Nicole Reveliotis said she mourns every day and deeply misses her 10-year-old son, Logan Ruiz.
Logan, who was autistic and nonverbal, died Aug. 27, 2022, when he was struck and killed by a CN train after wandering from his Dyer home, despite the family’s efforts to secure the home.
After the loss of her son, Logan, who was autistic, Reveliotis said she could have easily lost her mind.
A sign designates the Logan’s Love event on Sunday. (Deborah Laverty/Post-Tribune)
Instead, seven months after his death, Reveliotis, along with church friends and special education instructors, launched the first of what would become several events to honor Logan. The events raise money for efforts such as donations of sensory aids and training information to Lake County first responders who handle calls involving adults and kids on the autism spectrum.
The third annual Logan’s Love autism walk, one of four events the organization holds annually, was held on Sunday.
“Each time I do this, it helps me breathe. It helps to keep busy and to honor my son. If I don’t do this, I’d fall apart,” she said.
Reveliotis greeted some 500 participants on Sunday at Dyer Central Park just before launching dozens of blue balloons into the sky.
The event included the walk, in which participants stepped off at 1 p.m., as well as a foam blast, bounce houses, vendors, food trucks and resource tables.
“Welcome to Logan’s Love annual autism walk 2025. This is our third walk. As you can see we moved it to Dyer, which makes it a little more special this year. Dyer asked for it to be here, and we instantly said yes. I know here, in Dyer, it hits everyone deep. Dyer is Logan’s hometown; here is where the town, the neighbors, friends and strangers all searched for him, and here is where the first responders found him,” Reveliotis said.
Reveliotis said Logan experienced elopement, a side effect of autism that causes children to wander away from caregivers or secure locations.
Some 500 participants at the Logan’s Love event step off at the start of the walk on Sunday. (Deborah Laverty/Post-Tribune)
“I was always proud to be an ‘autism’ mom and I believe God blessed me with an amazingly sweet boy and he is the best part of me. I am here today honoring him and begging to the clouds that I somehow make him proud of me as I was and am of him,” she said.
Georgianne Glavas, who serves as a committee member for Logan’s Love, said Reveliotis experienced further heartbreak four months later when her 27-year-old daughter, Jazmin Cruz, died as a result of an asthma attack.
Reveliotis, during her speech on Sunday, paid homage to her late daughter.
“I not only pray I honor him (Logan), but I do my beautiful daughter, Jazmin, too. I lost my daughter, Logan’s biggest fan, four months later and I miss both of them too much to even describe. I hope they are together and know how much I love them and still need them,” she said.
Glavas said it was in early 2023 that Reveliotis spoke to her about creating a foundation to honor her late son.
Logan’s Love, a nonprofit organization, was launched in March 2023, and is made up of fellow church friends as well as special needs teachers Elaine Reyna and Michelle Young.
Reveliotis thanked all those who helped raise money for the event on Sunday singling out the Oliver’s Village team, which raised $9,285 through donations.
“Oliver’s Village, you have all of us in awe of what you guys accomplished. You knocked it out of the park with a grand slam,” Reveliotis said.
More than $22,000 was raised from Sunday’s event. Funding will go toward Ben’s Blue Bags, Project Lifesaver and autism awareness and education.
Destiny Griffith, one of the leaders of Oliver’s Village, said she became involved with fundraising efforts because her three-year-old son, Oliver, was evaluated last September as being autistic.
“We’re happy to be a part of it,” Griffith said.
Other annual events sponsored by Logan’s Love include an Easter Sensory Egg Hunt held April 5 in Schererville, a golf outing held on June 13 at Wicker Park and an All Abilities Sensory Santa Visit on Dec. 13 at Homan Elementary in Schererville.
For more information, email logansloveloganspeaks@gmail.com or call 219-789-5451.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
