A week ago our son, who is severely autistic, was separated from his brother during a bike ride as they were entering a trail head off Witte Road.

What followed was a five-hour search that ended up encompassing a huge number of people, many whom we had never met, helping in the search.

We wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who pitched in without question to help us find our son.

The Maple Valley police force were amazing, the search and rescue team, all our neighbors in Cedar Downs and The Highlands at Cedar Downs that joined the search, the staff and maintenance crew at Lake Wilderness that scoured beachfront and trails and especially the mother that found him nearly five miles away and called the police because of her concern.

Although our son is 10, he has the mental capacity of about a toddler and truly had no idea he was even lost. To him this was just an adventure, an “adventure” that nearly gave us a nervous breakdown.

We are proud to live in a city were a lost little boy became everyone’s child for a few hours until he was brought home.

Lance and Debbie Wright

Maple Valley