After enduring 10 harrowing days lost in the wilderness, three young girls—Emily Rivera, Zoey Nash, and Hope Lin—were discovered alive within a hollow oak tree, located just one mile from Camp Wrenwood, Texas.
They had disappeared during a flash flood that had swept away part of the summer camp. The girls had no food, no fire, and no means to call for assistance—yet they managed to survive. Their rescue is now being referred to as “a miracle of courage and friendship.”
👟 A Murmur From the Forest
Their discovery was entirely coincidental. A volunteer hiker, searching through thick underbrush, heard an unusual whimper near a fallen tree. As she drew closer, she discerned a faint voice:
“We’re here… please don’t leave.”
Inside the trunk of the tree, the girls were huddled together beneath damp towels. They had utilized bark and a shoelace to seal the entrance. Despite their exhaustion, they remained alert and were whispering about their families.
💧 Survival Without Tools—Only Ingenuity
So how did they endure? Two key factors contributed to their survival:
Rainwater Collection – The girls fashioned a V-shaped funnel from snack wrappers to gather water.
Camp Survival Drill – Just days prior to the storm, they had been instructed to:
“Stay dry. Stay quiet. Stay together.”
They consumed rainwater from soaked shirts, licked leaves, and never left the tree. Medical professionals report that they were dehydrated, bitten, scratched—but alive.
❤️ “We Thought About Our Mothers”
Rescuers indicate that the girls maintained their strength by sharing memories and prayers, reassuring one another that help would arrive.
“We kept talking about our moms,” one girl recounted.
“That’s what kept us going.”
They held onto their belief, even as the days became darker and colder. They never relinquished hope—or each other.
A Nation Inspired
Back at the family base camp, tears transformed into joy. One mother fainted in relief upon hearing her daughter’s name. Throughout Texas, church bells tolled, and on social media, hashtags such as #HollowTreeHeroes, #3StrongGirls, and #FaithFoundThem surged in popularity.
“Ten days. No food. No fire. Just courage.”
🏥 Healing, Hope, and a New Bond
Currently recuperating in a Texas hospital, the girls are enveloped by their families and a nation filled with admiration. Their narrative is celebrated as a contemporary story of resilience, love, and the strength of unity. In the most challenging circumstances, these three young girls emerged as symbols of survival—and the world will always remember them.
