At the end of
August, we
learnt of the
discovery of
JayceeLee
Dugard, 28 years
after she was
abducted at the
age of 11. There
was nothing new
here for Gerry
and me, as we
have been told
of many cases of
missing children
who have been
found years
after they were
taken from their
families. It is
important
though, as it
emphasises yet
again how vital
it is to never
give up on
missing children
and how criminal
and unjust to
assume they are
no longer alive.
A missing child
cannot be
expected to find
their way home,
we need to find
them. It is
tragic and
heartbreaking to
think of the
life which has
been stolen from
Jaycee and her
family. We hope
and pray that
they will be
able now to find
the happiness
and peace that
they all
deserve.
Last week, a
judge in
Portugal decided
to pass an
injunction
against Goncalo
Amaral's book
and documentary
in which he
insists that
Madeleine is
dead and implies
that Gerry and I
were somehow
involved in her
disappearance.
Nothing can be
more
soul-destroying
for a parent
than for
somebody to
?write off' your
missing child
(for whatever
reason) without
any evidence to
support such a
theory. The
anguish and
torment that we
have suffered as
a result of Mr.
Amaral's
unfounded claims
and actions has
been immense,
compounding the
pain and sadness
we feel every
day without
Madeleinein our
lives. Madeleine
deserves so much
more than
treatment like
this. She is
still missing
and we will
never give upon
her.
It is important
to remember that
the good people
far outweigh the
bad, even though
those with cruel
intentions can
bring you down.
Every day we
still receive a
small
bundle of
supportive
letters to our
home and kind
messages via the
website, as well
as positive
words from
passers-by.
Aftera ?not so
good' day, it is
this kindness
and solidarity
that lifts us up
and keeps us
going. To those
people, we are
so grateful
and we will
never forget the
great benefit of
simple human
kindness.Thank
you from all our
family.
