I know this board is based for the exchanging of information about our industry but a news flash struck me today.

Elizabeth Smart has been the Poster child for kidnapped children for almost a year. Being taken from her home at gunpoint in the middle of the night is a nightmare many parents have. Being a mom listening to the events surrounding her kidnapping put the fear of Lucifer in me for a very long time.

They found Elizabeth alive and well and not far from her Salt Lake City home this morning. After feeling so jaded hearing the news as of late, impending war, gas prices and the over all bad feeling so many have had...this story made me break down and cry.

I pray for her mental and emotional state. Being that she was with a couple sitting at a Burger King during the day, lends one to hope that maybe she has been leading a semi-normal exsistance since being taken from her home. I know that is a stretch, but it has happened in the past. We can only wait and see.

With all the pain going on it's nice to have something to celebrate. I usually hug my 14 year when she gets home from school....today I held her extra tight. Its amazing to know Elizabeths mom is doing the same thing with her....

Thanks for letting me share

xoxox
Lass

-- Modified on 3/12/2003 3:41:09 PM

This is the greatest news we've had in a while. Thank goodness she's still alive.

Now the long road of healing begins.

Thank God.  But all the time in between and the anguish of the parents until then.  Article also in the New York Times refers to http://www.elizabethsmart.com

And the Serbian ruler assasinated the same day this news story breaks.  

Back to Elizabeth...reminds me of the story of the girl who was raped at age 14, and had her arms cut off, left for dead.  Saw a followup story on this on TV last year.  She is now married, wears her wedding band around her neck.  Is devoted to recovery of young ladies who suffered what she does. And get this ... although she has prosthetic arms, she PAINTS.  Yet another miracle!!!!

About her marriage and sex, still a struggle, understandably!  I cannot for the life of me remember her name or the offender's (my mind Still goes blank from devastation and anger.)  when he was released from prison, residents of the town where he went to subsequently settle, banded together to have him thrown out.

Here's hoping for all our sakes, and praying that little ones have their guardian angels closeby, because, parents just cannot do it all. ((  Sounds like this little lady had hers close by.  Thank God


God Bless you and your little one, Celtic Lass and a special prayer to all those with those who need that special protection





-- Modified on 3/12/2003 4:02:18 PM

This story gives a lot of hope to families & friends with missing ones. I don't know when the last time we had a good ending to one of these stories.  I wish the Smart family the best in the recovering process.

From time to time, something will happen that makes me stop and really think and realise just how good things are compared to what they could be. Just how lucky i really am. This is one of those days. No matter how bad things seem to be sometimes in our daily lives it's hard to imagine that there is someone somewhere that would gladly trade places and take our troubles over theirs in a heartbeat.

Godspeed little one. May the rest of your days be happy and carefree.

I couldn't even believe it.

Lass, it is an amazing thing when things for the good actually happen. I am not saying the kidnapping was good, that was a rotten, stupid and idiotic thing to do, but for the girl to return..WOW

Wishing her family the best..now its their time to heal together.

Shaye

I was absolutely certain that the next person to see this little girl would be forensic anthropologist.  In a world with seemingly so few happy endings, this is a welcome one.

The Truth Is Out There

foX

I agree that finding Elizabeth was a wonderful turn of events. However, the press conference that followed made me sick - it looked more like a political pep-rally for the "Great State Of Utah". Leave it to the politicians ...

I agree something is odd.  Saw her picture on the front page of the NY Post today and she looked like she was in great shape.  I mean -- too good of a position for someone who had spent that last 8 months kidnapped. And they found her just 15 miles from her home?   Something doesn't seem right.

-Hoot.

But what I have found in any case like this that has made National news, there is always something that doesnt set well.

I thought Elizabeth looked good also but honestly it didn't surprise me. I lived in California when Steven Styner(sp) was kidnapped. He was kept in a van by his abductor for almost 10 years, I believe, not 20 miles from his home. When he finally broke loose after his abductor had taken another child, Steven was in fairly good shape. He had been fed and clothed the entire time he was gone from home.

Unfortunately no one will ever know the complete details of what happened. I personally think the whole Pep Rally was in defense of a news conference back in January where Mr. Smart laid into the police and state authorities for not trying harder to find his daughter. He also went Washington DC blasting lawmakers for not implementing the Amber Alert system.

The state of Utah is doing some serious damage control at this point. That little girl was never far from home, yet she has been gone and presumed dead for 9 months. There have been numerous reports that this "Emanuelle" person was described as the man Elzabeths sister saw, but they insisted he wasnt a suspect. They have alot of questions to answer. But in the big scheme of things, at least she is home.

That's what the focus of the press conference should have been.
Let the authorities do their follow-up work and THEN give us a press report.

My sister-in law who is a therapist and deals with victims of rape said that this girl will be scarred for life.. I hope she is wrong.. Anyone else out there have a different opinion based on experience..

Will be praying..

"That little girl was never far from home, yet she has been gone and presumed dead for 9 months."

According to CNN:

"Former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn, a close family friend who participated in searches for Elizabeth, said it's his understanding that immediately following her disappearance, Elizabeth was hidden in the mountains, then taken to San Diego, Atlanta and only recently returned to the Salt Lake City area."

about this odd situation...We have not heard the FULL true story, so although she is home, I hope the press and LE don't let this die down..I also have a "Gut" feeling about all of this and will not be surprised to find out Mr.Smart is some how involved, or knew more than he's shared. This is not over by a long shot....

Does he give anyone else the creeps?

They were in the mountains not 3 miles norh of the Smart home. At one point they lived in an apartment on the other side of town.

There are reports they were in Georgia, San Diego and San Fransisco.

It will be interesting to get to the bottom of all of this as it unfolds.