FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) – The disappearance of Kenneth Howard captured national attention.
Search teams from across the state came to Floyd County to help find the toddler, and after three days, they succeeded. Kenneth was found alive, and safe.
On Saturday, he celebrated his second birthday a few days early.
“This is a very special birthday,” said Samantha Moore, Kenneth’s mother.
Moore says she’s never felt more grateful to see the smile on her son’s face.
“This is the most special one he’ll probably have because, after all this, we’ve got him back,” said Moore.
A celebration like this was far from Moore’s mind when Kenneth went missing last month.
The toddler was found nearly three days later after a massive search, in good health.
“A hundred years just fell off of me, because I felt like I’d aged that overnight, and just the relief. Pure joy. You’ve never felt joy like that,” said Moore.
She says not knowing where he had wandered to was the hardest part. The experience has made her look at life differently.
“It just put it into perspective. As long as my family and my loved ones are alive and well, I can deal with anything,” said Moore.
Now she hopes to work with those who helped her through the most difficult time in her life. She says she’s going to support search and rescue efforts for other missing people.
