Walmart employee who helped mom of autistic child during meltdown gets thanked for Feel Good Friday

EastIdahoNews.com is partnering with Ashley and Ashley Outlet of Idaho Falls to honor people in our community for Feel Good Friday. Every week, we surprise someone deserving of special recognition.

We recently received an email from a mother who was the recipient of a kind act from a Walmart employee. She wrote:

I have a 9-year-old son named Declan. Declan was born extremely prematurely, and he has developmental delays as well as autism. He is non-verbal, and at times, his inability to communicate his needs can lead to frustration and aggression. Tonight, while shopping with him at Walmart, Declan became severely agitated and combative. He was pulling my hair, biting me, and pushing me around—he’s incredibly strong, and I was struggling to manage his behavior.

Recognizing that it wouldn’t be safe to leave the store or drive in his current state, I attempted to get him into a hold on the floor while calling my husband to come to Walmart. As you can imagine, we made quite a scene. Normally, I am used to people staring or even pointing, but tonight was different. Declan had managed to get a few good bites in early on, and he’s been struggling more than usual lately. There I was, on the floor of Walmart, wrestling with my son, crying as people watched.

Thankfully, two special needs mothers and Coach Justin came to assist. I’m not sure what the store’s protocol is for situations like this, but Justin went above and beyond. He was calm, supportive, and made sure that Declan’s head was protected from hitting the ground. He even blocked a few bites and may have been bitten himself in the process. When he came to help, Justin mentioned that he has a son on the spectrum, which made me feel understood in a way I truly needed.

Eventually, we were able to get Declan safely to the car just as my husband arrived. Justin gave me a sincere hug and reassured me, telling me that I was doing a great job and not to worry about what had happened in the store. His kindness and support meant the world to me during a very challenging moment.

I would love to see Justin recognized for his compassion and assistance. He stepped in at a time when I felt completely overwhelmed and provided comfort when it was desperately needed. If I knew the names of the other individuals who helped, I would submit them as well, but I don’t.

We decided to visit Justin and thank him for his kindness. Check out the surprise in the video player above!

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