30-year-old man with special needs enjoys his first birthday party all thanks to a former teacher who took him in when his father passed away
- Chris Barrington, 30, has special needs with the functionality of a six-year-old
- After his father became sick with leukemia, Chris walked out unannounced
- He was found by cops after two days but only remembered his teacher’s name
- Michelle Girard had taught Chris when he was a teenager in junior high
- Chris’ father passed away and so Michelle invited him to live with her family
- The former student is now experiencing a different kind of life as Michelle hopes that he will become part of her family permanently
Chris Barrington, 30, has special needs with the functionality of a six-year-old
A man with special needs who was found wandering along a Texas highway has been taken in by his junior high school teacher almost 15 years after she first taught him.
Chris Barrington, who has the functionality of a six-year-old, was found walking at the side of the road in Gatesville, near Waco, after going missing for two days in June.
Life had become hard to bear for the 30-year-old man after his father, and his sole carer, was found to be suffering from leukemia. He had become so sick he could no longer move or look after his son any longer.
Chris decided to hit the road and head out on his own not knowing quite where he would end up.
After his dad became sick with leukemia, Chris walked out unannounced. He was found by cops after two days but only remembered his teacher’s name, Michelle Girard, pictured
Michelle Girard had taught Chris when he was a teenager in junior high and decided to take him under her wing. Here the pair are pictured at his very first birthday party
Fortunately, he was picked up by the Gatesville Sheriff’s Department, however, the only thing he could remember was the name of a teacher at school who had taught him for four years: Mrs Girard.
Michelle Girard had taught Chris when he was a teenager and hadn’t seen him in years.
When the police department called her, she was happy to take Chris in.
‘He deserves a good life,’ Michelle told KWTX. ‘He’s had a hard life.’
‘He’s never had a birthday present, a birthday party, he’s never had Christmas, Thanksgiving, nothing,’ she said. ‘So this year is going to be full of firsts.’
The former student is now experiencing a different kind of life as Michelle hopes that he will become part of her family permanently
Chris’ father passed away and so Michelle invited him to live with her family
‘I said ‘what happens if I don’t take him? Will he get in a group home?’ They said no, he’ll he’d go in to an institution,’ Michelle, pictured, said. ‘I said not on my watch he’s not.’
As Chris turned 30 this month, he got to experience his first birthday party ever when Michelle decided to throw him a surprise celebration.
He ended up celebrating with Michelle’s family who have embraced him as one of heir own.
A Waco fishing company also arranged for Chris to go on his first boat ride and fishing trip.
‘You know there are so many things that kids want to do,’ said Jimmy Bennett, owner of JMB Fishing.
‘They want to go to Disney. I have one that wants to go to Hawaii on a shark fishing trip. Chris is happy to come out on Lake Waco and ride around on a boat. That’s all he wants to do,’ he said.
Michelle has brought the 30-year-old under her wing and celebrated his 30th with her family
Chris also got to go on his very first fishing trip thanks to a local company
Sadly, just a few weeks ago, Chris’ father finally passed away and he had nowhere else to go.
‘I said ‘what happens if I don’t take him? Will he get in a group home?’ They said no, he’ll he’d go in to an institution,’ Michelle said. ‘I said not on my watch he’s not.’
Such is the loyalty Michelle feels towards her former pupil, she is now working to make Chris a permanent part of her family and applying for legal guardianship.