The mother of missing Islander Damien Nettles has opened up about the "gaping wound" in her family, 25 years on from the disappearance of her son.
Damien was just 16 when he vanished from Cowes, on November 2, 1996.
Although she admits today is a "sombre day", Valerie Nettles has told Isle of Wight Radio she hasn't given hope that he will be found.
"Every November 2 is a reminder of what happened. We just approach it in the same way. We try to make the best of it, she said.
"I still remember 25 years ago at this time this was happening and at that time this was happening.
"I don't like to call it an anniversary because that has a sound of happiness about it. It's missing day.
"We just go about the day as usual. There's not much we can do. We just miss him every day. To us it was yesterday. It's 25 years but we've spent the last 25 years immersed in this life of missingness and it's become a way of life now.
"We learn to live with it and around it. We never get over it. It's always a gaping wound in her family and in the wider community.
"It's just a strange life that we've been living for the last 25 years. I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had the family not had this [happen]. I think life would have been quite different if Damien was still with us.
"I often wonder. I have six grandchildren from the three children I do have here. I often wonder what Damien's children would have been like and how he would have been happily married."
Valerie, who moved to Texas with her family 20 years ago, says she still receives messages of support from her friends on the Island, as well as the wider community.
Damien's case is being reviewed by group Locate International, which is made up of ex-police officers. The University of South Wales Criminology department is also involved.
"They [Locate] did identify some questions that they had and they've forwarded that to the police who are maybe considering working side by side, Valerie said.
"There are things that Locate can do and take on some of the aspects of the case and iron some things out for the police if they agree to it and it takes that weight of extra work away from the police.
"And so it's just something that's in the process of being approved. So we'll see how that works out."
Valerie's daughters Sarah and Melissa have also created a group, named International Siblings of the Missing.
The group's pages can be found on Facebook and Twitter - @SiblingsMissing.
If you have any information that you think can assist in the enquiry, then please email [email protected].
Alternatively, anyone with any information about Damien can call police on 101 or anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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