Dougie sat curled up in his chair holding his plush banana toy while tears rolled down his face from the painful infection in his lip. Around him were piles of comfort items - blankets, sensory toys, chew necklaces, his AAC device, and his favorite Project SEARCH scrubs stuffed into bags Gwace had hurriedly packed.
Gwace crouched beside him and spoke in a calm gentle voice.
"Oh, my poor favorite intern. I know this hurts really bad," she said, helping him keep his weighted blanket around his shoulders. "I'm going to take you to Dr. Clyde and he'll help drain the infection."
Dougie whimpered softly and rocked back and forth.
"And yes," Gwace continued warmly, "all 230 comfort items can come with us. Your blankets, plush toys, iPad, sensory toys, scrubs - everything."
Dougie looked up slightly when he heard that.
Gwace gently wrinkled her nose a little and checked his pull-up bag. "Looks like you might need a pull-up change too, buddy. That's okay. We'll get you cleaned up before we leave."
After helping him change into clean clothes and soft Project SEARCH scrubs, she carefully packed his AAC device and favorite comfort items into the car.
"And after Dr. Clyde helps you," Gwace promised, "we can either go home or go to Francis Tuttle Technology Center where you can relax with your iPad and all your comfort things. I might even have brand-new Project SEARCH scrubs waiting for you."
Dougie's eyes widened hopefully. With shaky hands, he grabbed his AAC device and pressed buttons carefully.
"Wockwell campus pwease." "Gwace pwease." "Pwoject swearch."
Gwace immediately smiled.
"You want to go to Project SEARCH after the doctor?"
Dougie nodded fast while hugging his blanket tightly.
"Okay," she said reassuringly. "First Dr. Clyde, then we'll go to the Rockwell campus for comfort time."
That answer seemed to calm him almost instantly. During the drive, Dougie held his iPad close and quietly watched videos while surrounded by blankets and plush toys. Even though he still hurt, he seemed relieved knowing he would get to return to the familiar comfort of Francis Tuttle Technology Center afterward.
