CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — UPDATE!
Delta said Saturday that they were able to fly the doll to Savannah where agents reunited 18-month-old Kenley with her doll -- plus a few gifts from delta.
Watch the sweet moment she got her “daddy doll” back:
Original story:
Delta employees at Atlanta’s airport were on a mission Friday, trying to find a little girl’s lost doll.
But this was no ordinary doll.
The doll belongs to a little girl whose daddy is a Marine. He’s deployed overseas. She calls it her “Daddy doll.”
"My heart absolutely sank. I started sweating, and almost started crying," Arielle Britton said.
Britton looked high and low for her 18-month-old daughter Kenley's doll.
"It's her Daddy. It's her Daddy doll," Britton said.
Daddy Brian is a corporal in the United States Marine Corps, deployed overseas. But before he left, he had “Daddy doll” made for Kenley, complete with a little voice box.
"She sleeps with it every night. And he actually recorded a goodnight message to her," Britton said.
"Hi Kenley! I love you!" plays every time Kenley squeezes it.
She doesn't go anywhere without it, but this week during a Delta flight from Hartford, Connecticut to Atlanta, “Daddy doll” disappeared.
Airport and airline employees at both locations searched every nook and cranny.
The mission went viral on Facebook and Twitter. But Britton was afraid “Daddy doll’ was gone for good, but then around 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Friday, “Daddy doll” was recovered.'
We found your doll, Kenley! He’s missed you, but don’t worry. We’re bringing him home. ✈️❤️ https://t.co/owB7WpCNJk pic.twitter.com/cJNfsXZF9w
— Delta (@Delta) February 7, 2020
Britton was told Delta employees found it on the plane. The child’s mother is overwhelmed and humbled.
"There's so many amazing things that came out of this journey for us, and we're so appreciative of everybody and everything," Britton said.
And little Kenley is grateful, too.
“Daddy doll” is now being shipped home. The family lives in South Carolina.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
