This Heartfelt Photo Touched Thousands: Here's Why It Matters

Where is three-year-old Mattie's doll? Tens of thousands of people from Ohio and beyond are trying to find the sentimental lost item.

"My daughter lost her most cherished doll about two weeks ago, a 'Daddy Doll' dressed in military colors with a picture of my husband, a soldier. It’s the only thing that comforts her when her dad is away with the army," explains Jessica, Mattie's mom, in a post where she seeks the public’s help in searching for their precious missing item.

"I brought it out on a Friday morning just to explain to my daughters that their dad wouldn't be around for a while, but he’ll be back. This is something we go through now and then when he has to return to the army from his leaves," she explains.

She says the doll disappeared that same day. "I turned the house and car upside down looking for it, but sadly, I couldn’t find it. We often use this doll when my husband leaves for military training and Mattie can’t see or talk to him. Please, if any of you sees my daughter’s doll, please write to me," she pleads and adds, "I’ll be forever grateful to anyone who finds it and returns it to us. The picture of her dad really helps my Mattie and the other girls cope with his absence. They just hug it tight and imagine he’s with them."

So far, the post has been shared over 7,000 times, but the 'Daddy Doll' has yet to be found. Many of the online followers have generously offered to send another doll to replace Mattie's special one, but for now, Jessica isn’t ready to entertain that idea.