Aide saved autistic boy from being hit by car
Aide saved autistic boy from being hit by car
By JAMIE LONG, QMI Agency
OTTAWA — Jennifer Mackintosh says it was the greatest gift you can give a parent.
Two weeks ago, her autistic six-year-old son Alex was crossing a residential street in Kanata with his aide Justin Gaudreau, when he was almost struck by a car that ran a stop sign.
But Gaudreau's quick instincts -- lifting the boy and swinging him out of harm's way -- saved Alex.
"He really saved his life and it was just instinctive, it didn't matter if the car hit him," said Mackintosh, whose younger son Nathan, 3, is also autistic and is also cared for by Gaudreau.
"I don't think there are any words that can express what I felt."
The 28-year-old Gaudreau, who has helped the family for four years, suffered a dislocated left knuckle when his hand bounced off the car, which didn't stop after the incident.
"There was just enough room between us and the curb and he whipped by to cut another car off," said the Algonquin College student, who is studying early childhood education.
Now basic things like doing up his coat and washing his hair are tedious.
The injury has also prevented him from taking Alex on walks two nights a week while his mother works.
The two-hour strolls are important to help Alex stay active, which then means he is more focused the next morning in his Grade 1 class, Mackintosh said.
Gaudreau added it is important to focus on behaviour therapy exercises for both boys, which has been tough the last couple weeks.
Having a male aide like Gaudreau has been vital for her boys, though, added Mackintosh, something that is hard to find.
The ratio of female to male aides is about four to one.
She also called Gaudreau the family's "little angel" and said he is one of only 12 people Alex acknowledges.
"Some people can walk into a room and kids are interested and happy. He makes everyone in the room feel special," she said.