By Nancy Edwards
Most people take for granted that neighborhood streets are clean. A 12-year-old local boy with autism recently took time to thank the Fishers Department of Public Works for all it does — yet never expecting that he would receive the gratitude he expressed tenfold.
Dominic DeWald, who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, received a visit from DPW employees just before Christmas — along with gifts and 40 cards from DPW employees humbled by Dominic’s selfless gesture.
“When you consider the challenges that Dominic is faced with in life it was really touching for him to take time to let us know how much he appreciates the Department of Public Works and the work we perform around the community,” said Eric Pethtel, director of the Department of Public Works. “Dominic stated in his letter he wanted to hear back from us and there was no way we were going to ignore that request.”
According to Rachel DeWald, Dominic’s mother, the letter he wrote to the DPW is just one of many kind gestures that Dominic does every day.
“He has the most amazing gift to love everyone,” Rachel said. “He just doesn’t even know how to hate anyone.”
Rachel said that Dominic “touches people’s lives. He’s never not greeted someone who walks past. He has to say ‘Hi’ to every single person.”
When employees from DPW showed up at Dominic’s home, he was overjoyed to discover the employees also brought 13 trucks for him to see.
“I thought, ‘There’s so many trucks!’ I liked the vacuum hose on the one that sucks up the sewage,” he said.
Dominic also received a personalized street sign with his name on it, in addition to a job offer with the DPW when he graduates.
“Dominic was overwhelmed with emotion,” Rachel said. “It wasn’t until he came in (the house) that he said, ‘I feel like crying. Can you cry because you’re happy?’”
“I felt like my heart was going to burst,” Dominic said of the DPW visit. “I feel so happy that they did this for me.”
