Readers-- When Ed and I returned home from Vegas on Monday night, we realized that his journal, which he has been keeping since Hudson's death from meningitis, was missing from the things he packed for the trip. Our friends have started a Facebook and Twitter campaign to help us find it and I'm trying the blog, too, since I know a lot of folks who read here don't know us personally or on Facebook.
We suspect it may have been left on our outbound flight, Southwest Flight 2743 on Sept. 4 (BWI-LAS-OAK), probably when we deplaned in Vegas. The only flight attendant whose name I remember is Brandy, but we did not talk with her personally. We sat on the very last row on the left side of the plane (if you're facing the front of the plane), middle and window seats. The journal is about 5x7, hard, textured cover with multicolored (but mostly green) stripes. It has some pages from another journal attached with a small binder clip to the front cover. Hudson's name and my name (Mandy) are obviously scattered throughout the journal, and at least the date of her death (May 13, 2010), if not her full name (Hudson Lily Hitchcock Chaney) are written on the inside front page.
I've contacted lost and found at all three airports where the plane traveled, the airline (including central baggage services in Dallas, where I have someone personally looking for it, as well as a few flight attendant friends who have posted on the Southwest crew online message forum), and the hotel. If you can think of any other way we might try to locate it, please let me know, and if you are willing to post details to your FB or Twitter accounts, and ask your friends to repost as well, on the off-chance that someone has picked it up somewhere and is trying to return it to its owner, we'd be most grateful for that as well. Anyone who comes upon it can contact us here at the blog.
Thank you all so much. This is a much-treasured item, the return of which would be incredibly special.
Mandy-read the comments on "first flight." Looks like someone found it!
ReplyDeleteClaire
Thanks, Claire. We realized quickly that there had been a misunderstanding and that the person who apparently found the journal was actually just another friend of ours who was posting that it was *lost.* That at least means that Hudson's story is being shared in so many circles that we didn't even know about, which is wonderful. But the search for the journal is still on. But thank you!
ReplyDeletePosted on FB and sent you a message.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Claire
I posted it on FB as well. I hope it turns up - I know how imporant it must be.
ReplyDeleteI have ZERO idea if this would work, but what about contacting some of the media outlets in Vegas and seeing what they might be able to do? I am hoping and have my fingers and toes crossed that someone finds it!
ReplyDeleteMandy - I have contacted my cousin, a journalist for many years, who lives in DC and has numerous contacts throughout the US. Perhaps he'll be able to help publicize this in the media. Will let you know if he can help in some way.
ReplyDeleteI hope it turns up, Mandy. p
ReplyDeleteI've posted to my FB account; 198 friends + however many choose to repost....I hope you find it soon....
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry the journal is missing. I've posted it on Facebook. Have faith that someone will find it. I had a friend who lost a very important journal overseas. Someone found it years later, tracked her down through Facebook, and returned the journal. I don't know you or your family, but I'm thinking about you and hope your journal is returned soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm a friend of Keely's and saw her post on FB. I've reposted. I've said quite a few prayers for your family in the past and will say some new ones that you are able to recover this special book. So sorry you're having to go through this.
ReplyDeleteI'm a friend of Keely's and have followed your story since May. I have a strong feeling this will come back to you. Journals are such an important way to collect our thoughts and preserve our feelings. Thinking about you all again tonight.
ReplyDeleteJust letting you know that this has been posted on my FB and many others as well, from what I've seen. I will post the link on my message boards as well.
ReplyDelete::HUGS::
I have a friend who is a Southwest Airlines flight attendant based in Las Vegas and regularly works the Oakland/LV flights. I have messaged her and will let you know if she knows Brandy or has any ideas about how to get this precious journal back. Hope it helps.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help find the lost journal; I read about it on Facebook and was led to this blog. Mandy, I have never met you, Ed or your darling Hudson but your story has changed my perspective when it comes to parenting and gratitude for the present moment. I'm sure that it has for countless others, too. Perhaps that is one other good thing. Sweet Hudson will always be with you, and because of that she will influence the way you parent future children, so she will be forever present in their lives.
ReplyDeletesending it to a few flight attendant friends... including on that works for Southwest (saw this via Twitter by the way)
ReplyDeleteSent the link from this page to the USA Today airline travel reporter.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about contacting the Today Show?
ReplyDeleteOr Craigslist? Or Yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy friend who is a flight attendant based in Las Vegas and works the Oakland flights is going to see what she can do to help. Believe me, if she can help, SHE WILL!
ReplyDeleteShared, I'm in NE Iowa! I have about 500 FB friends, maybe one of them will find it. Prayers!!
ReplyDeleteHave you checked with the hotel where you stayed? Just in case maybe it got that far and got left in the room or just moved by someone cleaning by chance. I don't really know but just thought I would see. Prayers for your family. I can't imagine what you have and are going through. Your story has helped my appreciate my little ones more even on the days when I am tired and frustrated. Know that your family and especially little Hudson have changed lives and inspired others to live to the fullest. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy. I reposted Andrea Greenwell Grillot's note about the journal on my facebook page yesterday and said a prayer that you would find it. I'm sure you don't remember me, but I met you when I came to a going -way party for Andrea and Jake last summer. At the time I was pregnant and I was so impressed by your calm, fun approach to parenting Hudson. I specifically remember hoping we could pull off the same parenting style. When Jake told me about your loss earlier this year I was heartbroken for you guys. Please know that you and your husband are in my prayers on a regular basis. I wish I could help somehow. Katherine Bourdon
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to thank everyone for your comments and for trying to help us recover this most precious item. One Good Thing that we have learned in the wake of Hudson's death is that the human capacity for kindness is apparently infinite. Thank you all.
ReplyDeleteThere may be a reason it was lost, and rather than focusing on the fact that it was lost, perhaps it's better to focus on starting new.. I used to keep a journal of my darker days and when I reflected back on that journal it only brought those days back into my life. When I finally lost the journal, I found myself and able to move on..
ReplyDeleteDear Mandy,
ReplyDeleteWe lost our daughter just over four years ago. Two years after she died my computer was stolen and precious memories were gone. It was like loosing her all over again. I truly hope your journal makes its way back to you safely....the thoughts, the prayers, the wishes, the whys, the sadness, the joy, the after thoughts...they are all yours. Hudson is very blessed to have such loving parents...the love continues Mandy....It truly does.
I posted it on Facebook yesterday too. I hope Ed's journal is returned to him in short order.
ReplyDeleteI re-posted on my fb 2x, after taking it from Kristine Sullivan's fb. I'll keep re-posting too. My mom also posted and so did a colleague. Another friend, from middle school, saw it on my fb and is also asking her dad to get the word out as he is a pilot with Southwest. Looks like there are many Southwest employees in the network from the other posts, but one more can't hurt. I KNOW that the journal will be found.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry..I work for Southwest Airlines in BWI. I see you have already been in contact with our Central Baggage Services..that is great!! When items are found, everything is sent there, in Dallas. Keep your faith, they receive lots of boxes from all of our cities of lost and found items. I pray you receive your journal back soon!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find it and I will post on my facebook my 3 month old son just spent time in childrens hospital being tested for meningitis so i understand your frustration in not having this. It is a very hard situation to be in.
ReplyDeleteI posted on my fb page. hoping it is found soon,....
ReplyDeleteI did this once to find my lost dog. Everyone in town was looking for him....and we did get him back. :) I'll repost and pray it works for you too.
ReplyDeleteEd,
ReplyDeleteI hope you pick up a pen and a new journal and keep writing until your lost journal finds its way home.
kirsten 2lilbirds