Grandma noticed Amber Alert while feeding birds outside her house—then immediately used binoculars to save missing toddler
It is important to be observant, as even the most seemingly insignificant or trivial details can result in something profound. A woman named Barb Gusse was able to heroically come to the rescue of a child who was missing after an observation she’d made moments ago, The Star Tribune noted. The elderly woman was feeding her birds in her Brooklyn Center yard and came across an Amber alert on her phone. As a responsible citizen, she got to work and did her best to find any leads. Her efforts played a massive role in successfully locating and rescuing a toddler.
According to Amber Alert, the word “AMBER” stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. It is an initiative started in 1996 and has since been instrumental in rescuing missing children. The AMBER alert system is in place throughout 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. By the end of 2024, around 1,268 children were found with the AMBER Alert system. Additionally, 226 children were rescued thanks to the wireless emergency alerts. Gusse was feeding her birds when she received an alert for a missing 1-year-old.
The toddler had been stolen along with the car two hours prior from north Minneapolis in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee. His mom had reportedly placed him in the car seat and went to grab something from inside the house when he was taken away, WCCO- CBS Minnesota reported. The grandmother of nine spotted a similar vehicle pull into the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church across her street. She hadn’t thought much of it, but when she connected it with the alert issued, she decided to investigate. The elderly woman grabbed her binoculars to intently observe the vehicle and noted the number plate - CRY-661. She immediately knew it was the car. "My heart went out to my feet. I was shaking so bad I couldn't hold a cup,” she recalled. She decided to observe closely.
Due to the cold weather, she was able to notice the engine was running. Without further ado, she called the police, who quickly arrived at the parking lot. "I could hear that baby crying and you know where my heart went, to the ground. I started shaking and crying," Gusse remarked. There was no doubt as to what to do when the woman heard the baby’s frantic cries in the car. Gusse’s daughter, Katye Stolp, who learned of her mother’s heroic act, was proud that she intervened. "She was crying and saying that I was thinking about my own grandchildren, if something like that happened to them, I would be beside myself," the woman said. The child was safely rescued, thanks to the woman.
John Elder, spokesman for the Minneapolis Police Department, commended the quick relief of the situation. "The fact that she was alert and willing to reach out is beyond appreciated,” he remarked. The officers also noted that the boy was fine and “all smiles” when they found him. When asked about her bravery, the elderly woman had an astonishing remark. “Honey, I'm no hero. I'm just a grandmother," she said. She added, "I'm so thankful that he was okay, that he's with mom and dad. That's all that matters.”
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