HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKY!:)
Posted on 06/22/2005 9:39:08 AM PDT by Skylus
KAMAS, Utah Jun 22, 2005 — The 11-year-old boy who wandered lost for four days in a mountain wilderness before rescuers found him was released from a hospital early Wednesday, a spokeswoman said.
Brennan Hawkins was found in good condition Tuesday by a 43-year-old house painter on an ATV who was out looking on his own, miles outside of active search grids.
Brennan left Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City not long after midnight, said Bonnie Midget, a hospital spokeswoman. Doctors had said they wanted to keep him at least overnight for tests, said Dr. Ed Clark, the hospital's medical director.
The boy apparently eluded thousands of searchers by defying conventional wisdom: He went up instead of down.
Sheriff Dave Edmunds had said Brennan would have been more likely to head down a river valley from a 530-acre Boy Scout camp in the Uinta mountains.
"Typically children walk downhill, along the least path of resistance," he said. That possibility raised particular fears because the East Fork of the Bear River, which is normally ankle-deep, was swollen by heavy mountain snow melt.
However, Brennan had hiked some 600 feet higher and more than five miles into the mountains to the spot where searcher Forrest Nunley found him before noon Tuesday.
"I turned a corner and there was a kid standing in the middle of the trail. He was all muddy and wet," from walking over wet ground, said Nunley, who dialed 911 on his cell phone and said he was lucky to find a signal.
"People say that the heavens are closed and God no longer answers prayers. We are here to unequivocally tell you that the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered and children come home," said Brennan's mother, Jody Hawkins.
The boy had seen some searchers on horseback but avoided them because he was scared, Nunley said. "He was a little delirious. I sat him down and gave him a little food."
After downing bottles of water and eating all the granola bars carried by a group of volunteer searchers, the boy asked to play a video game on one rescuer's cell phone, the sheriff said.
He's a perfectly normal 11 year old. Some 11 year olds are less socially mature than others, and he appears to fall on that side of the equation. He'll catch up.
Brennan's mom (My cousin) said in a news conference today that Brennan was born premature and that he has always been a little behind socially but isn't retarded or slow mentally.
He stuck to two rules: Stay on the trail and stranger danger. He hid from strangers because he was afraid of being stolen. (As Jay Leno said, he was scared because MJ had just been aquitted).
He was delerious. His mom said he didn't remeber that he had gone camping and thought he had only spent a night or two up there but it was actually 4 nights. He also said he didn't drink any water but there is plenty of water with all the snow runoff with little streams, ponds, and pools and the doctors said he was only 10-20% dehydrated. So, he must have taken drinks and just couldn't remember.
When we went to search for him, they trained us and said he may be delerious and completely unreasonable and would do crazy things. Even with that we thought there is no way he could be in an area like we were searching because it was so steep and so rough going. Turns out he went up a trail just as steep and difficult as the one we went up just one slope over.
Earlier today I ordered the "Wilderness Bob" DVD, and I'll be sure to my kids that staying away from strangers isn't the smartest thing if they're lost in the woods.
(As Jay Leno said, he was scared because MJ had just been aquitted).
If that's true, it sure says something about the unwisdom of letting children watch the news!
No kidding! Any, and I mean it when I say ANY small little story with a happy ending has to immediately be turned around, put down, and/or be compared to something "so much more horrifying" or streched "beyond comprehension" by media standars! Its wonderful that they found Brennan, but honestly! Why on earth do the DUmmies have to immediately say how bad it is to be focused on something wonderful for a moment and have to compare it with something that is screaming negativity? Is it just their natural instinct? Give them positive imput, and they vomit negative output...typical...
Man, if I could get an account on there...I'd give them my wrath...
(oh, and I sincerely appologize for not being able to correctly phrase my anger I feel towards them at the moment...I'm only a mere "18 year old child" you know...)
And I also appologize for my simple spelling errors
Because this is what they are. Bitter, hate-filled, mean-spirited - they can't stand the fact that a little lost boy from a loving, religious family was found alive. They actually resent that he's a white boy. How sick is that?!
Skylus,
Let me be the first to wish you a happy birthday tomorrow. You are no longer a 'mere' 18 year old.
Think of DUmmies the same way you think of wood ticks, tape worms, fresh water leeches, clouds of mosquitoes, and giant biting wasps. They all depend on you to live but show their gratitude rather poorly.
Thanks for telling me.......so that is what wrong with me!
But sense I walk in both shoes I think you are misguided!:)
He was taught not to talk to strangers....he was also taught that should he get lost to stay in one place so he could be found!
Sky you should know by now you can't reason with the opposition it is what they thrive on!
Earlier today I ordered the "Wilderness Bob" DVD, and I'll be sure to my kids that staying away from strangers isn't the smartest thing if they're lost in the woods.
*****
He is from the land of Elizabeth Smart and so sometimes life presents a double edge sword which one do you choose?
I say "Stand Ye In Holy Place!" and the Lord will do the rest!
Sadly, some on FR have been just as mean.
Hindsight is 20/20, and all that. I'm just glad he's safe.
"The kid has ADS...based on all the comments that have been said. He doesn't totally focus on the real world around him..."
Saw the family press conference and thought something wasn't right. The kid was a little TOO shy.
What's ADS?
Attention-Deficit Syndrome. A neurological disorder. According to the National Institute of Health, between 3% and 5% of the population in this country are affected by ADS. The major symptoms of the disorder are distractibility, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, poor attention span and impulsiveness. This kid acted on impulse, although he did always remember the parents command...strangers are bad...otherwise, he didn't do anything you'd expect...except survive...which might be the one great positive out of this story.
Gosh, those sound like the major symptoms of being 11.
Thanks for the map - far side of nowhere!
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