“On this Fourth of July, it will be one year since our eight-year-old daughter, Cile, was killed in the floodwaters at Camp Mystic,” they wrote.
“We still do not know how we will face that morning.”
Despite their grief, the family expressed graтιтude for the people who have refused to end the search.
“But we know we will not face it alone, because, in the wreckage of the Guadalupe River, there are still people searching, still refusing to leave our daughter behind,” the statement continued.
“Their faithfulness is the reason we can meet that day at all. Thank you to each and every one of you.”
The Stewards also acknowledged the continued support they have received from Texas officials and emergency response agencies.
Their statement specifically thanked Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for their ᴀssistance throughout the past year.
The family also expressed appreciation for the many volunteers, recovery crews, and search teams who continue working along the Guadalupe River.
According to the Stewards, those ongoing efforts provide hope that one day Cile will finally be brought home.
Over the past year, numerous volunteer organizations have returned to the river on multiple occasions, continuing searches despite difficult terrain and changing environmental conditions.
Many have said they remain committed to helping provide closure for the Steward family.
The anniversary has prompted renewed remembrance across Texas for everyone affected by the Camp Mystic disaster.
Memorial events have been held to honor the campers, counselors, rescue personnel, and families whose lives were forever changed by the catastrophic flooding.
Community members have also continued supporting affected families through charitable events, remembrance ceremonies, and volunteer initiatives.
For the Steward family, however, the anniversary represents not only a day of remembrance but also another reminder that their daughter’s story remains unfinished.
They say the unwavering commitment shown by those still searching has given them strength during an unimaginably difficult year.
As recovery efforts continue, the family remains hopeful that one day they will finally be able to bring Cile home and lay her to rest.
Until then, they say every volunteer, every search team, and every person who continues looking for their daughter serves as a powerful reminder that she has not been forgotten.
One year after the floodwaters forever changed their lives, the Stewards continue to hold onto hope—supported by a community that refuses to stop searching for the little girl who is still missing.
