When Gwace and Dougie finally arrived at the clinic, Dougie clung nervously to his blankets and comfort items while rocking in the wheelchair. His swollen lip still hurt, and he kept pressing worried buttons on his AAC device.
"Hurts." "Home." "Scared."
Gwace stayed close beside him the entire time. "I know, buddy. We're almost there."
As the clinic door opened, Dougie suddenly froze.
Standing near the nurses' station was Temple Grandin wearing soft blue scrubs and holding one of Dougie's favorite sensory fidgets.
The moment he recognized her, his whole expression changed.
Temple Grandin smiled warmly and walked over carefully so she would not overwhelm him. "Hi, Dougie," she said gently. "I heard you were having a very hard day."
Dougie immediately started crying again - but this time from relief instead of panic. He reached toward her while clutching his AAC device.
"Temple." "Best friend." "Stay."
"I'm staying with you," Temple promised softly.
Gwace looked relieved too. "He's been terrified all morning."
Temple Grandin sat beside Dougie and spoke calmly while he rocked against his weighted blanket. She understood exactly how overwhelming medical appointments could feel for someone with severe sensory sensitivities and anxiety.
"You brought all your comfort items," she noticed kindly.
Dougie nodded proudly and pointed toward the giant pile of bags filled with blankets, plush toys, sensory items, cooling rags, chew necklaces, and Project SEARCH scrubs.
Temple smiled. "Good thinking. Familiar things help your nervous system feel safer."
Dougie slowly calmed enough to let the nurse examine him while Temple and Gwace stayed on each side of him. Every time he became overwhelmed, Temple helped redirect him toward his sensory toys or calming videos on his iPad.
"You're doing a good job," she reassured him repeatedly.
When the nurse explained that Dr. Clyde had been called away unexpectedly, Temple Grandin gently helped prepare Dougie for another doctor to assist with draining the infection.
Dougie looked frightened again and pressed: "No." "Temple stay."
"I will," Temple said immediately. "I'll stay right beside you the whole time."
During the procedure, Gwace held Dougie's hand while Temple calmly talked him through each step in a predictable way that helped reduce his panic. Dougie squeezed his plush banana toy tightly but slowly relaxed once the painful pressure in his lip started easing.
Afterward, Temple Grandin helped wrap him snugly in his favorite blanket while he rested sleepily against the chair.
"All done," she said softly.
Dougie pressed one final button on his AAC device: "Wockwell campus."
Temple smiled warmly at Gwace. "I think Project SEARCH comfort time sounds like exactly what he needs now."
Dougie gave a tired but happy little nod while hugging his comfort items close.
