Debbie Carilli owes a debt of gratitude to the local McDonald's staff whose considerate thinking reunited her with her missing daughter Amanda.

Debbie has two children 3-year-old Andrew and 12-year-old Amanda who is mentally retarded.

On March 16, Debbie left her Williston Park home to keep an appointment at the doctor's office. Her brother, Anthony Imperato, and her husband, Tom, remained home to watch the children.

As her husband lay on the couch, Amanda slipped out the front door, past the many safeguards the Carilli's have established, and made her way to her favorite place in the world, the McDonald's in Mineola.

Amanda's trek was one she had taken many times before with her mother.

"My daughter is one of the biggest (McDonald's) fans ever," said Debbie, "One of her most favorite things ever to do is to eat a cheeseburger and drink a coke."

Employees at the McDonald's recognized the familiar face of their loyal customer, Amanda, when she walked in the door, but noted something wrong.

"I was in the back and one of the managers came back and said there was a little girl who walked in and she's not wearing shoes," said Robert Malone, general manager.

Continued Malone, "I tried talking to her, but she had a little fit like she wanted something, it turns out she wanted a Coke."

Amanda who is unable to speak could not answer their questions, so General Manager Tracey Greenwood phoned the police.

Meanwhile Malone tried to keep Amanda occupied with soda and with toys, eventually he just held her hand as she walked around the store.

When Amanda's frightened father, Tom, realized she was gone from their home, he frantically called the 3rd Precinct. They informed him, his daughter was safe and sound at McDonald's. He called his wife on her cell phone to inform her of what happened.

Tom arrived at McDonald's to find his daughter at her favorite place at the counter eating a cheeseburger and drinking a coke.

"He was so happy to see her," recalled Malone.

Soon after Amanda was home. An emotionally wrought Debbie arrived to find her daughter with her soda cup still in hand.

Debbie put her hand under Amanda's chin, gently lifted her face and asked her daughter what she had done that day.

"She gave a sly little grin. She knew what I was talking about," said Debbie.

An emotional Debbie was able to thank Greenwood in person and sends thanks to Malone.

"We don't even think we did anything," said Malone of his and Greenwood's opinions of their actions.

Nevertheless, Debbie Carilli is singing the praises of the establishment and its considerate staff who earned the honor already bestowed upon it by its loyal customer Amanda, as her favorite place in the world.