MN MN - Tonya Yarmakov, 23, Autistic, diabetic, family says she ran from fishing dock, Savanna Portage State Park, McGregor, Aitkin County, 4 Sep 2024

[Cb3800]

Tonya Yarmakov

DUNDAS — The light and joy of our life went out on September 4, 2024 when Tonya went missing in Savanna Portage state park in northern MN. She vanished without

www.southernminn.com

 

[kaen]

Devastatingly sad on so many levels. Her family must be gutted. The commentary about places for her to grow outside her home is dead on. I wish her family peace.

 

[bombardier]

I'm surprised how soon the family is planning a funeral without a body being found first, but I guess with her disabilities and T1D, there's only one real conclusion to this i wish her folks well.

 

[ClaraJune2288]

Unfortunately an obituary has been published for Tonya on 9/21. :-(

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/northfieldnews/name/tonya-yarmakov-obituary?id=56360769

I cannot access the full text, if any of you could please copy it

Tonya Yarmakov

DUNDAS — The light and joy of our life went out on September 4, 2024 when Tonya went missing in Savanna Portage state park in northern MN. She vanished without

www.southernminn.com

 

[realanastasia]

Unfortunately unavailable outside the US

Here is the full text:

“The light and joy of our life went out on September 4, 2024 when Tonya went missing in Savanna Portage state park in northern MN. She vanished without a trace! We firmly believe that this tragedy could have been avoided if she had had adequate supports and services. In all of Rice County, there is / was not a single job training or day program for her to attend. There was not any respite for her parents. And there was not a single place in all of Rice County for her to live. A job and a place to live - aren't those basic human rights? Despite her daily challenges of having the dual diagnoses of Autism and Type 1 diabetes, some people said that she had the "sunshine gene." Her psychologist of over a decade said -"she was an incredible person." And a complete stranger in a waiting room once said, if we all had as much joy as she does, this world would be a much different and better place." She was born in MInneapolis but lived the majority of her short 23 years here in the Northfield area. She loved reading and going to the library and traveling and cats and dogs and buying books at Goodwill - but most of all she loved people and life - the 2 most important things any and all of us should love. So, if you want to do something in Tonya's memory - pay your taxes (government social services are the biggest supplier of services for the disabled) and contact your county commissioner and senator and representative and advocate for people with Autism and their families. A celebration of Tonya's life will be held Saturday, October 5 at 1:00pm at Valley Grove in Nerstrand. She was preceded in death by her 2 Grandmothers and a Grandfather. She is survived by her devastated parents, her favorite brother, a Grandfather, 3 uncles, 2 aunts, cousins and adopted grandparents, Richard and Katherine Collman and all the many friends that she met wherever she went.”

 

[Kimkimba]

I’m so sad for Tonya and her family. I also have a young adult daughter with autism and services are truly non-existent.

 

[aimeea]

DBM

 

[FrazzledNoodle]

Welcome! What happened in your opinion? Why would Tonya suddenly stand up and run away?

As a parent of an autistic child, who has severe phobias. Just yesterday I was picking him up at his after school program, and he spotted a dragon fly. He dropped his bookbag and was running across the parking lot so fast.. It all happened so fast, that the adult standing beside him didn't even have time to react. Luckily, there were no moving cars in the parking lot since it was late after school hours and there was an adult walking with their child who was able to corral him.

But things just happen so quickly.. He has a lot of fears.. Bugs, any buzzing noise that MAY be a bug, any loud noises that hurts his ears like an ambulance horn.. These are all things that he would absolutely run away from without a second thought. He has no thought process for danger, or situational awareness like a car may be coming so he can not run through the parking lot.. He just goes.

When I am with him, I always have a hand on him.. whether we are holding hands, or my hand is on his shirts/pant loop without him realizing.. As he is getting older (8) he no longer wants to hold hands with me, so I have to be sneakier in this so that he keeps his dignity with peers and I keep him safe. There is no easy way.