Hudson Family To Donate Son's Brain To Autism Research
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It is supposed to be the month when they plan for their oldest child's high school graduation.
But a Hudson family is instead planning for his funeral.
Elliott Dawson, 17, died in a bicycle crash last Friday. He was biking down a hill in Hudson when he collided with a parked car on the other side.
Neighbors waited with him until an ambulance arrived. He passed away at Regions Hospital.
"We came home that night and we were all sitting on our couch. That wasn't right, because we shouldn't all be able to fit on the couch," said Jill Dawson, Elliott's mother.
From her family couch, she her husband Scott and daughter Livvy spoke in Elliott's honor.
Livvy says she loves piano and Elliott loved guitar, and the two would have contests to see who could play louder. Eighteen months apart, the siblings loved each other very much.
"I've always felt really close to him and he's always been an inspiration to me because he's battled so much," Livvy said.
Jill does not think many people knew Elliot had autism.
"He didn't need the autism to be special, he was a special kid in spite of the autism," Jill said.
His family says he had an undeniable will; a boy who loved his bike, loved helping elderly neighbors, taught himself guitar, learned to wrestle -- and to win. Elliott was always fighting right back at autism.
"It paid off," Jill said. "He went from an IQ of 70 to an IQ of 95."
Elliot's dad, Scott, says God gave his son the personality of "someone who was willing to take on all kinds of challenges." He says social interactions were sometimes a challenge for the Hudson High senior.
"If Elliott understood the outpouring of affection for him now and could see it, I think he would be stunned because he felt, he struggled being close to, to his peers," Scott said.
Jill says her son was a blessing.
"We don't know why we only had him for 18 years, but I'm thankful," Jill said. "We're both thankful for those 18 years we had him."
They did get to see their boy one last time.
"I told him that I'd keep performing and I'd bring his spirit with me on that stage and we'd fulfill our dreams together," Livvy said.
She sat at the piano and played for us, and to a photo of her and her big brother. She wrote a song for Elliott this week, which she will perform Friday at his funeral.
Elliott was a giver in life. His parents say he truly had a servant's heart. And in death, his family is donating his brain to autism researchers at the University of California, Davis' Mind Institute.
Jill heard about the institute at an autism conference years ago, and carried their card around for years, not knowing she would need it so soon. She hopes more people will support the organization.
Peg Shoemaker, Hudson High School's principal, shared this statement with WCCO:
"Elliot was a beautiful, kind-hearted soul and saw the best in all people and situations. He was a talented musician and could play 'O Sweet Child of Mine' on his electric guitar better than anyone. Elliot greatly touched both staff and students with his musical and intellectual talent, his kind heart, and his infectious laugh. Hudson High School misses him already," Shoemaker said.
Click here for information on Elliott's funeral arrangements.
