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May 23, 2022Toms River Little League Family Fun Day
May 24, 2022
According to news reports, a Toms River family's trip to Aruba has turned into a nightmare, and they need assistance getting home.
On May 10, Jamie Greene, her three children, and her boyfriend boarded a plane to Aruba. Elijah Kapatos, her 15-year-old son, has "low-functioning, non-verbal autism," according to Greene. Elijah had travelled to Florida and back in 2016, and had handled the flight to Aruba with ease, but he refused to board the flight home on May 17.
Jamie is still trying to figure out how to get him home a week later.
"As soon as we got on the plane, he got a little agitated," she added, "but we just kind of nudged him to go on the plane." "He needed to use the restroom right away." 'Toilet!' he screamed over and over. That's secure for him because it's a little room with no windows and he can't see what's going on."
The United Airlines flight crew, according to Greene, was as courteous as possible.
"Flight attendants said he could stay in the bathroom the entire flight however all he had to do was sit for takeoff," she explained. They attempted to restrain him in his seat but he overpowered them.
Elijah stands 5'9" tall and weighs 200 pounds.
Greene explained, "It got to the point where the captain said, 'You guys are going to have to get off,' and we agreed." "We realize the issue of safety. We simply just didnt' realize how hard it would be to get home."
Greene ruled out flying commercially again.
"He's made up his mind that he's not getting on another plane," she explained. "There's no way he's going to sit for it."
Greene has been trying to book an air ambulance — a special medical-transport flight — for the past week. She said that family and friends contributed enough money to cover the $33,000 bill, but the company, which she did not name, backed out on Monday due to safety concerns.
Greene's other two children, ages 12 and 7, are scheduled to return home commercially with her boyfriend on Tuesday so they can go back to school. Elijah attends Tinton Falls' Shore Center for Students with Autism.
“He’s a beautiful boy,” Greene said. “He just needs to be home.”
To keep the trip's costs down, the family has switched lodgings twice.
"We're sitting here in paradise, and we're as scared as we've ever been," Greene added.
She is researching possible boat transportation possibilities, such as cruises. She's also looking for recommendations.
"We're doing everything we can to figure this out," she stated.
