There are times — and I don’t want to say that these times make one finally believe, or restores their faith, in the innate goodness of people — but there are times when the simple, selfless acts of compassion and a little leg work reaffirms one’s faith that people care and are willing to help others.

Last Saturday, around 11:15 a.m., 10-year-old Matthew Lindberg escaped from the confines of his fenced in yard along Grand Blanc Road.

For Matthew, the sojourn probably seemed like the chance for a curious child to explore the world beyond his normal borders. For his mother, Michelle, it was the waking nightmare parents dread — especially in Matthew’s case.
Matthew is autistic and can’t speak.

Michelle, who is partially blind, didn’t see Matthew walk out of the gate: she was busy trying to save her other son, who had jumped into the family’s pool. Three of the four Lindberg children are autistic.

When Michelle realized Matthew was gone, she went into a chaotic scramble to try to find her missing boy. Once word spread that Matthew was missing, about 40 neighbors joined the search, scouring the neighborhoods and nearby woods.

The neighborhood really came together to help find Matthew, Michelle said. “People were everywhere looking for Matthew, which really surprised me because most people don’t want to get involved.

“The police department brought in a dog to try and find Matthew, but it was some guy from Grand Pointe Apartments (down the road from the Lindbergs’ home) who found him,” Michelle said, adding the man who found Matthew left before she could thank him.

Matthew spent an hour and 20 minutes away from home that day, but I’m sure it was an hour and 20 minutes that will stay with his parents for a lifetime.

“I was so hysterical when they brought him back,” Michelle said, pointing out that she didn’t have the presence of mind to properly thank people at the time.

Now she wants to make sure that everyone who helped search for Matthew — especially the man who brought Matthew home — knows they have her deepest gratitude.

“I wish I could find who he was. I would really like to thank him,” Lindberg said. “I want to thank all the people who helped search.”

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