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Mom thanks community for finding child
Thelma Grimes
Vail Sun
A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare, and Sabrina Jarkowski of Vail was no exception last Thursday night when her 7-year-old son Reis could not be found.
Reis, who suffers from autism, took off riding his bicycle early that evening Jarkowski said.
"He took his stick and said he was going off to fight space aliens," she said. "He was gone and we couldn't find him. We started looking all over and asking the neighbors if they had seen him, and then we called the police."
While the story ends happily -- Reis was found near the Del Lago housing development -- Jarkowski said she is appreciative of the community support.
"When we asked our neighbors if they had seen them, they didn't just say no and go back to making dinner," Jarkowski said. "They came out and started looking for him as well."
In the two hours that Reis was missing, Jarkowski said she realized that she and her family live in a great community. Because the live near Cienega High School, the athletes in soccer practice also went out looking for the little boy.
"They just stopped practice and started helping us," Jarkowski said. "School buses starting driving around thinking that he might see them and go to them because they are familiar."
Later in the evening after it had gotten dark, Reis flagged down a group of teenagers in Del Lago and asked for help. The kids asked him some questions and then helped him find his way home.
"These kids could have just driven off," Jarkowski said. "But they didn't; they asked him questions and they showed some sympathy and found him some help. I can't even put into words how much I appreciate what those kids and this community did for us."
After the ordeal was over, Jarkowski said she stopped shaking and was able to think.
"I just wanted to find a way to reach out and say how much this family appreciates what all these people who don't even know us did," she said. "My son doesn't really know stranger danger and doesn't understand all of that. As his mother, I just panicked and really started thinking the worst. There were just hundreds of people out there looking for him. All of us need to know and appreciate what we have. We may not have a grocery store, but I know we have each other. It really does take a village, and I think this community can come together for anything."
Vail Sun
A missing child is every parent's worst nightmare, and Sabrina Jarkowski of Vail was no exception last Thursday night when her 7-year-old son Reis could not be found.
Reis, who suffers from autism, took off riding his bicycle early that evening Jarkowski said.
"He took his stick and said he was going off to fight space aliens," she said. "He was gone and we couldn't find him. We started looking all over and asking the neighbors if they had seen him, and then we called the police."
While the story ends happily -- Reis was found near the Del Lago housing development -- Jarkowski said she is appreciative of the community support.
"When we asked our neighbors if they had seen them, they didn't just say no and go back to making dinner," Jarkowski said. "They came out and started looking for him as well."
In the two hours that Reis was missing, Jarkowski said she realized that she and her family live in a great community. Because the live near Cienega High School, the athletes in soccer practice also went out looking for the little boy.
"They just stopped practice and started helping us," Jarkowski said. "School buses starting driving around thinking that he might see them and go to them because they are familiar."
Later in the evening after it had gotten dark, Reis flagged down a group of teenagers in Del Lago and asked for help. The kids asked him some questions and then helped him find his way home.
"These kids could have just driven off," Jarkowski said. "But they didn't; they asked him questions and they showed some sympathy and found him some help. I can't even put into words how much I appreciate what those kids and this community did for us."
After the ordeal was over, Jarkowski said she stopped shaking and was able to think.
"I just wanted to find a way to reach out and say how much this family appreciates what all these people who don't even know us did," she said. "My son doesn't really know stranger danger and doesn't understand all of that. As his mother, I just panicked and really started thinking the worst. There were just hundreds of people out there looking for him. All of us need to know and appreciate what we have. We may not have a grocery store, but I know we have each other. It really does take a village, and I think this community can come together for anything."
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| Big question: When will Passages be done? | Behavioral Support Team at Cienega enjoys good results |
Dadvocate wrote on Dec 12, 2007 10:50 AM: