Good News From a Florida Swamp

"Missing 11-year-old girl found in central Fla."
The Associated Press (April 13, 2010)

"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.

" 'If I never believed in miracles, I sure do now,' Brunelle said during an afternoon news conference.

"Brunelle said Nadia told rescuers two things: 'I'm glad you guys found me' and 'I can't believe you guys rescued me.'

"Her sister has said Bloom, who has an autism-related disorder called Asperger syndrome, may have gone into the dense woods hoping to make a nature video...."

If young Ms. Bloom had been planning to make a nature video, I hope she kept the camera and recording medium with her: and got some good footage.

I'm also very glad she made it out alive, of course.

A word about that "autism-related disorder called Asperger syndrome:" It's something that's been getting more attention lately, which is just as well. Although most (almost all, from what I've seen) discussion of Aspergers focuses on children with the symptoms.

Good thing, too: since although it can't be cured, it's possible to train people who have Asperger's to deal with it. Which I think is worthwhile. We're not stupid: we've just got brains that are wired a bit differently.

No typo: I meant to write "we." I'm getting evaluated this fall, to see where I stand on a number of continua which include ADD and Aspergers. It'd have been nice, if some of this had been caught a half-century ago - but the research hadn't been done then.

Back to Nadia Bloom: I'm happy that she's alive. But probably nowhere near as happy as members of her family are.

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More, about Asperger's syndrome:

• "Asperger's syndrome | Definition"
  Mayo Clinic