WEYBURN - Over the past week, we have watched two similar situations unfold, with very different outcomes.
Two young children, provinces apart, went missing. It’s every parent’s worse nightmare.
Both children were described as non-verbal with special needs. Little Oaklynn was found by searchers 72 hours after disappearing from her family’s home. She was alive, and her family is rejoicing.
Johnson, the young boy who disappeared from his school, was found deceased in a marshy area about 3.5 kms away from where he was last seen. His family is mourning the loss of this precious little person.
My heart was in my throat as I followed the updates of these two searches.
As the mother of a now adult AuDHD child, I recalled my own experience of my child disappearing. It was only 20 minutes, but it may as well have been 20 hours.
My child was not non-verbal. My child was very verbal, verbose even. My child would talk to any person, any dog or cat, and was distracted by a leaf, a ladybug or a pretty rock. My child was also a runner, with little regard for traffic and no sense of direction.
Without the help of my family and the staff at the Regina General Hospital and their quick action, my child could have ended up just like Tamra Keepness, who disappeared shortly before our experience and remains missing to this day.
The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” may sound cliche, but we need to be that village. As parents, aunts, uncles, friends - we need to help keep our children safe.
My thoughts are with all of these families and those who continue to search for their lost children.
