The afterlife of Mandy Lathim

Denise Ellis hasn’t held her daughter for nearly 19 months, and she’s 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."