An Iowa family is hoping to be reunited with a priceless, irreplaceable memento.
Our son, Gabryel passed away before we could make it to Disney, Atkinsonwrote.
For his birthday this year we took our surviving son, Sebastyan, on the trip.
His name is Bruce.
Bruce was a steady companion to Gabryel, who battled multiple illnesses and complications throughout his short life.
The family took the plushie with them on every trip.
We took his medical equipment on family trips so Gabryel could experience life to its fullest, said Atkinson.
He was the happiest kid.
He loved football and cheered for both teams.
As a tribute to their late son, the family took Bruce on their Florida trip.
At the eleventh hour, they decided to tuck a portion of his ashes in Bruce’s pouch.
We figured Bruce would stay in our hotel room so we wouldn’t lose him.
However, when Sebastyan asked them to take Bruce on a parasailing trip, they said yes.
This is where the trip gets hazy in my memory due to emotions and grief, wrote Atkinson.
This bit of information has narrowed the search for the family to the next leg of their Florida trip.
Bruce wasnt anywhere to be found, the mom recalled.
I feel sick, struggling to sleep.
Im desperate, Atkinson wrote on Facebook.
The feeling is even heavier for the mom, who works as a nurse.
Sebastyan is distraught and my husband and I feel guilty, she says.
Fortunately, the story has caught wind, having been shared over 16,000 times on Facebook.
People I have never met have spent so much time helpingthey’ve spent hours searching.
There are not enough thank yous' for everyone.
