Autism Society recognizes Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Working in pediatrics, she saw plenty of children come and go. Some were in and out in a matter of minutes with an upset stomach or slight fever, but others became lifelong patients.

One child in particular stood out.

The child scored very high on the Autism Spectrum, indicating a strong likelihood of Asperger Syndrome Disorder or autism. Through repeated visits, a connection between the two sparked a passion in Senior Airman Lauren Dennis, now a medical technician at the 4th Medical Operations Squadron women's health clinic.

Her passion for helping autistic children recently earned Dennis was presented with the Autism Society of North Carolina, Wayne County Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award.

"Being recognized by the Autism Society makes me feel like I am making a difference in the community, which really means a lot to me," Dennis said proudly.

The Wayne County Chapter meets every third Friday of the month, providing parents with guest speakers as well as support groups. Unfortunately, some of the parents often struggled to find babysitters for their children and were not able to attend the meetings.

Retired Master Sgt. Terry Daily, co-chairperson of the Wayne County Chapter and custodial grandfather of the autistic child Dennis bonded with, mentioned the idea of having volunteers come out to babysit at one of his granddaughters appointments. Dennis was immediately onboard.

"Senior Airman Dennis has volunteered more than 40 hours over the past two years, giving up many of her Friday evenings to come out and help the parents by watching their children," Daily explained. "Most of the children look forward to having the 'nice lady' come spend time with them."

During these monthly meetings, she spent time with the children doing a variety of activities, including coloring, watching movies and reading. Dennis said even though at times some of the children's short attention spans kept her busy, she was able to bounce back and worth with the same tempo.

Dennis' efforts also helped cut some costs for parents learning to cope with their children's disease.

"The most rewarding thing about working with the Autism Society is knowing that I am helping the parents out," Dennis said. "They are actually able to attend the meetings, knowing that their children are well taken care of, and at no cost."

Although she no longer works in pediatrics, Dennis continues to volunteer with the Wayne County Chapter to assist with autistic children and their families. She also continues her relationship with the Daily family and cherishes the bond that brought her more meaning to her life.