Deamonte Love - He Held Their Lives in His Tiny Hands

[Sapphire Blue]

Edited to add photo

He Held Their Lives in His Tiny Hands
By Ellen Barry, Times Staff Writer



(excerpt)

BATON ROUGE, La. — In the chaos that was Causeway Boulevard, this group of refugees stood out: a 6-year-old boy walking down the road, holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers who followed him around as if he were their leader.

They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2 years old, and one was wearing only diapers. A 3-year-old girl, who wore colorful barrettes on the ends of her braids, had her 14-month-old brother in tow. The 6-year-old spoke for all of them, and he told rescuers his name was Deamonte Love.

<snip>

Late Saturday night, they found Deamonte's mother, who was in a shelter in San Antonio along with the four mothers of the other five children. Catrina Williams, 26, saw her children's pictures on a website set up over the weekend by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. By Sunday, a private plane from Angel Flight was waiting to take the children to Texas.

<snip>

The helicopter didn't come back. While the children were transported to Baton Rouge, their parents wound up in Texas, and although Williams was reassured that they would be reunited, days passed without any contact. On Sunday, she was elated.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-children5sep05,0,113027.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines

[knowbody0]

1. thanks so much for posting this

good to hear they are not orphans

[Iris]

6. Yes, thanks! I heard about this kid on the Randi Rhodes show

today but she didn't give a lot of detail.

Someone needs to give that kid a medal - and a college fund.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. SOMEONE on DU...don't remember who...is using this kid's pic for an avatar

I saw the post during brief windows between "Level 3" alerts.

But folks, THIS is what it's REALLY all about...THIS KID, this SPIRIT, this AMERICA...NOT George W. Bush.

:patriot:

[tsuki]

3. If those children were picked up from a helicopter, how did they get

dumped on a causeway?

[aquart]

5. Isn't that where the copters were dropping people off?

isn't that where people died waiting for food, water, and buses that never came?

[justabob]

18. yes nt

[Sapphire Blue]

7. The story is confusing...

At least the beginning is..

At first, it says the children were driven from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in the back of an ambulance, after found wandering an evacuation point in downtown New Orleans.

Later, it says that their mothers put them on a helicopter to be evacuated, believing that the helicopter would come back for them (the mothers). Instead, the parents ended up in Texas.

[riverwalker]

4. his mothers name is Catrina

so when he told rescuers his mothers name was "Katrina" they were boggled.

[Iris]

8. kick. This kid is too cute (and brave) to miss.

[Ladyhawk]

11. This kid is so cute I'm suffering from cute overload. :) n/t

[fortyfeetunder]

9. I can't possibly understand

Seven children, four adults
There was NFW the helicopter could not take one adult per 3 kids?
I can't effing believe it :cry:

[Sapphire Blue]

10. So many children became separated from their parents... so many.

[NightOwwl]

12. What a cutie-pie! n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

13. kick... for Deamonte Love.

[renate]

14. kick--what a sweetheart

What a darling little guy.
Good for that little 3-year-old girl too, taking care of her 14-month-old brother.
Thank God (or goodness) for these sweet, beautiful, inspiring children.

[Iris]

15. I'm kicking again b/c more people need to see this brave little guy.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

16. It is not surprising that a little group of kids showed more bravery,

integrity and grace than Commander Über Loon who ran to California, ate cake and fake strummed a guitar, hid out at the ranch and then did a flyover while thousands were slowly dying of thirst, hunger and the heat. A six-year old child was more responsible and caring for that group of children than someone who took an oath to protect all citizens. Maybe The Loon would like to talk to Demonte and ask for lessons.

[Iris]

17. Every time I look at this picture,

I'm just so taken by how clear and open his face is - how bright his eyes are.

What a juxtaposition between him and the man who is supposed to be our leader.

[Iris]

19. kick, again.

I know, I know, but I"m a sucker for a sweet smile.