She was demonstrating function for at least the first 24H in NO - there’s reason to believe she is still alive, I think and hope. Given the mental health challenges, the medication changes, she was still able to articulate, converse and move well on foot. This is a case where I feel some optimism and I hope plans are in place to help support re-entry circumstances when she is found.
Can I just say what a stand-up guy her husband is? For whatever his flaws, and we all have them, he stayed alongside this woman in many turbulent seasons and he’s advocating for her now and loving on their kids. I hope my daughters eventually find men like that. In sickness and in health.
This case to me is also illustrative of a big evolution in American society in the last decade or so around how we, particularly women, mentally frame out mental illness, especially when it’s occurring to other women. Am sure that there was fear on the part of those who love her that if this information about past hospitalizations, current treatments, etc. came out, there would be shame or a lack of interest in looking for her. I think we have gotten to the point socially where the opposite is true, and we got there really fast, <10 years or so. I will venture a guess that many on this thread are female and have experience with mental health issues in their immediate families, perhaps even themselves (if this is true, do me a favor and respond to this post or like it - I’m scientifically curious if I’m right). If anything, knowing her medical history makes us feel MORE empathetic, MORE motivated and inspired to help, MORE compassionate. The stigma is falling away. Amen.
