NY Missing: How Families Cope at the Holidays
By: Katrina Irwin
Updated: December 26, 2012
"I think it's stressful for the whole family. There is a lot of anxiety. Christmas is Brittanee's favorite holiday, so it is very hard for us," says Dawn.
Dawn honors Brittanee with a separate tree. One that holds all of Brittanee's ornaments. She calls it the tree of hope.
"I hope someone will come forward. I know someone knows something. And we've been waiting three a half years for Britt it's tiring exhausting, very stressful especially holidays and birthdays," says Dawn.
Barbara Sullivan knows exactly what Dawn is feeling. Her son Brian disappeared in July of 2007.
His car was later found near a Burger King on Chili Avenue.
"It's terrible every day not knowing. Hoping every day though that today we are one day closer to finding Brian," says Barbara Sullivan.
She too has a special tree for her child. "It's all of Brian's ornaments and every year since Brian was little, people gave him an ornament."
Brian's stocking is full of gifts. Each year one more thing gets added. "We're hoping some day Brian gets to open his gifts," says Barbara.
Brittanee also has some waiting for her and her mom dreams of the day she'll come home to open them. "Enjoy time with your kids especially at the holidays and make memories with them because one day they may not have them here with them."
