Matthew proved everyone wrong. My mother believed in him. My father believed in him, and Matthew believed in himself. He was so successful in everything he did. He was truly amazing (Vincent Shaw, Brother)

"He was admired for his strong work ethic. He overcame his autism with determination and a positive attitude. He never complained. He accomplished more than anyone thought possible (Matthew Shaw's Obituary)."

Links about Matthew Shaw: 

Obituary:

• Featured Obituary with Portland Press

• Obituary for Matthew Shaw (Portland Press Herald)

Blogs:  Autism Light Blog 

Jeremiah Conn

Jeremiah Conn, 5 Years

Jeremiah Conn was 5 years old and had autism. Jeremiah was from Madison, Wisconsin. Jeremiah Conn wandered away from his caregivers and drowned in a retention pond near the Stoughton Fire Department on July 3, 2012. He had been in Stoughton, Wisconsin for the Stoughton Junior Fair.

Tribute: "He was a fun kid, he was loving, he was playful (Marcus Fleming, Jermiah's Uncle as Quoted by WMTV NBC 15).

Links about Jeremiah Conn: 

Blogs:

• Lives Lost to Autism 

News:

• Body of Missing 5 year old Recovered in Stoughton 

• Death of 5-year-old Autistic Boy in Stoughton Ruled Accidental Drowning 

• Drowning in Stoughton  

• Family Holds Autism Walk in Memory of 5 year-old Boy 

Kesia Kearse

Kesia Kearse, 5 Years

Kesia Rose Kearse was 5 years old and had autism.  She lived in Bradenton, Florida.  Kesia drowned in a retention pond near her home on June 11, 2012, after she unlocked a sliding glass door and wandered away from her family.

Tribute to Kesia Kearse: "If she was here right now, she'd give you the high-five. She was a joy. I'm just going to miss her (Sylvia Jackson, Mother)."

Links about Kesia Kearse: 

Blogs:

• Autistic Lives Lost to Wandering 

• Lives Lost to Autism 

News:

• Girl, 5, drowns in pond despite neighbor's rescue try  

• The Family of a 5-year-old drowning victim tried many times to teach her the danger of water  

• Parents of 5-year-old autistic girl, Kesia Kearse, are asking for help to bury her 

Kristina Vlassenko

Kristina Vlassenko (2001-2011)

Kristina S. Vlassenko was 10 years old and had autism. Kristina was born on May 12, 2001 and was from Arvada, Colorado. On May 30, 2011 Kristina wandered away from her home and went missing. The next day on May 31, 2011, she was found drowned in a water-filled hole at a construction site near her home in Arvada, Colorado. Her parents are Serguei and Liliya Vlassenko.

Tribute to Kristina Vlassenko: Kristina was a wonderful and happy child and she and her family are originally from Russia. She attended Fremont Elementary School in Arvada where she made many friends. Kristina was kind and easily forgiving. She enjoyed music, dance and her family & friends. Kristina had a great sense of humor and loved to tease and be teased. She will be missed by all of her family and friends (From Obituary for Kristina Vlassenko).

Links about Kristina Vlassenko: 

Obituary:  Obituary for Kristina Vlassenko

Blogs: Autistic Lives Lost to Wandering

News: 

• Arvada Police Question Why Beacon Didn't Lead to Missing Girl's Body (Denver Post, June 1, 2011) 

• Body Found in Arvada is that of Missing Girl (CBS Denver, May 31, 2011) 

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)