Tragedy In Braddock

As the Post-Gazette and all other local media outlets are reporting this evening, searchers have found the body of the 23-month-old toddler who disappeared from her Braddock home early on Saturday morning. It's still way to early to know how this tragedy occurred, but the story has been on my mind all weekend. What a horrible thing to happen to a little girl; as a parent, it hits me especially hard. Any parent has had those brief moments when their kids were about this age, and the child suddenly isn't where you thought they were. It certainly happened to me, and -- even though it all ended happily and everyone laughs about it now -- I have never been so absolutely terrified in my life. The sense of loss, failure, and panic is like nothing that I could ever attempt to describe.

If you are of the praying sort, please join with me in offering one for the soul of little Nyia Page, who was taken from this earth long before she had any idea of what life had to offer her.