OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Jacquelin Koon describes her life as “boring.” However, as the mother of five children—three of whom live at home—her daily routine is far from uneventful.
Of Koon’s five children, two-year-old Wyatt, who will turn three in just over a month, is the second youngest. Wyatt is a rambunctious fellow, as one might expect of a two-year-old exploring the world.
Developmental Delays and Growing Concerns
During Wyatt’s early years, doctors informed Koon that he was lagging behind developmentally. “I felt that he was fine; meanwhile, his doctors told me he was a little behind,” says Koon.
Wyatt’s first steps came at 18 months, much later than Koon’s older children, who walked by 10 months. She initially thought it was a delay and blamed herself, feeling that her fear of Wyatt injuring himself on the tile floors had kept him from developing normally.
Signs of Autism Begin to Emerge
As Wyatt grew older, his behavior started to raise further concerns. He rarely spoke, avoided eye contact, and exhibited repetitive behaviors like rocking back and forth and hitting his hands together. “He’ll sit there and hit his hands together constantly,” she said.
“I’ve seen him reach for the stove. He’s reached for steam,” says Koon. “He’s climbed on the kitchen counter… he doesn’t think he can fall off, so he’ll try and walk right off the top.”
To make matters worse, Wyatt’s fixation with climbing leads to his bedroom.
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“He’ll climb out of the crib, so I can’t put him in one,” she says.
Instead, Koon bought a floor bed and placed it in her bedroom so she could monitor Wyatt at all times.
Anger and Behavioral Struggles
Wyatt also faced challenges with anger management. During a Pre-K assessment, he became frustrated and threw a therapist’s jacket. “My first reaction was, oh my gosh, that’s a new side I haven’t seen,” said Koon.
This frustration has also led to him throwing toys at his younger brother, Cole. “I can’t allow them alone, so I’m always in the room with them at all times. I don’t think he means to hurt anyone; I just don’t think he completely understands,” Koon shared.
Diagnosis and Denial
Last year, Wyatt was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which was confirmed through developmental testing.
Koon said she initially struggled to accept her son’s autism diagnosis. Her only previous experience with autism had been through her nephew, who is high-functioning, so she wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.
“You can tell my nephew is autistic: he has a mindset that is younger than he is,” she said. “But he’s an adult, he talks, he has a job, he drives a car.”
Koon’s greatest fear is that Wyatt will run off, as he has attempted multiple times. “He darted from me in the parking lot… I had to chase after him,” she recalled emotionally, describing the intense fear she feels for his safety.
Koon’s fear spreads to Wyatt’s time in the classroom. The classroom Wyatt is set to enroll in holds two teachers to nine kids, and she’s worried he’ll dart off in this setting.
Seeking a Service Dog for Wyatt
Koon has started researching service dogs, hoping one might help with Wyatt’s behavior.
“A service dog would prevent that from happening. It would also help him with his meltdowns and everything like that,” she explained. “I won’t be with him when he’s in school. I can’t sit there; otherwise, I would. It’s a struggle, but I love him so much, and I want to do whatever I can to help him succeed in life and get him on the right road to learning.”
GoFundMe for Wyatt’s Service Dog
In an effort to raise the necessary funds, Koon has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a $25,000 goal. “I’m just trying to get his story out there so that maybe, as a community, we can eventually reach that goal,” she said.
So far, the campaign has raised $75. To donate to Wyatt’s service dog fund, you can visit the GoFundMe page.