UPDATED Thursday, February 9, 2012 --- 4:40 p.m.

Officials are calling it a miracle. 74-year-old Virginia "Ginny" Brand wandered off Wednesday while on a walk with her daughter.

Not only did she survive with no food, water or shelter, but according to officials, she also suffers from dementia.

Keith Hurlbert, Iowa County's Emergency Manager, says the temperatures last night were well below freezing.

Volunteers in the field reported temps as low as 5-degrees. Hurlbert says on multiple occasions during the search he needed to take a break and head indoors to warm up.

Officials say Brand was found just before 10 this morning nearly 18 hours after she was first reported missing. Remarkably, Brand was found wandering in a field between Norwegian Hollow Road and Wilson Road.

Officials say they never want to lose hope on a search. But after a certain amount of time passes reality does begin to set in. Before Brand was found they had started to prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best. In this case hope won out.

Brand was taken to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

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UPDATED Thursday, February 9, 2012 --- 3:55 p.m.

TOWN OF DODGEVILLE, Wis. (AP) -- Rescuers have found a 74-year-old woman in good condition after she apparently spent a chilly night outdoors in southwest Wisconsin.

Iowa County sheriff's officers were notified just before 5 p.m. Wednesday that Ginny Brand of rural Dodgeville was missing.

Family members say Brand apparently wandered off. Crews searched the area without any luck, and a State Patrol aircraft joined the search that night.

Authorities expanded the search Thursday morning and found tracks in the snow that led to Brand. She was taken to Upland Hills Health with non-life-threatening injuries.

The sheriff's office says Brand apparently spent the night outdoors. Temperatures in the area had dropped to as low as 5 degrees.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Thursday, February 9, 2012 --- 10:46 a.m.

According to an Iowa Co. Emergency Management Advisory, Virginia "Ginny" Brand was transported to Upland Hills Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

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UPDATED Thursday, February 9, 2012 --- 10:25 a.m.

NBC15 News has learned 74-year-old Virginia "Ginny" Brand has been found a mile from her home. We're told she did spend the night outside.

Right now she is in the hospital, so doctors can check her condition.

She appears to be in good spirits. We are told that she was very talkative on her way to the hospital.

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UPDATED Thursday, February 9, 2012 --- 6:30 a.m.

We just checked with Iowa County Sheriff's Department. 74-year-old Ginny Brand is still missing. Several Iowa County fire departments are out searching for Brand.

She was last seen on Esch Rd northwest of Dodgeville yesterday afternoon.

From the Sheriff's Department: Ginny suffers from dementia but is very sociable and could have received a ride from someone. If you have seen Ginny or know her location please call the Iowa County 911 Dispatch Center at 608-935-3314 with your information.

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Posted: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 --- 6:30p.m.

Information from Iowa County Sheriff's Department:

Iowa County Public Safety agencies are searching for Ginny Brand.

Ginny is a 74 yo female who was last seen on Esch Rd northwest of Dodgeville late this afternoon. Ginny suffers from dementia but is very sociable and could have received a ride from someone.

Ginny is described as being of slight built and was last seen wearing a Purple Coat, Green Pants and carrying a large brown purse.

If you have seen Ginny or know her location please call the Iowa County 911 Dispatch Center at 608-935-3314 with your information.