How must Amber Dubois' parents feel?
This month marks the six-month anniversary of Amber's disappearance.
The 14-year-old was last seen at 7:10a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, walking to school, which was less than a mile away from her Escondido home.
She had been especially excited that morning since she had just convinced her mother Carrie to let her buy a baby lamb that she was going to raise and care for as part of her Future Farmers of America class. Amber also carried Valentines for her friends.
The day after she disappeared, her cell phone was turned on once for about 20 seconds and has not been turned on since then, Escondido Police spokesman Lt. Bob Benton said.
Her parents, Maurice ``Moe'' Dubois and Carrie McGonigle, are not giving up hope of finding their daughter, the blue-eyed baby who slept through
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the night from Day One, who inherited her father's sense of humor and her mother's attitude and whose love for animals is all-encompassing.
``I never know just how many animals there are at any time, but for sure in February there were two dogs, at least one cat, a bird, possibly a rat at home,'' said Sheila Welch, Amber's grandmother. ``Carrie particularly included animals in the decor of any place they lived, and Amber adored dolphins from babyhood. Animals were allowed in the house and on the bed.
Not too many children are given the opportunity to celebrate life in conjunction with animals they love.''
Carrie McGonigle knows nothing would have kept Amber from her baby lamb, and the thought strengthens her determination to find her.
``Some days are easier than others,'' she said. ``When I feel myself losing it, I will usually go to my boss, Alan Katz. A five-minute talk from him puts me back on track. But in my ultimate lows, I will call Brad Dennis (director of search operations for KlaasKIDS Foundation's National Search Center for Missing Children.)''
Moe Dubois finds that very little helps him cope, aside from a strong support of family and friends.
``And I also try to keep myself busy,'' he said, organizing flier distribution days from around the San Diego area all the way up to Orange County, working with volunteers on searches and meeting with media.
This week, they will travel to New York, appearing on CNN's ``Issue'' with Jane Velez-Mitchell, the Steve Wilko Show and an ABC Missing Children's event anything to keep Amber's story in the news and her face in the minds of the public. The FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are also on the case.
Even we in the San Gabriel Valley can help, they said.
``Log onto her Web site and tell as many people you know to do the same, e-mail a link to
www.BringAmberHome.com to everyone you possibly can,'' Dubois said. ``Amber could be anywhere in the world in six months time. Ask people to post a copy of her flyer from the Web site.''
Former Valley resident Michelle Bart, founder of Helping Heroes Productions, has been hired by the family's attorney to expedite media attention in order to continue keeping Amber's face and case visible.
``It's very difficult to keep your composure during the cases I have seen this past year. I would be lying if I said I haven't cried or lost sleep over these cases,'' Bart said. ``But what keeps me going is knowing my life is rosy compared to what these children and adults who have been abducted has gone through or went through. I am determined to keep the faces visible because there is always hope until the person comes home one way or another.''
Meanwhile, Amber's parents wait, one day after another.
Their daughter's birthday is Oct. 25.
``Whatever Amber wants to do on her birthday is what we will do,'' her mother said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Escondido Police at (760) 839-4722 or go to
www.BringAmberHome.com. There is a $50,000 reward for Amber's safe return and a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Amber's kidnappers.
Anissa V. Rivera is a columnist for the Highlander weeklies. She has a blog at
http://www.insidesocal.com/mom and can be reached at
anivriv@yahoo.com
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