Family expresses gratitude for help in finding 2-year-old

Numerous first responders and local residents joined in the search for the missing child last week.

The family of a 2-year-old who went missing last week in Allenport offered thanks to first responders and area residents for everything they did to find their daughter.

The Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of the missing child around 1 a.m. Aug. 28.

Because first responders didn’t know how long the child had been missing, they called in help from several departments including Lock 4 VFC and Roscoe VFC.

Charleroi and Fallowfield departments joined the search-and-rescue effort with K-9 units, UTVs, thermal cameras and thermal drones.

Donora firefighters used their water rescue equipment, and Rostraver Township police helped with their thermal drone.

Stockdale fire Chief TJ Wilkinson said K-9 units tracked a scent to the Monongahela River, so additional help was requested from water rescue units from Charleroi, Donora and Collinsburg. AHN Life-Flight was called to make an aerial search using thermal technology.

Members of the community also got involved in the search, checking around their neighborhoods.

The toddler was found at 3 a.m. by Stockdale firefighter Brad Martin sitting on a porch at a nearby home.

She wasn’t injured, but was taken to the hospital as a precaution to be looked over.

Her mother, Rachel Givens, posted a statement to an area Facebook page on Friday thanking everyone for their assistance.

“We wanted to express our gratitude to those that helped us in searching for her that is deserved,” she wrote. “We understand that some may not understand what happened and will carry their opinions and that’s fine. We ask that the post we are making remains only as intended, as a positive one and appreciate the support that has been given.

“… Until this happens to you, there’s no real understanding and we acknowledge that and are okay with those who pass judgment.” Givens said it was scary to call to 911 to report her daughter had escaped from their home.

“Making the phone call to 911, reporting that our two year old had some how escaped, without knowing, from the last time we had checked she was sleeping and within the last 20 minutes of us noticing and looking ourselves and realizing we needed help was by far the hardest phone call I’ve ever had to make,” she wrote. “There wasn’t a moment I think that any of us could even process the reality of a nightmare we were launched right into. Until it happens to you there’s not much understanding and we didn’t expect many to understand it either.”

She admitted it was a terrifying experience. “We feared everything ahead of us,” Givens wrote. “We barely could grasp it, but knew we had to reach out during such an unfortunate accident. I’m sure the dispatcher who had answered my call heard the fear in my voice and the panic that I’d been having. He was phenomenal with handling my frantic phone call and reassured me that help was on its way and it would come in great volumes and great lengths to find her.”

Givens said first responders and the community went above and beyond.

“The outpouring efforts of those who volunteered, responded and the resources that were quickly present that were used and made or done by our community and the surrounding areas that also lended their hands, (is) beyond saying were outstanding or phenomenal,” she stated. “I’ve never experienced or seen a community and its professionals come together so quickly and so constructively before in my life. I cannot express enough the gratitude my family and those that surround us feel from the efforts and heart each of you placed into searching and rescuing our Fallon.”

Givens added that what she and her family felt during those few hours is hard to put into words.

“The fear, heartache and anxiety we felt in those hours is beyond any way to explain,” she wrote. “ It was in such defying depth that each of us had felt and the thoughts that we held that had shaken our souls leaving us in spaces of tears and fears.

“… None of my children, myself or my husband knew what to do. We felt frozen by fear and without the help of those who showed up and carried us through we wouldn’t have been able to probably find her.”

Despite feelings of despair, the family was put at ease watching volunteers and first responders at work.

“But despite these feelings we could barely even process, we found there was some sort of comfort watching strangers come together, communities joining forces, the agencies that responded and gave their resources without hesitation, in those terrifying hours,” she said. “That was what kept us calm through the process. Those efforts made were what comforted our hearts in the uncertain future we were fearful of having.”

Givens added that there are not enough words to properly thank everyone for their help.

“From the depths of our hearts and with every fiber of our being we want to say ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you!’” she said. “Each role played by either our law enforcement, our fire departments, K9 units, 911 dispatchers, the volunteers from our communities, the endless resources of technology and their equipment and the prayers and thoughts and kind words from those (who) cared, we are beyond in grateful for each part that was played and made the search a successful rescue.

“… None of us will ever forget the lengths this community went to for our family.”