Four year old girl found walking on highway...
By imadriscoll
@imadriscoll (2228)
United States
January 21, 2007 11:33pm CST
Last night in NE Iowa we received a lot of snow. So much, that we almost didn't go to church this morning (which for us is unusual) because our church is about 30 minutes away during normal driving condition and having 3 small children we didn't know whether we should risk it.
My husband considered going to church here in our hometown town, but I just really felt like we needed to go to our church.
Anyway, as we were leaving church, we noticed a girl in a blue coat walking along the highway instead of the sidewalk (the highway runs through the town). At first I assumed that she didn't want to walk on the unshoveled sidewalk and opted for the somewhat cleared off roadway. My husband pulled up along side of her and I rolled down my window to tell her that she needed to walk on the sidewalk or she could get hurt. As soon as we were near her we could tell that she was far too young to be walking by herself and started looking around for her parents, thinking she ran off ahead.
I got out of the van, picked her up and put her on the sidewalk before asking her a million questions... Where was her mom? Where was she going? Did her mom know that she was out by herself?
Her mom was sleeping (12:30 in the afternoon), she was going to her grandma's house, and her mom didn't know where she was...
I walked with her to a Subway parking lot while motioning to my friend that was also with us to call the cops. She didn't know where her grandmother's house was, just that it was blue and down "there" somewhere. She couldn't tell us her name other then it was Faith... or perhaps her last name was Face. She kept changing her mind.
As we waited for the cop to arrive she told me she was scared and would I hold her. Then she asked if when she got to her grandmother's house if I would hold her there...
I've spent much of the day in tears. What kind of parent doesn't know her child is out wondering in the snow? And if she does know, what kind of parent allows her to do that? It's a busy highway and she was coming up on the intersection of another highway. There are thousands of people in this city that is known for its meth use ... what if someone else would have come along and snatched her and kidnapped her?
It just breaks my heart ...
17 people like this
37 responses
@NewHeart (528)
• Canada
22 Jan 07
must admit that this story is a sad one but turned out to be alright that a kind person found little girl but think we as decent people should hold judgment on the parent or parents life is hard for some families and who's to say whether they work shifts or were busy doing house work and child disappeared on them some children play fairly quiet i had one so i know. use to tie him up to a harness out side of window sounds mean but he was happy about it. but a neibours kid came over and untied him and took him to store well neibours kid came back mine didn't go figger, kids no does that make me a bad parent too. you don't know the childs parents so unless your perfect don't judge them yet i'm sure they were punished enough afterwards when the police found them and they learned a valuable lesson...
2 people like this
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I don't understand why you would harness your child and I don't understand why a parent would allow their child out in the cold with no hat or mittens and allows them to cross two highways by themselves. I don't understand it and I myself would never do that ... but I also don't have all the information and am not judging you or the mother of this girl.
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
22 Jan 07
I feel sad on that situation yeah how come the parents allow her to walk there or maybe her parents are not conscious that their daughter is walking at that road. What did you do then after getting her?? Did you send her home?? Have you met her parents??
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
We called the police and the officer took her to the grandma's house (as far as we know).
We have not met the parents.
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Oh wow! That poor little girl! I can't imagine my kids leaving the house without my knowing! And to think of all the things that could have happened to her! Wow!
I am so glad that you went to your church today! You were meant to find her and help her. I just hope that she does get the help that she needs. I can't understand why a parent would care so little!
It must have been hard to let her go too. Not knowing how the story ends with her.
I am very sorry that you and that child had to endure such pain. I am just very grateful that you saw her and not someone else!
Hopefully, this will give the mother or the grandmother a wake up call!
2 people like this
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Just hearing her ask me to hold her about broke my heart and made me wonder who could let a precious girl wonder on her own. I can't imagine my own children on their own.
2 people like this
@kakuemmom (859)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
This kind of story made me pick up my little one and hold her a bit tighter. I can't understand how some parents can not know what there children especially small children. Did they find her mother, or grandmother?? It would have been soooooooooo easy for someone to pick her up and do god knows what to her. It just makes me sick to think what could have happend i am glad it was you and not a freak that found her. See there was a reason that you just had to go to your own church that day. God does work in mysterious ways.
2 people like this
@Penguinsangel (3498)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Wow
that is just sad :(
I couldn't imagine parents letting that happen. I would NEVER in a million years.
*sighs*
2 people like this
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
22 Jan 07
That is a scary story! My daughter is 4 years old and she isn't even allowed outside unless I'm with her. I never let my kids out of my sight. We also have door latches (locks) on all our doors that lead outside because I don't want her to even try to go out by herself. I think every parent should have those because kids are fast and love the outside. But for a mother to be sleeping and not watching her daughter is just crazy. I know we all get tired, but I never close my eyes on the job. I'm a stay at home mom and it's my job. I could never do that. Even when my daughter is napping, I still feel I can't sleep because you never know what can happen. I mean in a real job I wouldn't be taken naps or sleeping so why should a stay at home mom?
I sure hope this lady gets more then just a slap on the hand! This is serious. I feel for the little girl.
So did the cops actually see the mom sleeping and what happened to the child?
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I don't know what happened or if the mom was really sleeping that's just what the girl told me. I think I'll be calling the police department today and see what, if anything happened with the girl and her family.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Nothing makes me feel sadder than hearing stories of neglect and abuse of children. I would hope the police will sock that mother every charge there is along that line. That poor little one was doing the best she knew how, and she could have ended up in very dire straits she wasn't even aware of. It's part of the game that when you have children you don't get to sleep like you do when you don't. Thank God that you were there for her. I wonder what will happen now.
2 people like this
@workingpinoy (52)
• Philippines
22 Jan 07
so sad yet very alarming. i, too, am a mom and like most moms, i wouldn't want my kids to go out walking alone especially in such harsh weather. i always make sure that i can see where they are most of the time or at least within earshot.
a lot of questions come to mind like what really happened to the kid's mom? why did the kid even attempt to go walking alone in the snow?
do keep us posted about any news regaridng the kid.
finally, bless you for being such an angel. God let you go out that day for a purpose and it was a good thing you heeded that call.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Wow, she is lucky she found someone nice to stop. That is scary. Thank god she came in contact with you. That mother should have been up with her daughter. What are they going to do to the mother?
2 people like this
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
22 Jan 07
It is so disappointing to see children neglected as that little girl obviously was. Her mother is missing out on the joys that a child brings to all of us. I hope that the child is in protective custody now and that the mother is dealin with a problem that only she can deal with. She is definitely in danger of losing that child.
It is because of an almighty power that you were where you were suppose to be that day. We all share a part in the raising of the children of this world whether we understand that or not. Thank you for doing your part that day and sharing it with us today. It is a reminder that our job as human beings never stops. We all have to do our part.
Peace be with you!
2 people like this
@wasim989 (2298)
• India
22 Jan 07
First of all I must compliment you for doing such a good deed because it was so nice of you to take notice of that lost child and yes my heart also pains when I hear stories like this and I just pray to god to take care of each and every human being on this planet.
2 people like this
@bugbaby (1787)
• Indonesia
22 Jan 07
how come four years old can walking alone in the highway
where is her mother even she's sleep why she's not lock the door before go to sleep? this story make me cry so sad and break my heart and poor girl
me and my wife try hard to get child until now but in someplace a daughter walk alone in highway and her mother just sleep.
2 people like this
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
22 Jan 07
OMG I got the cold chills from reading that , you were definitley her guradian angel . I can't imagine what the mother must have been thinking to not have a lock or something on the door where her child could wander out on the streets . If the child was too young whatever possessed her to not call a friend to keep an eye on the little one for a little while . It's sad because maybe the mother really does have a valid excuse but after reading something like this I can't imagine what it could be . This is why children go missing everyday and no one know's what happens to them .
All I can say is thank God you and your family came across this little girl .
2 people like this
@caraj444 (1075)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
its a very lucky thing that it was you that found her. I have two toddlers and i cant imagine them being outside of our home without us wandering around, they dont even go out to play without us even though we live out in the country on 500 acres (different dangers but wherever you live a child could so easily wander off, they are so quick when they get determined to do something). Sometimes these things do happen by accident, like a single mom whos working two jobs and falls asleep and in other cases its simply neglect of a child, in either case its very sad, hopefully child services intervenes and shes placed in a home where she will get the care and attention that every child deserves.
@praiseitem (515)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
Thank you for stepping out and taking action. So many people wouldn't waste their time. Please tell us more, did the police give you an update? Do you think she will be ok? God Bless you and the child.
@JustSimplyLissa (547)
• United States
22 Jan 07
This is so sad, it makes me just want to weep for all the children who suffer.
Glad your a good woman and stopped to help a small child. Thank goodness for people like you. Some people make me sick with how they treat children and other people.
I'm glad your around.
Kudos!
1 person likes this
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Thank you for your response ... the sad reality is that many children suffer needlessly! I just hope that her mom is held accountable!
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Wow that's scary. Thank God you found her. I hope for the childs sake she somehow got out and away whithout being noticed, and usually is well cared for. Not from a home with neglect and/or abuse.
We had an escape once that was similar to this. My sister and I were visiting her friend with my two nieces and our baby brother. Matt our brother and Nicole my niece were 2, Michelle was 1. They were all playing in the living room of this girls house with her 3 yr old. We were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and chatting. My sister could see in the living room where the kids were the whole time. All of a sudden she jumped up from the table and went into the other room. She starts yelling for Nicole my 2 yr old niece. She's nowhere to be found. No doors had opened, the other kids were clueless and too young anyway. They all thought it was hide and seek time. After 10 minutes of searching the whole house top to bottom, 2 of us went outside to search the yard and street just in case. My sister had just moved back to the state so Nicole didn't know anything in the area. NO sign of her anywhere. We called the police they came they searched.. and hour went by. Then a call came into the police station that a baby was standing on the side of the hiqhway waving to people. Well once they got her and brought her home..the police detective had figured out what happened.
She went out the doggy door in the back of the house. She walked in a straight line through back and front yards crossing 5 streets till she got to the highway. You just never know. When you least expect it...expect it.
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh wow, that is scary! I hope that something like this was the case with the little girl we found, though she did have her coat and cowboy boots on, so she would have had to have some time to prep before going outside.
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Oh my gosh, this story is heartbreaking.. Aren't you so glad that you decided to go to church. That is sad about that little girl. I hope that there was a happy ending to this story. Her mother should be punished! Thank goodness for people like you!
@babydolphin (536)
• Australia
23 Jan 07
I feel sad that there are mothers like that. How can she allowed the child to go out in such weather by her self? Or instead, how can she sleeps and not know that her child has walked out by herself? Especially its 12.30, why is she sleeping so late????
1 person likes this
