Sisters reunited after almost 40 years!

How many memories do you have from when you were two years old? Not many I am sure.

My friend Mia was told that when she was adopted she also had a sister. She had no information about her what so ever and has always wondered if they would ever meet.

You see Mia (age 2ish) and her older sister Adriana (age 5-6) were abandoned in the mountains of South Ecuador. Adriana became Mia's immediate caretaker. She scrounged for food, found them shelter and took care of the needs they had.

Just take a moment and picture this.

Both Adriana & Mia were found by authorities and put in the care of a lawyer who took on many children similar to them. (It is very common in Ecuador for children to be left to take care of themselves)

Adriana who has memories of the lawyers home speaks of it as not a loving environment.

Mia does not remember her time in Ecuador with her sister as she was so little. However, Adriana has memories and remembers Mia and the last time she saw her when authorities ripped her from her hands. She has always wondered what had happened to Mia. If she was safe, taken care of and loved.

I personally have a four year old daughter and a two year old daughter and I cannot imagine my eldest being a parent to my youngest.

Mia having just the knowledge of having a sister and her approximate age began looking for her sister by calling private investigators, TV shows, adoptive sites, searching online, interviewing family, you name it. A hard feat considering all her information in order to be adopted into the US was made up. Mia desperately wanted a connection to her flesh and blood. All roads lead to a dead end and after years of searching and creating online profiles Mia gave her search to the Lord and prayed that one day maybe her older sister would find her. It seemed impossible. Until.....

Last year (2011) Adriana decided for the first time to try and find Mia. She got on the computer and found a site with registries of individuals searching for lost siblings. On her first try she stumbled across a story that seemed eerily familiar to hers and she sent an email.

That email was sent to Mia.

 

The blood test results confirming Adriana and Mia are in fact sisters!

A stunned Mia responded cautiously and they both decided to get a DNA test. The test proved they were indeed blood sisters!

ON THE FIRST attempt at looking for her younger sister Adriana had found Mia who had been searching for nearly 20 years for her!

A truly remarkable story that is so powerful and full of hope.

I was blessed to be a witness to their reuniting and was able to invite my friends from Talk it Up TV to document it as well.

Here are some of my photos from the weekend I got to spend getting to know Mia and her family a bit better and Adriana and her daughter Cortney. 

Mia and her eldest daughters (Maryn & Kylie) at the airport awaiting Adriana her daughter Cortney's arrival.

Mia getting her mic on for an interview with Talk It Up TV before the flight arrives.

Nathan part of Talk It Up TV getting things ready to go.

Mia with daughter Maryn and Kylie anxiously waiting for Adriana & Cortney to arrive.

Sean the director circling Mia making sure not to miss a moment. Thanks Talk It Up TV!

Mia sees Adriana from a distance!

A tearful yet happy moment.

You can almost since the joyful peace.

Happy tears.

I admit it I was teary eyed as well. Such a beautiful thing to witness.

 

Mia grew up in a church all her life and they all were very much aware of her story and how much she wanted to find Adriana. This is Mia recapping her story and introducing her church to Adriana.

Adriana listening as Mia recaps their story.

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Mia's pastor praying over them.

Mia's son Josh reading what Mia prepared to speak at church.

Going through Mia's child hood photos.

Mia when she was a kid.

Such beauty.

Anny from Talk It Up TV interviewing Mia.

A behind the scenes look of part of the interview. Thanks again Talk It Up TV!

It just so happened to be Mia's birthday when Adriana & Cortney came to town and they had a birthday party/reunion party.

Some of Mia's family and close friends were interviewed. Such an amazing history there. Talk It Up TV will have more in their documentary.

More pics of Mia growing up.

For years Adriana had wondered if she remembered Mia the way she looked. She dreamed about her and wasn't sure if she was remembering her how she was. When they were going through the photos Adriana paused and the tears started to come. This is how she remembered Mia and dreamed about her.

Mia

During the interview with Adriana & Mia, Mia reached for her sisters hand. So sweet and amazing. Sisters are a blessing.

Mia & Adriana with their children. From eldest to youngest: Cortney, Maryn, Kylie, Josh and Ally.

Mia (left) Adriana (right)

 Many blessings to the two of you! What a remarkable story of hope you have. Thank you for letting me share in it.