An autistic pre-teen lost in the swamps of Florida? For four days? And they find her alive and - for the most part - well? That is nothing short of astounding. When you think of everything that could have gone wrong; of all the fates that could have fallen young Nadia; of all the possible outcomes... Being found with little more than dehydration and bug bites is simply miraculous.WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A missing 11-year-old central Florida girl with Asperger syndrome was found alive on Tuesday, four days after she disappeared into an alligator-infested swamp a half-mile from her suburban home.
Nadia Bloom was taken to a hospital in nearby Longwood, Fla., where she will be evaluated and treated for dehydration and insect bites, said Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle.
I'll bet there's some MIGHTY happy people in Winter Springs tonight!
That is all.
6 comments:
Similar story happened in WV: http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/0710/071015_34090c48.shtml
It was actually parent's next-door neighbor's kid. You should have seen how quickly the community organized itself and found him.
What is sad to consider, however, is how well would she have lasted alone in a big city for that long without being beaten, killed, or assaulted?
That is nothing short of astounding.
Not as much as you might think. Asperger's syndrome doesn't deserve the name "autism" -- there's some question over whether it should be called a mental disorder at all. People with Asperger's aren't stupid, or nonverbal, or crippled, or any of the other things we normally associate with "autistic." They're just somewhat obsessive about their interests, and less competent than "normal" at certain aspects of social interaction.
Nadia probably went into the woods with some specific goal in mind, forgot to mark any way back home, and got lost. Happens to kids hundreds of times every day.
*Anyone* lost in the swamps of FLA for four days coming out with scratches is pretty miraculous IMHO...
Gang,
I used to live in So. FL. Let me give you a list of possible threats this young lady could have faced. In no particular order of importance or dangerousness:
1) Copperhead rattlesnakes
2) Water moccosan snakes (viper)
3) Gators up to 12 FEET long
4) Pythons (set loose by f*cktard
irresponsible owners)
5) Boa contrictors (see pythons)
6) FL panther (a cougar)
7) various & sundry poison spiders
8) rug runners
And this is a short list.
I also second Wolf's comments about Aspergers. Most aspi's are social misfits but are frequently highly intelligent. But Jay, you are correct. Surviving four days in the 'Glades is no small accomplishment. Had this happened in July or August when temps are frequently above 95 degrees with sky-high humidity, things could have been different.
That is my old home town and I can tell you there are a lot of swamps there that I wouldnt go into armed with my AR. She is a very lucky girl.
Post a Comment