Stuck in the Airport, Saved by a Prayer

My son and I recently took a trip to the Midwest. We were meeting friends to go to visit car washes. We saw dozens of them. It sounds strange to someone who hasn’t experienced it. But my son is on the autism spectrum, and he loves car washes. He has several friends who are his age, also on the spectrum, and love car washes. Usually, they are relegated to communicating online. But this summer, the 5 of them got to meet up in Wisconsin. Seeing their joy at being together is something I will never forget. But before that glorious moment, we had to wade through great difficulty.

Stuck in O’Hare airport

If anyone has ever been to O’Hare airport, you already know a great deal about our difficult journey. We had flown American Airlines from Salt Lake to O’Hare, and then we were supposed to go on to Madison, Wisconsin. But bad weather had us sitting on the runway for an hour and a half before takeoff, meaning we missed our connecting flight to Madison. American Airlines decided to be helpful and rebooked us automatically on their app for a flight 24 hours later.

This is where the trouble started. The app booked us, but the original flight had been held, and we were not notified. I got off the plane to discuss it with someone while my bag happily flew off to Wisconsin with the delayed second leg of our journey. My bag had all my meds, clothes, and everything in it. Yeah, I know, I will never do that again. Long story short, we got to sleep in the O’Hare airport baggage claim.

After being on the phone for hours, I managed to change our flight, get my bag back, and alter our entire itinerary to drive to meet the friends from O’Hare and skip the flight to Madison. It saved us from missing a whole day with our friends, but it made for a sleepless night. O’Hare is a confusing maze with few signs, and since we inadvertently left the secure area, it is also a place without any restaurants or comfortable seating.

Miracles

But here is where the miracles began. First, my son usually needs routine and the same foods every day. But he was able to handle staying up for 32 hours straight and ate out of vending machines without complaint. Second, despite getting turned around and finding that the ground level of O’Hare’s terminal 3 resembles a post-apocalyptic movie complete with homeless people camped among the concrete pillars, we were safe.

We found our way back to baggage claim and waited for our bags in relative safety. And we weren’t alone. Every available seat was occupied with some people on the floor, and though that was uncomfortable for all of us, there was safety in numbers. We were also blessed by a friendly custodian who let us use extra trash bags that I turned into ponchos and blankets, because it was cold and raining. And once I stopped shivering, I was able to sleep a little.

I’ll admit that I wanted to turn around and get back on the first flight home, and not even leave the airport. I was discouraged and deflated, and upset beyond anything I have been in many years. But my sweet son suggested I say a prayer, and those moments of peace got me through.

The Lord brought me calmness in a terrible time. I knew that we needed to continue on our trip as scheduled. And that things were going to improve. Once we had everything together and got out of the insanity of O’Hare, our trip was a dream. Everything went smoothly and effortlessly from that moment on.

Adversity

So I asked myself why we experienced such extreme adversity at the beginning of this trip. And the only thing I can come up with is that the Adversary knew how important it was for these young men to get to spend time together doing what they love. The joy on their faces was delightful, and payment for all our struggles. I think every special needs mother understands how rare and valuable moments like these are.

Another delightful part of our trip was spending time with the other moms. Only two of the other moms could join us. But they were so fun to chat with. I loved discussing our sons and comparing stories. It is a special kind of therapy where you can commiserate with other moms who have experienced the same things you have. These women are so inspiring. And I learned a lot from them. Their guidance has helped me be a better mother.

In Ether 12:6, it says:

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

This trip increased my faith in the Lord and His ability to support me no matter what I am facing. We had so many tender mercies, and honestly, I can’t even tell you how much my son supported me through this. That has never happened before. In trips past, it has been a delicate balance trying to keep my son calm. And this time he helped me. He even stepped in and explained to the agent what I was trying to say when I had become overwhelmed.

If you have a child on the spectrum, you will know how truly miraculous this whole experience was. He was strong, patient, and expressed himself well. Of all the miracles on this trip, I think my son’s growth and support through this trial were among the most moving.