Keith Kennedy, 25, was found alive after being lost for a week in the woods of Wisconsin. He had disappeared from the Trade Lake Camp in Grantsburg while on a camp for mentally disabled adults.

The event caused elation not only because he was autistic and thus unable to care for himself, but he also was a kidney transplant patient and had to constantly be on anti-rejection drugs he has taken since he received his father's kidney in 1995.

Although alive, Keith was not in good shape, as his kidney function did not perform as necessary. He was also covered in ticks and mosquito bites, dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia. Although rescuers had searched the area before, they did not notice Keith who was lying curled, naked, in a fetal position. Fortunately, the weather has been mild while he was out, which helped the positive outcome.

Staffers of the Trade Lake Camp allege that he probably sneaked away first to the cafeteria to snatch some popcorn, of which he was very fond, and then somehow became afraid of coming back and ran away to avoid getting into trouble for leaving in the first place.

Doctors are still amazed at his survival, especially because of his transplanted kidney. Finding him was also a close call, as the rescuers made a last pass in an already checked area.

It is still unclear what the cause for autism is, but a combined cause with a large genetic component is suspected. Currently, there is still much debate whether autism is caused by mutations or by an interaction of an array of genes. There is evidence to sustain both causes. While this study points out that multigene interaction may be the culprit for the incurable disorder, it is also known that teratogens also are associated with autism.

People affected by the disorder are characterized by social impairments and often lack the intuition about others that many people take for granted. Autism Spectrum Disorders are associated with periods of severe tantrums and one third of autistic children also have displayed aggression, especially when the disorder is associated with mental retardation (as it often, but not always, happens).