Kate McCann has written an emotional Facebook post in the days leading up to the ten-year anniversary of her daughter Madeleine's disappearance
When Madeleine McCann was abducted on 3 May 2007 whilst on holiday with her family in the Algarve, Portugal, many people believed she would be found within days.
But when days turned to months, a happy outcome sadly looked less and less likely.
And now, unbelievably, we are approaching the ten-year anniversary of when the little girl went missing.
Kate and Gerry McCann have come under fire since Maddie was first reported missing, but insist on their innocence in the case.
Their innocence has been backed up by several people, including Detective Dave Edgar, who worked on Maddie's case for three years.
Ten years - a horrible marker of stolen time
Unfortunately for the family, there are those who still believe that they had a hand in Maddie's disappearance - including Goncalo Amaral, a Portuguese detective who led the investigation when it first opened.
He has since written a book entitled The Truth Of The Lie, making wild accusations that Kate and Gerry actually murdered their daughter and covered it up. He even appeared in an Australian documentary at the weekend, bizarrely saying that British agency MI5 even had a part to play.
But nothing can take away the fact that a mother is without her daughter, a couple have lost their child.
And in a heartbreaking open letter, Kate McCann emotionally explains the devastation that has been caused to the family.
She wrote on Facebook: "Ten years - there's no easy way to say it, describe it, accept it.
"I remember when Madeleine first disappeared, I couldn't even begin to consider anything in terms of years. Shawn Hornbeck abducted and kept hidden for over four years, Natascha Kampusch for over eight years. I couldn't go there. And now here we are... Madeleine, our Madeleine - ten years."
READ MORE | Madeleine McCann timeline: A decade since her disappearance
Kate reveals that most of the time, days just go on for the family: "Most days are similar to the rest - another day. May 3rd 2017 - another day. But ten years - a horrible marker of time, stolen time."
The mum then goes on to explain why her and her husband Gerry will not be making any public appearances surrounding the ten-year anniversary: "We are bracing ourselves for the next couple of weeks. It's likely to be stressful and painful and more so given the rehashing of old 'stories', misinformation, half-truths and downright lies which will be doing the rounds in the newspapers, social media and 'special edition' TV programmes. Media appearances are draining and on occasion, unhelpful to the only thing we want - finding Madeleine. They need to have a purpose.
"We could spend all our time and energy trying to defend ourselves by correcting inaccuracies and lies, but then we would have no strength left to look for Madeleine, look after our other children and to live our lives.
"I truly hope that those reporting on the 'story' over the next couple of weeks will have a conscience. Even if little consideration for Gerry and me is shown, they will at least bear in mind the effect such unfounded and unwarranted negativity could have on our other children - and of course Madeleine."
She adds that the family are sincerely hoping for privacy at the difficult time: "Thankfully, there is an active police investigation to try and find Madeleine and bring her abductor to justice. There are no new appeals that the police wish to make at this moment in time and so we are keeping any media involvement marking this unwanted milestone to a minimum."
Kate continues by revealing a mantra of sorts: "The two themes that seem most appropriate to me as we reach this ten-year mark are perseverance and gratitude: We will go on, try our hardest, never give up and make the best of the life we have.
"We consider ourselves immensely fortunate to have received the love, solidarity and support from so many kind and decent people over the last decade. There have been many challenges and low points along the way but the warmth, encouragement and positivity we have experienced from the 'quiet majority' has undoubtedly sustained us and maintained our faith in human goodness. And while that is there, there will always be hope."
She ends the post by thanking readers from the family.
We hope the truth about Madeleine's disappearance comes to light and ends the family's suffering.
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