Toms River family trapped in Aruba, needs help getting son with autism back home
A family vacation to Aruba has turned into a nightmare for a Toms River family, and they need help coming home.
Jamie Greene, her three children and her boyfriend flew to Aruba May 10. Her eldest child, 15-year-old Elijah Kapatos, has what Greene describes as “low-functioning, non-verbal autism.” Although Elijah had flown to Florida and back in 2016 and handled the flight to Aruba with no problem, he balked upon boarding the flight home May 17.
A week later, Jamie is still trying to figure out how to get him home.
“As soon as we went to step on that plane he got a little agitated, but we basically just kind of nudged him to get onto the plane,” she explained. “He immediately wanted to go into the bathroom. He kept screaming, ‘Toilet!’ For him that’s safe, it’s a small room and has no windows, so he can’t see what’s going on.”
Update: Jamie and Elijah have found a way home. Read all about it here.
Greene said the staff of the United Airlines flight was as accommodating as possible.
“(Flight attendants) said he could stay in the bathroom the whole time; he just needed to be seated during takeoff,” she said. “We tried to hold him (in place in his seat). He overpowered us.”
Elijah is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
“It got to the point where the captain said, ‘You guys are going to have to get off,’ and we agreed,” Greene said. “We understand the safety aspect of it. We just didn’t realize how hard it would be to get home.”
Greene ruled out taking another commercial flight.
“He’s got it in his head that he’s absolutely not getting on another plane,” she said. “There’s no way he’s going to sit for it.”
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Greene spent the past week trying to book an air ambulance — a special medical-transport flight. She said family and friends chipped in enough money to help her cover the $33,000 cost, but the company, which she declined to name, backed out on Monday due to safety concerns.
Greene’s other two children, ages 12 and 7, are scheduled to fly home commercially with her boyfriend Tuesday so they can get back to school. Elijah attends Shore Center for Students with Autism in Tinton Falls.
“He’s a beautiful boy,” Greene said. “He just needs to be home.”
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The family has changed hotels twice to try to blunt the trip’s ballooning cost.
“We’re sitting here in paradise and we’re as scared as we’ve ever been in our lives,” Greene said.
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She is looking into potential boat transportation options, including cruises. She is also seeking any suggestions.
“We are trying our best to figure this out,” she said.
Anyone who can help Jamie Green and her son Elijah return to New Jersey or can point them in the right direction for help should email jamie.elijahsmom@gmail.com.
Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River family stuck in Aruba after son with autism won't fly home
