Reunited after 18 years

I’m sure many of you watched the coverage of the Jaycee Dugard case like I did with my mouth open while I nudged my husband to say, “Can you believe that? That’s incredible. Oh man, can you imagine?”

As a parent, I simply can’t imagine what it would feel like to have your child back after 18 years of wondering where she was, if she was safe or if she was alive. And then, you get your once 11-year-old daughter back as a 29-year-old mother of two who has lived in a backyard shack with an accused rapist for almost two decades.

Seriously. I can’t even imagine.

I’ve been fascinated by the reports on this case for several reasons. First, Jaycee’s step-father witnessed the kidnapping as Jaycee was pulled into a car on the way to her bus stop. I wonder how I would react in such a situation? What’s the best course of action?

Secondly, I keep wondering how you heal after something like this. Jaycee undoubtedly bonded with her captor. Police say she has two children with him and that he was essentially her only link to humanity for 18 years. I wonder what she will have to overcome to bond with her real family again, and to put two decades of trauma behind her.

In Utah, we’ve all watched as Elizabeth Smart reintegrated into her family and life with an incredible amount of poise and grace. Yet, Smart was gone for nine months instead of 18 years and did not bear children for her captor. Is it possible for Jaycee Dugard to recover as Smart did?

What was your reaction to this amazing story? How do you think a family can heal and move on after trauma like this?