A vacation apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal lost Madeleine McCann when she was three years old seventeen years ago.
Kate and Gerry McCann live their lives without Madeleine as their eldest daughter while maintaining hope for answers and keeping on despite seventeen years passing.
Recent comments from the McCanns illustrate how their grief experience endures till this day.
They expressed, “It’s 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It’s hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief.”
“Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the ‘living in limbo’ is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches.”
For many years the McCanns have endured two major difficulties because of public scorn and enduring psychological pain from their daughter’s unresolved abduction.
Kate McCann uses her memoir to provide an open discussion about the ways Madeleine’s disappearance disrupted her religion and personal way of life.
Through her writing she disclosed how abandonment by God made her doubt whether she should still enjoy any pleasures.
The author disclosed in her published work that she has experienced numerous times where she thought God had abandoned her along with feeling God failed to protect Madeleine.
“I’ve occasionally doubted His existence altogether. The difficulty to accept this reality has caused me to direct my anger toward God.
The search for Madeleine has produced many different breakthroughs since her disappearance.
In 2020, German authorities identified Christian Brückner as a prime suspect, claiming they had “concrete evidence” of his involvement.
The convicted child abuser and drug dealer Brückner dwelled in the Algarve area at the time when Madeleine disappeared.
Legal obstacles have halted the prosecution process thus causing frustration for both the investigative team along with the McCanns.
During October 2024 Brückner gained his freedom after a German court cleared him of unrelated s*xual crime charges because no suitable evidence could be produced.
The latest court decision released Brückner from legal charges although it neither aids nor obstructs the current McCann case proceedings.
During their court proceedings the McCanns manage to handle their personal commitments while maintaining Madeleine’s memory active.
The twins Amelie and Sean are two years old after the disappearance of their sister when their parents became parents.
In a previous interview, Gerry McCann spoke about adapting to a “new normality” and focusing on their twins while never giving up hope.
The McCanns composed a poignant message which they shared on the day Madeleine would turn 21 years old in May 2024.
“Happy 21st birthday Madeleine. Madeleine remains lost and each day she is deeply missed by those who continuously seek answers for her disappearance.
The McCanns released a sad statement during the 17th year since Madeleine disappeared.
They admitted that the pain of losing their daughter has never faded, saying the “living in limbo” remains the hardest part.
“Your support continues to encourage us and bolsters our strength to keep going,” they shared.
“We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that.”
The McCanns stay focused on finding the truth because they preserve faith for one day to learn the truth about Madeleine’s disappearance.
Their quest functions as a tribute to parents who never give up and preserve their determination while pursuing legal resolution.
Feature Image Credit: (Alamy)