SAN DIEGO -- The parents of murdered Sabre Springs second-grader Danielle van Dam, took time Wednesday to reflect on their ordeal with 10News.

WESTERFIELD TRIAL Judge William Mudd Issues Death Penalty Sentence Hear Jury's Death Penalty Recommendation Watch The Jury's Verdict Being Read Share Your Thoughts DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 Watch Danielle Video Montage E-mail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150

Brenda and Damon van Dam said they're still grieving, but also grateful for all the love and support they've been shown over the past seven-and-a-half months.

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The van Dams were forbidden from giving any substantive comment when the trial of their neighbor, David Westerfield, began. Now that it's over, and the jury has recommended the death penalty, the gag order has been lifted.

Both Damon and Brenda van Dam expressed relief that the trial is over, but said that there is also an emptiness that will never end.

"I'm relieved that part of my life is behind me. But, of course, I'll always have an empty spot in my heart because I can never have Danielle back," Brenda van Dam said.

There are still sleepless nights, the van Dams said, and thoughts of their lost daughter. There are also concerns for their two sons. The boys have moved into the same room and are looking out for each other, getting closer, but have fears, their parents said.

"We have to stay strong for Derek and Dylan," Brenda van Dam said. "We do whatever we can to relieve the stress. I've been getting massages."

"I've been hitting the punching bag a lot," Damon van Dam said. "And I think as far as feeling safe in the house, we've gone through and double-checked the doors every night. We double-lock the rear door now, we set the alarm every night."

The van Dams said they're also having to deal with the notoriety that came with the kidnapping and search for Danielle. They've been on television almost non-stop since the beginning of February. Being in the spotlight has been uncomfortable at times, but most people have been supportive, according to Damon van Dam.

"When people come up to me and say, 'I feel bad for coming up and all, but, I feel for you, my heart goes out to you' it's nice," he said.

The van Dams have called David Westerfield a monster and expressed frustration that there's been no remorse shown from their daughter's. But they said they don't expect any.

"I think it would have been different if, in the beginning, he had told us soon enough so we could have touched her little hand. That would have been different, but he chose not to do that -- he chose not to tell us where she was. And we never got to see her again," Brenda van Dam said.

Danielle will always be a part of them, and the San Diego community. And the van Dams told 10News that they can't say "thank you" enough to those who stepped up to help in their time of need.

"One more 'thank you' is in order to everybody who helped in any way," Damon van Dam said.

"The community's been wonderful and we're very amazed. We're very grateful," Brenda van Dam said.

This Sunday, a celebration of Danielle's 8th birthday will be held at the Carmel Mountain Ranch Recreation Center from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a public event. To find out more, click here.