We all know that many kids didn’t grow up with their biological parents. What’s worse is some kids never had the chance to meet their moms or dads.
If it’s heartbreaking for these kids, the feeling is probably the same for some parents.
We all know pregnancy can be a scary thing at times. There are so many factors that are taken into consideration when it comes to having a baby. It is also incredibly time-consuming and costly to raise a child.
And just like most teens who got pregnant at an early age, Stacey Faix of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was fifteen at the time was unprepared and didn’t know what to do when she gave birth to a baby boy. Ultimately, she made the painful decision to put her son up for adoption. Not even once did she get to hold him.
Years went by, and fate dealt a cruel hand as the adoption records were lost in a devastating flood. The young man, who is now known as Stephen Strawn, found it extremely difficult to find his birth mother as a result. Nevertheless, in a strange twist of fate, a new law passed in November 2017 gave adoptees the ability to seek birth certificates bearing the names of their biological parents. With this fresh chance, Stephen set out to track out Stacey, his biological mother.
Unbeknownst to Stacey, Stephen submitted his information to an agency, and after a month of anticipation, he finally received his birth certificate. This crucial document set the wheels in motion for a heartwarming reunion between mother and son. As fate would have it, Stacey was participating in the Pittsburgh Half Marathon with Team Red, White, and Blue, a group that supports veterans. Stephen decided to surprise her at this event, thinking it was the perfect opportunity for their paths to cross again.
April came, and Stephen discovered Stacey on Facebook, reaching out to her with a message. “Hey, I have a really weird question,” he wrote. “Did you put a baby boy up for adoption in 1982?” Stacey replied, “Yes,” to which he responded, “I think you may be my biological mom.” Their digital encounter was full of emotion and anticipation, leading to their physical reunion at the marathon.
Right before the marathon began, Stacey was handed a letter that read: “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. I didn’t want to make you wait for one more.” As she turned around, her eyes fell upon her long-lost son, now 35 years later. The tears flowed as they embraced each other, the hug that never was when he was born. At that moment, Stacey whispered, “I never got to hold you,” and Stephen’s heart shattered.
They hugged each other endlessly as they held each other, attempting to make up for the time they had missed. Both mother and son had a sense of disbelief as if they had been looking forward to this moment their entire lives. They completed the marathon in two hours and fifty minutes while running hand in hand. It was always about the unbreakable link between a mother and her child rather than the pace or the competitiveness.
Their story touched the hearts of many, spreading across social media like wildfire. With People shared their own stories of adoption, reuniting with long-lost family members, and the indomitable human spirit.
“Every child should have the right to know who his/her parents are, even if the parents don’t want the baby. The law should protect the most vulnerable (in this case the baby),” one person wrote.
“I was adopted at the age of six and found my biological Momma and the rest of my family when I was 30! I am the youngest of 15 siblings! What a reunion that was!” another commenter said, who shared their own similar personal story.
Although they were apart for 35 years, they are really blessed to be reunited again.
WATCH the video below for more details:
Leave a Comment