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May 13, 2008 7:26 pm US/Eastern
A Missing Grandmother's Story With A Happy Ending
Family Said They Are Grateful She Was Not Injured
Police Find Missing Woman At Westland Mall
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
She was lost at the mall and then found at the mall. The elderly South Florida woman was on her own for 53 hours after he family lost her at Macy's in Westland Mall, and CBS4's Peter D'Oench spoke with the woman and her relieved family.
Rene Sepulveda, 83, became separated from her family while during shopping the day before Mother's Day at Westland Mall in Hialeah. She was last seen at Macy's and found at the JC Penney store Monday.
Even though she has Alzheimer's disease, her family believes something drove her to return to the mall.
"I feel very good," said Sepulveda from her hospital bed. Since she has Alzheimer's, she cannot remember exactly where she's been in the past two day, but she does know she is thrilled to be safe and surrounded by those who love her. She is currently suffering from slight dehydration.
On Sunday, a day after Sepulveda got separated from her family at the mall, her niece Sandra Jimenez pleaded for the public's help.
"Help us, help us, find her," said Jimenez sobbing uncontrollably. "We need to know that she is well, this is difficult, it's horrible."
On Monday around 6 p.m., more than two days after Sepulveda disappeared, a security guard who'd seen the news spotted her. Police said she had return to the mall and was seen wandering through the aisles at the JC Penney store.
On Tuesday, Sepulveda is recovering from dehydration at Palmetto General Hospital.
"She's giving thanks to the city, to the mall, to the fire department, to fire rescue, to the hospital, because she is now back with her family," said Sepulveda's sister, Sonia Jimenez.
Sepulveda's feet were swollen, for two days she wandered around Hialeah and was even seen crossing busy 49th Street.
"She must have slept somewhere around the vicinity of Westland Mall. Where, we will never find out," said Sepulveda's great niece, Johana Lascano.
Her family said they are grateful she was not injured.
"There is no sings of her hitting herself or any struggle with anyone," said Lascano. "Just to see how high spirits she has and that she's still joking and she's still laughing. And she won't even remember."
So the search for Sepulveda ended where it started at the Westland Mall. Her loved ones also think it was remarkable that was not injured while trying to cross a busy 49th street. They said she will be treated for a few more days at the hospital and then will be allowed to go home.
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