Thank you to those many readers who wrote in with their suggestions, prayers and good wishes.
DEAR DR. BARBARA: For the past six months, I have watched my neighbor and his daughter lead a very normal life. From time to time I did feel he was too strict with her. But for the most part she seemed like a very happy and loved child who gave all of us who knew them no reason to suspect anything out of the ordinary was going on.
Then the other day this child came to me, with tears in her eyes and your newspaper clipping in her hand. She asked me to read it, then informed me she had written the letter and asked me to help her.
I've got to tell you it took a few minutes to get over the shock. But once I did, we talked and decided what would be the best action to take and then I took "Susie" ("Missing My Mom") to the police station and reported her as a possible missing child.
Well, after hours of questions and background checks, the case worker from Child Protective Services informed us that because Susie's mother had fingerprinted her as she entered the school system, they were able to tell her her real name and let her know her mother is indeed alive and has been looking for her.
Now here comes the part you're not going to believe: For the past six months, the two of them have lived only 60 miles apart. Imagine that. By the time I left that evening, Susie was on her way to a foster home for the evening and the detective in charge of the case was doing his best to locate her mother.
And that's as far as I can take you with this story. Hopefully Susie will contact you and let you know she's OK. But if not, I just wanted you to know she's on her way to being OK.
– Signed: Missing My Mom's Neighbor
DEAR NEIGHBOR: Thank you so very much for this heartwarming update and for giving of your time and compassion to a child in need. Every year countless numbers of children are kidnapped, many by someone very close to them. The anguish and heartache experienced by these parents and children alike are unfathomable.
As Ruth Smeltzer stated, "You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
So on the eve of Christmas I wish to take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous, healthy and peaceful holiday and New Year.
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