This has taken me a long time to write. I keep starting, stopping and starting again. It's a VERY emotional post.
Let's start at the beginning....
I was at a Time Out For Women get together/meet and greet after work. (I am the Rep for our ward for the October event) A friend came up to me and asked, "Did you hear about Elaine Haines?" (She has dementia and lives with her sweet husband.) I told her no and she started to tell me that an hr ago, she had received a call that she had been missing since 11:00 that morning. We've known the Haines' for 8 years and were in their ward for 6 of them. (We've been in all 3 wards in that building.) Then we were in their son's ward for two of those yrs. Anyway, I started to panic, but knew I couldn't do anything at that moment except worry and pray. I called the temple and let them know what was going on. That night we prayed and prayed for the Haines'.
The next morning I woke up early, showered and woke up Michael for soccer practice and the other two to get ready. We headed down to the park where we had heard that Elaine and her husband had been separated at. By 8:00 am we were looking in the brush and down by the river. We were met up by random people who had never met the family but had heard it on the news and wanted to know how to help. We got word that we were meeting over at another park shortly down the road. (Where she had last been sighted by a neighbor.)
By 10:00am we met with about 150 others to receive instructions. We got our jurisdiction and headed to a local Middle School where we knocked on each door in the local neighborhood. Cai Lynn and Jared had the speech down pat. We handed out dozens of pictures ourselves. We were to meet every two hrs for an update.
By Noon, We had covered homeless shelters, and many MANY homes. We had had over 500 fliers donated by Staples. This is aside from the hundreds donated by specific people. It was amazing how many pulled together! AMAZING! Between Noon and 2:00 railroad tracks were searched, brush, I drove many fliers up to the nearby retirement homes who were VERY VERY concerned and wanted to help in any way they could.
By 2:00 we were told that Search and Rescue had called off the search in that area because there was no evidence found that she was still there. The helicopter had been sweeping the surrounding areas for 24 hrs (with infrared sensors) and found nothing. They had searched we had searched and came up with nothing. They told us that if WE wanted to keep searching that was fine but they were moving on. That's when it happened!
The stake president , and bishops of the three wards (who had all been in on the search) said, She is HERE! I know it! We just have to find her! "We will be searching in the bushes and turning over every rock!" So.... church in that building was cancelled the next day! We would all meet (Older children and up) at 7:00am Sunday morning and begin the search. We would have a large Sacrament meeting at 3:00 at the stake center. And there you have it.
7:00AM came around, my car was loaded with shovels and picks, and Michael and I were there with more than 350 others. With the most specific maps and most organized groups I had ever seen. Food, supplies and lists. We were handed our map and our group of 8 went out to knock on the doors of the nearby trailer park. So many people were more than willing to help. Even though Search and Rescue had been there already, they were so willing to let us bug them at 7:15 in the morning. They were searching their back yards and leading us to nearby open areas, etc.
Around 8:00am, we got a text. "We think she's been found!" We ran to the nearby road where we were met by a police officer who was asking US if we knew anything! We told him we hoped HE knew and then I ran around like a madwoman trying to get reception. I got it and made a connection with Search and Rescue.... The conversation went something like this.... Me: "Is it true! Is it HER! Elaine! Has she REALLY been found?! Is she ok!?" S&R: "Well, who are you? What's your NAME? Are you with the church?" Me: "Yes! I am! is it really her!? Is she OK?" S&R: "Yes, it's her, and yes, she is OK, but very dehydrated. They are with her now."
Then we heard the sirens. In our group there were several doctors and medical professionals who beat all of the first responders to the scene. In the video is Chuck Reno, the one who created the maps. (He's an engineer.)
Here are a few of the pictures.
This is where she was lying
This is the picture we carried and distributed
A closeup of Sean's arms. He and his daughter found her. HOW they found her was nothing less than miraculous. Aspen, (his daughter) heard a noise and they walked over there. In fact they were almost upon her before they saw her. She was so nestled in the shrubs.
We went home, elated and truly on cloud 9. She had survived and was on her way to the hospital.
At 3:00 we met and had the most amazing sacrament meeting I've ever been to. The passing of the sacrament alone was amazing! There were more than 20 passing the sacrament, and 6 breaking the bread. The Stake center was filled to the brim and Monte, Elaine's husband spoke as well as a missionary farewell, The Stake President, his counselors, and our bishop. Just amazing!
I went to visit Elaine in the hospital a week later and she was on the mend.
Truly a modern day miracle! Just amazing! So many came together. If they were physically able to help search, they were sending prayers and printing fliers, donating food to the search parties, and so much more!
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