Mother and daughter reunited for the first time since birth

All of our star stories are special, but we think you’ll agree this month’s star story is something else. Michelle Reidy from New Zealand has found none other than her birth mother through the site and then on the 3rd November, she met her for the very first time.

In her own words Michelle, 43, tells her incredible story:

“I didn’t find out I was adopted until I was about 7 years old. The boy next door was teasing me saying I didn’t have a real mother or father, so I bopped him on the nose and ran home crying – only to find out that it was true.

My adopted mother and father then told me how my birth mother was made to give me up by her parents, as she was unmarried at the time. She was English and my birth father was an islander, from New Zealand.

They also told me that she must have wanted to keep me as she had knitted me a baby outfit.

I have always wondered since then what my life would have been like with my birth parents.

My relationship with my adopted mother wasn’t exactly perfect. I think she wanted a boy, but my adopted father was an awesome man who I know loved me very much.

When he died I was absolutely devastated. He was my whole world and I still cry to this day when I think of him.

But his death also led me to think about finding my birth parents. I thought that just maybe I might have another mother or father out there who would maybe love me just as much.

So with the help of a friend I started to look for my birth mother. I knew her maiden name and in 1991 I found her, alive and well in Australia! We spoke on the phone and I hoped we could meet, but at the time, my adopted mother was so against the idea that reluctantly and with a heavy heart, I let my birth mother go.

When my adopted mother passed away in 2004, I tried again to find her, but by now, she too had moved on and once again I didn’t know where she was.

Then at work one day one of my mates mentioned the website Who-Remembers-Me.com and told me to give it a go; it had worked for someone else she knew and it might be able to help me.

So I logged on and found someone with the same surname as her. Was this her?

I sent a message asking if she had given birth to a daughter in 1965 as just maybe this person was my birth mother. It was nearly my birthday and I thought, if this was her, this would be the best birthday present ever!

I sat and waited for a reply, and waited, and then a reply. It was her!

I will never ever forget that day sitting there looking at the screen with tears running down my face thinking ‘Oh my God, I've found her again after all this time!’

I was so excited I texted my kids immediately saying ‘I’ve found her, I’ve found my mum!’

They were just as excited as me and asked if they could see her straight away - we couldn’t of course because she was in Australia.

Our wish came true however, on 3rd November, when Lynn Pearson, my Mum, flew into Auckland Airport, New Zealand, to see us.

I was very excited and also apprehensive about meeting her for the first time. Neither of us knew what the other one looked like, but when she stepped off the plane I just knew.
I approached her and said “Lynn” and that was it; next thing we were hugging and crying - we both broke down and cried and cried for ages.
It felt awesome, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I remember hearing her say something like “At long last!”
Well the next ten days flew by and we had a simply magical time. I can honestly say I have never felt a mother’s true love until now and it’s kind of strange and different, but it’s just like the love I used to share with my adopted Dad and as strange as it may sound, I feel like a whole being at long last!

Mum has told me that I have two sisters and one brother who are all younger than me (I did have two brothers but one has since passed away) and on December 25th I’ll be joining them all, for the first time, for Christmas.

Thanks a million guys once again for helping me find my Mum – it’s like winning a life-time lottery as this gift will last me a whole life-time and then some.”

We’ve also heard from Lynn too. Here’s her account:

“43 years ago I gave up a precious little girl who I called Robyn. I was not even allowed to see or hold her. As soon as she was born they took her away from me. The nurses thought it was best that way as my parents would not allow me to bring her home. They thought I’d be able to forget.

They were wrong. For the next 43 years that little person was an ache in my heart. I went on to have four more beautiful children who I love dearly, more than life itself, and I would gladly give up my life for each of them, but that little ache was always there.

Then I got this message from a girl called Michelle (that was the name her adoptive parents gave her) saying “I am looking for my birth mother, are you her?”

We exchanged a few emails and eventually I was able to say “Yes! I am your Mum.” This happened late in October and on the 3rd November I got on a plane and flew to New Zealand and finally, I got to hold my little girl for the first time.

When we met we cried and hugged each other, looked at each other and cried some more. I spent 13 days meeting my grandchildren and Michelle's partner and her lovely animals, and now Michelle is coming over to Australia to meet her siblings.

Her oldest brother has passed away but she has two sisters and a little brother and this Christmas, for the first time ever, I’ll have all my children together under the same roof. I can’t wait.”