Missing Children Found Alive

When American girl Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City, Utah, bedroom at the age of 14. She was found nine months later on March 12, 2003, in Sandy, Utah, about 20 miles from her home, in the company of Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee, who were indicted for her kidnapping but ruled unfit to stand trial. Her abduction and recovery were widely reported and were the subject of a made-for-TV movie and a published book.

Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom in Salt Lake City; this was abduction by knifepoint that left the whole state holding its breath. And nine months later, faith and prayers led to what we all label a miracle: Elizabeth was spotted on a suburban street, about 20 miles from her own home town, and rescued from the homeless, self-described "preacher" who caused so much pain by kidnapping her. She is now a face seen repeatedly in the church where countless prayers were once said for her safe return, she once stood up before her congregation and spoke with pride about moving forward and giving from the heart.

Three-year-old Briant Rodriguez was abducted from his home in San Bernardino, California, on May 3, 2009. The 3-year-old boy abducted from his family by gunmen almost two weeks before he was found is now back home, without of his long, curly hair, but unharmed after being found wandering the streets of a Mexico border town.

I know there must be so many parents who are searching for their children wishing that such a miracle would happen. To them, I have to say, God bless you all and my prayers are with you, and we know that this baby girl being found is nothing short of a miracle. The baby, who was missing for five days, was hidden for 12 hours with no food or water, except for a little blanket that was found in the box with her. Police found baby Shannon Dedrick alive and well.

Following five days, a 21-month-old girl who vanished during a New Year's party was found alive by the police in an abandoned well. The girl, Ana Clara Abranches, had disappeared from a ranch in the state of Rondonia. Her face was covered with insect bites and she had lost more than six pounds. Doctors at the hospital where the child was recovering said she had survived by eating mud and drinking rainwater.

"It's heartbreaking to see so many people are still missing out there, so many children away from home. It's good to see some being found, but it's not enough. We do worry about it, but we are so afraid that we choose not to even think about it. The majority people don't even know that more than 700,000 children are reported missing each year in the US alone. While the majority are located quickly, there are still thousands that remain missing for longer periods of time. Families are wrecked and devastated as they restlessly wait for news.