<p>So sorry to hear the tragic news. Hang in there as you support your son…</p>
<p>OP, I am certain that I am not alone in saying that your family and the family of the student with aspergers are in my prayers today. I hope you post again when you can.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for you prayers and good wishes. I just got back to S’s college town and decided to stay another night to be with my Son. Shoot4moon I will gladly accept your compliment about being amazing but I am the DAD, mind you my W and I are bread of the same cloth because I never could have raised a son like this alone. He is sitting here beside me reading what I am writing. My S has once again blown my mind. On Monday he contacted the family to tell them that he was coming and also to ask if he could play 2 songs at the funeral. He knew their son loved music and my S is a music performance major. Their son had come to every one of my S’s concerts and would sit down with him later to talk about the music, classical is my sons specialty. They said yes so my son found out the name of the local high school and asked if they had a Marimba which is my sons instrument of choice. He did find one but not at the school and they would gladly lend it to him and bring it to the church for him. I was not prepared to cry as hard as I did. My S played Amazing Grace and one that us old folks will remember Turn Turn Turn. My son then spoke of his short friendship and that Amazing Grace was because this young man had opened his eyes to things he did not know, and Turn Turn Turn because there is a season and a reason for everything. The family had met with my son the night before and told him that when all of this over they were going to contact the college and ask if they could donate all the money they had saved for his undergrad to a scholarship fund in their sons name and that they were going to request that my son be the first beneficiary of that scholarship. My S did not know what to say. I did meet the family and I have never witnessed strength like this before. My prayers are with them and I think my son has made a life long friendship with the family as well. Thanks again to everyone on CC for the good wishes and all of the comments on this whole thread. Right now I am going to take my S out for a good dinner, some Father/Son time and then get him to dorm so that he can start studying for exams. My W and I are truly blessed.</p>
<p>Unbelievable. Yes, you are very blessed.</p>
<p>A big WOW and a hug to you and your amazing son.</p>
<p>Did this boy die in a real auto accident?</p>
<p>Wow, OP, your latest post brought tears to my eyes. You never really know what will happen when a new person comes into your life…it’s quite remarkable what transpired in just a few months.</p>
<p>Your son is a remarkable young man.</p>
<p>your son is an incredibly mature and sensitive young man. to have had the kindness to have spoken at this young man’s funeral must have been so powerful for these parents. my heart goes out to this family. this thread provides more lessons and is more illuminating than most threads on cc. you must be very proud of your son.</p>
<p>Wow. what a message. What families. My heart soars with hope for the kids that observed, the families that attended, and the incredible promise your son brings to our world.</p>
<p>Thank you for sharing. Your son’s generosity and compassion is truly inspiring. You are blessed.</p>
<p>@needsmoreinfo, your story has me crying. I hope my children will be fortunate enough to be in college, and in life, with people like your son. My heart breaks for the family that lost their precious child.</p>
<p>I’m crying too.</p>
<p>Thanks to all who posted and to the links, I’ve gained some insight into a young relative of mine with autism.</p>
<p>Well… I am back home, my son is studying for exams and it is time think of Christmas. The last 4 days kind of took a shot at our pocket book with 3 nights hotel rooms, meals and the gas for the trip but to be honest I think my W and I have had the most beautiful Christmas present and it has come early. We have experienced our son become a man in a matter of 3 months. He has always been very mature, self confident, organized, caring and loving but this experience has given him a confidence and focus that is far beyond his years. Our father/son time last night ended up being a father/son and mom on skype evening as we got a chance to share some of the things that have meant so much to each of us, both since he was born and when we were kids. It was a wonderful evening and a very fitting way to end the stress of this week. By the time my S got back to his room we where all emotionally exhausted but at the same time so high that we looked down at our lives and had to admit we are pretty darn lucky. I am glad I could share some of this with all of you. I could sit here and brag about my son for hours on end but I think Schokolade and a few others have said it all with “I have gained some insight,” into something I knew nothing about. If this post has helped at least one person besides for my family to be more understanding and open minded about those with need then I guess there was a time and purpose for this to happen. God Bless</p>
<p>I already sent a link of the entire thread to Michelle Garcia Winner, who is one of the gurus of asperger’s and social thinking in speech pathology. Almost all of her practice is devoted to older students with awareness of their challenges and a desire to “fit in” with the neurotypical students. I know her personally, and know she will love the insights we all received here.</p>
<p>I followed this very moving thread, and loved reading about your son reaching out to someone different. I’m so sorry to hear your update that the young man your son befriended died. Your son was a blessing to this boy in life, and your family was a blessing to his family when he died. And also, you and your son were blessed as well. What an inspiring thread. What a powerful reminder that we can all try to be more understanding of each other. Thank you for sharing.</p>
<p>God called another angel home…</p>
<p>Maybe he was a guardian angel for your son instead of the other way around?</p>
<p>I was unknowingly placed in a study from 1st thru 8th grade where they placed a special needs student in my class because he thought of me as his only friend. I asked the staff one day in 7th grade is he was purposely placed in my classes and they confirmed my thoughts. This child had bipolar & another mental illness. But the only thing I ever noticed was he was exceptionally slow. I was his tutor and stayed his friend, then I moved in the 8th grade and 3 months later found out he was placed in special Ed because of severe temper tantrums that they had never dealt with… Some times it takes one spark in a special
Needs child’s heart to make things run smoothly and I think your son was that spark. </p>
<p>God bless you and your family for your extraordinary abilities and your son for his selfless actions</p>
<p>I can only echo what has already been said, that your son is a remarkable young man. Thank you for sharing this very moving story.</p>