Parenting a child with special needs can often require a particular amount of patience and understanding. That's something Lenore Koppelman knows all too well as the mom of 9-year-old Ralph, who has autism. But it's not necessarily something others are always so aware of — especially strangers, who don't know Ralph, his backstory, or his triggers. That is why the New York mom was so touched on a recent trip to Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Florida, when a stranger swooped in amid one of Ralph's meltdowns and saved the day.
As Koppelman later explained on Facebook, her son had one goal in mind when they hit up the theme park: to make it on the Spider-Man ride.
"He kept on asking us if the ride was coming up soon, and we would reassure him and say 'Soon, Baby. Soon.'" Koppelman shared. "He was SO patient for SO long," she continued, explaining that the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride just happened to be last, which meant little Ralph really had to practice patience. But considering how excited he was, it wasn't easy.
"He would say 'Okay' and sigh, and then enjoy the next ride," she recalled. "But all the while, the excitement was building up to the pinnacle of his day: the Spiderman ride near the exit of Islands of Adventure."
By the time they finally made their way to the ride, Ralph was practically bursting with excitement.
But he'd still have to do some more waiting. (And waiting. And waiting.)
After grabbing their handicap access passes, the family had to make their way over to another section away from the line where Ralph "did his very best to regulate [his anticipation]," his mom shared. After several years of working with amazing special needs teachers and a therapy team, Ralph had learned a lot of tools for how to do this, and according to his mom, he was doing a great job at keeping his cool.
But then, just as the family made their way over to the ride and the end was in sight, they got the news: The ride had broken down.
Ralph was, understandably, devastated. And according to his mom, she could sense what was coming next — the inevitable meltdown.
"My husband and I know the signs," she wrote. "We could see it coming, like an oncoming train. And yet we couldn't dodge out of the way. There was nowhere else to go. The autistic meltdown was GOING to HAPPEN. And happen it DID."
As crowds of people began exiting the ride, Ralph collapsed onto the floor in a puddle of disappointment. But this wasn't a small outburst. It was a meltdown of epic proportions. One that definitely turned some heads.
"He began sobbing, screaming, rocking, hyperventilating, and truly struggling to breathe," his mom recalled.
But in the midst of it all, something pretty incredible happened.
"A woman who worked there named Jen came over … no … no, she RUSHED over," the mom shared, "and while I frantically kept trying to get him to stand up so he wouldn't get trampled on by people, she encouraged me to leave him on the floor if that is where he needed to be."
And then? Then she got down — right there on the floor with him.
"She rested next to him while he cried his heart out, and she helped him breathe again," his mom recalled. "She spoke to him so calmly, and while he screamed and sobbed, she gently kept encouraging him to let it all out. She told people to keep on walking around them, so they would stop standing there and staring. And then she told him it was okay for him to be sad and feel this way. She understood. She would feel the same way too. His feelings were validated. And she told him he could lay there with her as long as he needed to until he felt better."
In just a matter of moments, this lady -- this complete stranger -- had managed to calm little Ralph down, and leave his parents floored.
"Eventually, he DID feel better," Koppelman shared. "So they got up, and she told him he could have something from the gift shop to help him feel even better still. Anything up to $50."
Ralph scanned the shop, and he settled on a notebook and a pen, as well as an ID tag with Spider-Man's face on it.
The woman, who later shared that her name was Jen, even suggested some other toys that were more expensive. But Ralph's response? "No thanks, I'm good." (LOL — I'm not sure how many other 9-year-olds could have shown that much restraint when offered free toys.)
Ralph's mom was understandably moved by it all. Especially the part where he smiled and thanked Jen.
"He was exhausted and rattled, as we ALL get after one of his rare epic meltdowns," Koppelman said. "But what a relief it was that it was over."
If it comes as a pleasant surprise that Jen knew exactly what to do in response to Ralph's meltdown, no one was more surprised than his parents.
But get this: According to Jen, every employee at Universal Studios receives specialized training when it comes to autism and other special needs.
"I hugged her for the LONGEST time … several times, if I'm being honest," Koppelman wrote.
I'm willing to bet any mother in her shoes would do the same. Because as seemingly "small" as this brief encounter was, it sure meant the world to Ralph — just as it would to any other child with autism, who can often feel on the outside looking in.
