Christopher Dixon
“Then little children were being brought to Him in order that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.’”-Matthew 19:13-15
Christopher Paul Dixon passed to the arms of Jesus Christ on Friday, September 22 of this year. Christopher loved many things, but especially music, dancing, traveling by air and trains, tigers and penguins. He never spent a day in which he didn’t gladden the hearts of everyone he met with his smile and infectious laughter.
In many ways, Christopher’s autism allowed him to touch the lives of his parents, grandparents, caregivers and friends in unexpected and surprising fashions: he would reach up and take his mother or father’s hand while walking for no obvious reason; he would sit and share special moments with his younger cousin, Michael, and ride with him on a special tricycle his grandparents obtained; he would swing so high that he became horizontal to the ground while laughing out loud.
Christopher traveled with his parents from infancy; he went with them everywhere possible. He visited the Smokey Mountains, Nashville and Chattanooga, San Diego, Mackinac Island, Toronto; but his favorite destinations were Chicago, to the Shedd Aquarium, where he was overcome with joy to see the penguins walk in their aquatic show and Frankenmuth, Michigan, where his favorite holiday, Christmas, happens every day. Christopher would also run to the tigers at the Potawatomi Zoo, where he would stand long periods, waving his hands and calling to them.
Christopher loved the water, and would insist on playing in his backyard pool frequently, even when you or I would be uncomfortable. He never was.
He was a lifelong fan of the South Bend Cubs, and asked every day to go to Four Winds Field, even on days when the team was traveling or not playing. At every game, he looked for Stu, the mascot, and would stand and shake his hands in excitement when he waved at him.
Christopher’s autism challenged him in many ways, as well. He had not an ounce of fear in his soul, and no conception of danger. But even this allowed him to make new friends at the Elkhart County Sheriff Department, who served him with Operation Lifesaver, a project to track and locate people who wander.
Although we who love him know that he now rests and plays under the watchful eyes of our Savior, our souls are rent and ragged at the loss of our love incarnate. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 30 at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, 226 W. Lexington Avenue, Elkhart, IN at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Hopebridge Pediatric Specialties, 17390 Dugdale Dr., South Bend, IN 46635. Hopebridge, over only a few months, helped Christopher improve his quality of life in ways that no other therapy or organization could, and he loved them dearly.