SPECIAL MIRACLE: 3 Missing Texas Girls Found Alive in a Hollow Tree Nearly 10 Days After Flood — Here’s How They Survived

 

In what’s being called one of the most miraculous survival stories in modern U.S. history, three young girls who vanished during the Texas flood disaster have been found alive — nestled inside the hollow trunk of an ancient oak tree, just over a mile from the devastated grounds of Camp Wrenwood.

The girls — Emily Rivera, 9; Zoey Nash, 10; and Hope Lin, 8 — had been missing for nearly 10 days, sparking a desperate, multi-agency search effort involving hundreds of volunteers, helicopters, dogs, and drones. Until Sunday afternoon, hope was fading fast.

But then, in a stunning twist of fate, a single sound changed everything.

The Discovery: A Whisper From the Woods

Volunteer hiker Lindsay McCall, who had strayed from the main search grid while exploring flood-warped terrain, heard something faint—what she first thought was an injured animal. As she stepped cautiously toward a collapsed oak tree, she paused. And then came a whisper, just loud enough to stop her heart:

“We’re here… please don’t leave.”

Inside the partially hollowed trunk were three small girls, curled together, shivering, covered in insect bites, but very much alive. The bark around them had been tugged closed using a broken shoelace to form a makeshift door. Rain-soaked towels served as their blankets. McCall radioed for emergency crews, who arrived within minutes.

“We opened the tree… and there they were. Three tiny warriors,” said EMT Jason Trujillo, who was part of the recovery team.

How They Survived: Two Life-Saving Strategies

Doctors and survival experts alike have called it a near-impossible outcome. But two key factors are credited with saving the girls’ lives:

1. Rainwater Drain-Off Catchment

The girls used plastic wrappers from their camp lunch kits, forming them into a crude V-shape at the base of the hollow tree to collect dripping rainwater. They also drank from soaked leaves, and at times, wrung water from their damp shirts into their mouths.

“This was instinct mixed with memory. It kept them from serious dehydration,” said Dr. Mia Lang, one of the triage physicians who treated them on site.

2. A Pre-Camp Safety Drill

Only days before the flood hit, Camp Wrenwood counselors had conducted a wilderness shelter and survival exercise. The girls remembered the lesson vividly.

“They told us: stay dry, stay together, and stay quiet if you’re lost,” said paramedic Trujillo, recounting what the girls told him. “They did exactly that.”

Inside the Tree: Survival, Sisterhood, and Faith

Despite facing cold nights, hunger, and swarming insects, the girls remained calm, supportive of one another, and focused on survival.

“We thought no one was coming,” said Zoey, crying softly, “but we believed in each other.”

They passed the time by whispering stories, praying for their families, and imagining they were explorers in a secret fort. At night, they took turns being the “lookout,” despite the darkness.

“They kept talking about their moms,” said a rescue volunteer. “That hope grounded them.”

Their bodies showed signs of fatigue, surface injuries, and mild dehydration — but miraculously, no serious medical issues.

National Outpouring: “They Are America’s Hope Story”

As news of their rescue spread, so did a wave of national emotion. The girls’ families — many of whom had been living at the base camp for days — collapsed into sobs of relief. One mother dropped to her knees, screaming with joy. Around the country, church bells rang, candlelight vigils lit up neighborhoods, and millions took to social media under trending hashtags like #HollowTreeHeroes, #3StrongGirls, and #FaithFoundThem.

“Ten days. No fire. No food. Just bravery.”

“They saved each other. We will never forget these girls.”

Even President Biden issued a statement, calling the event “a testament to the courage, heart, and resilience that lives in the spirit of every American child.”

What Comes Next

The girls are now resting at a children’s hospital under observation but are expected to make a full physical recovery. Counselors and trauma experts will work with the families to support their emotional healing.

Plans are already underway for a celebration of life event at Camp Wrenwood — not just to honor the girls, but to recognize the volunteers and first responders who never gave up searching.

In a world so often shaken by tragedy, the survival of Emily, Zoey, and Hope is a bright light — a reminder that even in our darkest moments, miracles still happen.

And sometimes, they hide in the hollow of a tree… waiting to be found.