The afterlife of Mandy Lathim
Denise Ellis hasn鈥檛 held her daughter for nearly 19 months, and she鈥檚 still searching for her, in a way.
In the fall of 2012, Denise began writing letters to complete strangers, touting her teenage daughter. The letters included a snippet of what Denise told her daughter on her 18th birthday:
"Being your mama is a gift and the thing I hold most dear. As you look ahead to all that your life will become please remember: I will always be right behind you, cheering you on no matter where you are."