Missing 3-year-old boy found alive

ST. LOUIS (AP/KMOV) -- A 3-year-old southeast Missouri boy missing for more than two days was found alive Wednesday afternoon three miles from his rural home.

A volunteer found Joshua Childers in the rugged terrain of the Mark Twain National Forest, Madison County Sheriff David Lewis said. The boy had slipped out of his house more than 50 hours earlier, wearing a T-shirt, sneakers and a pull-up diaper.

Joshua was taken to the Iron County Hospital in Pilot Knob at 4:42 p.m. for evaluation in the emergency room. Hospital CEO Ed Gast said the initial assessment was that the boy was in fair condition. Joshua was later transferred around 11 p.m. to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City for further evaluation.

"The parents would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the search and treatment of Joshua and they ask that their privacy be protected at this time," Gast said.

Joshua wandered away about 11:30 a.m. Monday from his parents' home near the small, secluded town of Arcadia, about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis. The couple searched for about 45 minutes before calling police, setting off a massive search that lasted through the night and into Tuesday and Wednesday.

So many citizens wanted to help find the 35-pound boy that willing individuals were held back at the staging area, Lewis said.

"Today we brought in professional rescue people," he said. "We tried to cover everything again and widened the scope."

They searched the area by land grids and water, with dogs, divers and sonar equipment. Rain and cool temperatures worsened search conditions.

Sometime after 4 p.m. local time, the boy was found in a hollow, a creek bottom area off State Highway D, three miles from his home. He was immediately taken to the hospital, Lewis said.

He described the Mark Twain National Forest as "really rough country," consisting of steep ravines, creeks and rugged rocks.

"I'm so happy, you can't believe it," Lewis said. "I'm going to go home and take a shower and go to bed."

On Monday evening a searcher found a tennis shoe that the boy's parents confirmed he was wearing when he slipped away from home.

Lewis said the shoe was found nearly a mile from the family's mobile home in the forest.

Joshua's father works an overnight shift and was home sleeping late Monday morning. His mother was watching the child but was briefly distracted. That's when the boy got out, wearing a dark blue and green T-shirt, a pull-up diaper and tennis shoes.

Police arrived and put out a call for volunteers. Hundreds showed up -- some on horses, some on donkeys, some on all-terrain vehicles or with their own dogs to help.

"how could a 35-pound child stay alive in 40-degree weather in the rain for two nights and three days?"

Hastings College student makes a miracle recovery

By Katie Ferrell - Every year around 37,000 people are killed in car crashes.

A Hastings College student came close to becoming part of that statistic.

He crashed his car earlier this year...ending up in a coma.

Tonight in your family healthcast...News 5's Katie Ferrell tells us about his recovery and why his parents are calling it a miracle.

This is 22 year old Jason Kort a little less than 3 months ago.

"He had 6 broken ribs on his left side, his left lung was completely collapsed and his right one was deflating at that time, severe head trauma,” said Mike Kort, Jason’s dad.

A car accident on February 1st left him in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. Doctors feared he may never wake up and had little hope for a full recovery.

"We had no clue how long he would be in a coma like that. They told us it could be 3 months, it could be 6 months, he could never wake up,” said Mike.

But, this is Jason now.

A miraculous comeback his parents or doctors can not explain...After 10 days in a coma, Jason opened his eyes.

"To be honest I think I broke down and cried."

He spent 5 more weeks at 2 Lincoln Hospitals.

He has no memory of why he crashed or even most of his time in the hospital.

"I do not really remember what I did the day of the accident, I do not remember that too well,” said Jason Kort.

His only memory...a day his parents and doctors did not know he would see.

"I would say the best memory I have of being in the hospital was on my birthday, I was in the hospital for my 22nd birthday so I can remember that day."

The only physical reminders of the accident are not from the accident at all. A blood clot forced doctors to remove part of his thumb, an allergic reaction caused a slight burn on his arm and where a breathing tube once was, a small scar.

Jason calls himself lucky and said he is looking toward the future.

"Just getting back to using my hand would be the main thing and getting back the use of my thumb would be another,” said Jason.

Jason's Dr. tells the family he has no medical answers for how he has recovered so fully and quickly.

Jason's dad has his own theory.

"I looked at him and I pointed up to the heavens that was my answer... It is a miracle that is how I look at it,” said Mike.

Mike said a Lincoln nurse told him she had never seen a patient with so many visitors.

The Kort's said they attribute Jason's recovery to the prayer's and support of their family, friends and community.

Jason has only 2 weeks left of therapy in Lincoln.

He plans to go back to college in Hastings this Summer.