No one knew what Elena said to the little boy, but just a few minutes later, he walked straight into her arms, threw his arms around her neck, and burst into tears.

She gently carried him to a nearby park, sat on the grass, and chatted with him softly.

Thirty minutes later, the boy had fallen asleep in her lap.

His parents, the Clarks, finally approached—utterly shocked.

"He only ever calms down with sedatives when he has an episode. We ...