Google + Curiosity = Reunion With "Dead" Daughter for Dirk Pratt

**Kitty** · April 17th, 2009, 08:25 AM

The 2-year-old went with her mother on a trip to Ecuador 27 years ago. Pratt, of Seattle, says he was told by his mother-in-law that the little girl, Francesca, died while she was there after she was bitten by a mosquito.

Then, earlier this year, out of idle curiosity, Pratt searched for his name on Google.com. What he found, he said, left him in shock.

"This message is for Dirk M. Pratt, I'm looking to make contact with him," read a note posted in November 2007 on an Internet message board. "I'm his daughter."

"When I first realized she was alive, I had a mission," he said. "My feeling was I was going to do whatever it took to find my daughter. And that was my mission and that's all I could think of. It's I'm going to find my daughter and nothing's going to stop me from finding my daughter."

"I want to cry, I want to scream, I don't know what really I wanted to do," Francesca said of her feelings when she finally saw her father for the first time in all those years.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=7354243&page=1

**Earth2Amanda** · April 17th, 2009, 08:30 AM

I'm sure the mother or mother in law, in this situation was just trying to hurt her ex, or maybe "protect" her daughter. But in the end she hurt her daughter and I'm sure this situation back fired in her face. I may not like my ex, but I'm going to let him be the ass and choice not to see her. That way when she gets older shes mad at him not me.

**sanityslipping** · April 17th, 2009, 09:35 AM

Is the mother and mother in law still alive? I want to hear their explanation as to why they would tell such a huge lie? One that would cause so much hurt for a family.

**Kitty** · April 17th, 2009, 09:38 AM

They were mentioned in the interview briefly, not certain about the mother in law, but the way they refered to the wife/mother, she is still living.

**Peeperann** · April 17th, 2009, 09:54 AM

I'm actually watching the father and daughter on GMA right now. I cannot believe anyone would use a child to hurt another. It only ends up hurting everyone and mostly the child.

I can understand if one parent is a horror show, and you have to protect your child, but over just your own anger?

I am so happy they found each other. It warms my heart.