Why We’re Running: Meet the Family Behind TWN Flames’ Kaiju Special
At our last hibachi dinner, Mikey watched his food arrive and announced, “Come to Papa.”
Then he realized he had the whole table’s attention and his smirk said it all.
That’s our boy. A sushi lover who will happily work his way through slabs of yellowtail. A master at Minecraft. Fascinated by natural disasters. Currently very invested in Godzilla and Kong, and The Backrooms (if you know what that is, try not to judge us too harshly). He's compassionate, detail-oriented, loving, and discovering just how much he enjoys making people laugh.
He loves rules. He loves his classmates. He works so hard at school, and we are constantly impressed by what he accomplishes.
His name is Michael. We call him Mike or Mikey. He’s autistic, and he is perfectly himself.
He’s also the reason our family is heading back to Philadelphia for the 2027 Eagles Autism Challenge 5K as TWN Flames: The Kaiju Special. We’re raising $5,000 for the Eagles Autism Foundation, and we want to share why this means so much to us.
If you'd like to skip this next part and find out how you can support, click below.
We had a lot to learn
Our journey toward Mikey’s autism diagnosis began when he was three, while we were living in Hawaii.
Someone at his daycare stopped me in an outdoor walkway and told me she thought Michael was autistic. What followed was a list of things he might never do. He might never speak. He might never have a job. He may never drive. He may never have a family of his own. She told me other children were taking his toys and running away from him and that he would cry, everyday.
It was pouring rain. It felt like a bad movie. I was soaked. And I felt as though someone had just taken all the hopes and dreams I had for my baby boy and decided their ending.
I dropped our baby off in his classroom, left Michael in a place that suddenly felt much less welcoming, and pushed the stroller back to my car.
I called James. I sat in my car in the daycare parking lot and sobbed.
I was scared, and I didn’t yet understand what this meant for our family.
All I knew is that everything I thought I knew had shifted.
So, we started making calls. We did research. We went to appointments. We learned about our son and what he needed.
We learned that transitions were hard for Mike, that large transitions could come with major consequences for his development, so made the decision to come off active duty and we found our forever home. Giving our boys a steady place to grow became the center of our decisions.
Today, we’re Sydney and James, the parents and chefs behind TWN Flames. The food, the humor, the chaos—you know that part. Our family is at the heart of the life we’re building.
The little things mean everything
When he was a toddler, he may not have had the words, but Mike did have alarmingly accurate wildlife scenes.
When Michael loves something, he consumes everything he can about it. He is a walking nature documentary and Godzilla Super Fan.
But as parents, we longed to have some of that outward affection directed towards us. We would be okay no matter what, but my goodness we wanted it.
The first time we heard Michael say I love you, it wasn't to us.
We were in Utah. We had just finished up a genetics appointment we had waited over a year for just to hear, "nothing significant to report".
We took Mike to grab a toy, because trips to the doctor are never fun. He got his first King Kong action figure and he was elated.
Fast forward a few minutes James and I are driving and discussing and we hear, with the most bold clarity from the back seat, "I love you," we both sucked in a breath in preparation to respond only to hear, ".... King Kong!".
So yeah, we were beat out by the King. Fair loss, he is awesome. But still.
But in seriousness....
The first time we really heard Mikey say “I love you,” he was five.
We didn’t catch it on video. We weren't ready for it. We were doing our nightly goodnights, and he just… said it and rolled over in bed like it was any other day.
Some moments stop you in your tracks. That was one of ours.
There were phrases like “Look at that!” and “I did it!” Words and expressions he repeated from things he heard. Over time, we’ve gotten to hear more of what he’s thinking, what he notices, and what makes him laugh.
Now we get good mornings. Jokes. His very serious observations about the world. We get “Come to Papa” at the dinner table with strangers.
And we could talk about the same thing every day for the rest of my life just to hear his sweet voice.
Thriving looks different
Parenting Mikey has changed how we see the world.
Thriving looks different. Parenting looks different. “Right” is different.
Sometimes a hug looks like his back pressed against your side. Sometimes a kiss is a forehead touch. They mean everything.
We’ve learned patience in ways we never imagined. We’ve learned to advocate fiercely.
We have learned that we will never judge a parent whose child is holding an iPad in the grocery store. We've been the parents trying to help a child who is overstimulated, struggling with a transition (even a mirco one) while people stare, roll their eyes, and pass judgment.
There are hard days, especially when Mike can’t find the words to tell us what happened or what he needs. I remember picking him up from school and he rushed to me, sobbing. Not a tear, an all out world ending sob. All he could tell me was that someone was “being funny at him.” He was hurt. I wanted to understand. I wanted to help. As his mom, I was ready to burn the world, and all I had was that little sentence.
Was this our worst day? Not even close. But, experiences like that stay with you. They make you want more understanding in the world your child is growing up in.
For a while, it hardened us to people on the "outside".
But in moving to Buhl, We’ve also found people who lean in.
People who listen, learn, and make room for him.
People who will sit and talk about The Backrooms having no idea what that is. People who have said, "We've never done that, but send me all the information and we will try." (Shout out to L.C., who I will hold in my heart with irrevocable gratitude, you are an angel in the flesh).
Teachers who love our boy enough that kissing him bye in the morning doesn't feel quite like the black hole that it used to.
Family who supports and reassures us that we are not, in fact, failing at parenting either of our kids.
Friends who can laugh at the things that some people may not understand.
The school Librarian who gave Mikey a stern talking to and then was kind enough to laugh with me over the Natural Disasters that should not have been occurring inside a school library book. (See Above)
These people are irreplaceable. These people have helped our family live in all the ways we have been told were impossible.
Our community is “on purpose.” Our circle is tight, and our love is fierce.
We love you all dearly.
This belongs to all four of us
I've talked Mike, James, and me, but this family would not be complete without our Baby James.
"Jamie" is Mike's little brother and the cherry on top of our family.
Those who know him, know that he has eyes that look into your soul and wisdom far, far beyond his years.
What we see as his parents, is him noticing what Michael needs and explaining it to someone who doesn’t understand. There are times when he sees what we don't.
His fierce defense of their bond and strong love for whatever Michael loves. Even if it's "too scary for him".
He loves his brother deeply.
Jamie has a roll in life that has weight and consequences that he has no control over and yet, he holds it like a WWE belt on a Friday night. He's Michael's Brother and he is proud.
He also has his own needs, interests, and feelings. Finding that balance as parents matters and it is not easy. We strive to give him the room he deserves to be fully himself.
He is a die-hard Eagles fan, just like his dad. He’s that fan. The one we joke about greasing the light poles for. If you know, you know.
So yes, there will be plenty of Eagles excitement on this trip. But what we’re looking forward to most is being together in a community where Mike can meet more people whose brains work like his, and Jamie can meet other siblings who share parts of his experience.
That possibility feels like coming home.
Why we love the Eagles Autism Foundation
We know how much research, resources, and support can matter to a family. We’ve seen Michael grow with help from people who understand him.
We also know getting that help can be difficult. Waiting lists can stretch for months or years. “He doesn’t look autistic” can leave you feeling hopeless. “He’s doing great today, so he doesn’t need that support” can make you feel like you’re starting the same conversation all over again.
That’s why the Eagles Autism Foundation’s work matters to us. It funds autism research and care, including community projects that provide services and resources. Its work connects scientific progress with support for people living their lives today.
We love that commitment. We love seeing the Eagles use their platform to bring people together around the autism community. And we love the chance to contribute alongside other families, fans, and people who care.
The Eagles Autism Challenge directs 100% of participant-raised funds to autism research and care programs. That gives us a clear purpose for every dollar we raise.
Come run with us—or eat for the cause
Our family will participate in the 2027 Eagles Autism Challenge on May 8 in Philadelphia, and our team’s fundraising goal is $5,000.
At TWN Flames, we’re donating $1 from every Kaiju Special sold to the Eagles Autism Foundation. We have temporarily renamed the "Side Piece," Our Giant Pork Katsu Sandwich with fresh cut fries, in honor of Mikey’s love of Godzilla, with a little TWN Flames personality thrown in.
Want to help? You can:
Donate through our team’s fundraising page: https://fundraisers.eaglesautismfoundation.org/teams/twn-flames-the-kaiju-special
Join TWN Flames: The Kaiju Special, in Philadelphia or as a virtual participant. We would LOVE company sweating it out on race day, because lord knows we’ll appreciate the encouragement.
Order the Kaiju Special and help us build the total one meal at a time.
Share our fundraiser. Like, comment, repost, or tell someone about it. Helping our story reach people matters too.
We wanted to clarify that ALL money raised through this fundraiser goes to the Eagles Autism Foundation. We are paying for our family’s travel ourselves.
Someday, we hope Mikey looks back and understands why we showed up. We want him to know how much he brings to the world. How deeply he is loved. And how many people are working to build a world with more understanding, resources, and room for brains like his.
We’re proud to be part of that effort.
With love, a little chaos, and a very enthusiastic “Go Birds,”
Sydney, James, Mikey, and Jamie
TWN Flames: The Kaiju Special
Sources for foundation and event information:
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