In 1980, Wendy was 19 years old when she got the news. She was pregnant, and it wasn't planned. Faced with the hardest and most gut-wrenching decision of her life, Wendy decided to give her baby girl up for adoption.
Years passed. The baby girl, now named Heather, had been adopted into a loving family. She grew up, got married to a man named Eric, and together they had a daughter named Sophie. As for Wendy, she went on to have two children of her own… but she never stopped thinking about the newborn she once gave up, and she never lost hope that she'd one day see her again. Heather and Wendy both lived relatively close by in North Dakota, but they had never crossed paths… or so they thought.
In 2014, Wendy's sister got a job at the same social services department that helped place her daughter for adoption so many years before. Thus began Wendy's unexpected search for more information about Heather and her whereabouts.
What happened next is nothing short of incredible…
Wendy and Heather: Adoption Miracle from Lutheran Social Services of ND on Vimeo.
In 1980, Wendy learned she was pregnant with a baby girl. She was only 19, and feared she was incapable of providing for a child.
Ultimately, Wendy made the heartbreaking decision to put the baby up for adoption. She didn't take it lightly, but knew it was for the best.
The baby was adopted by a loving, caring family who named her Heather.
Heather grew up and married a man named Eric. It wasn't long before Heather welcomed a daughter of her own.
Wendy, too, went on to have children and grandchildren. But she never once stopped thinking about Heather. She always had hope they would meet again someday.
Then, in 2014, Wendy's sister Kristi got a job at the same social services department that helped place Heather for adoption. It was fate.
Wendy started to search for Heather… and it didn't take long to find her and reconnect.
Wendy and Heather decided to meet on Heather's 36th birthday, and it wasn't long before they made a shocking realization.
More then a decade ago, the pair worked together at the same department store! They saw a physical resemblance, but it never once occurred to them that they could be related!
It was an incredible reunion and day-long celebration. Heather met Wendy's parents and children, and Heather's adoptive family embraced Wendy with open arms.
Their lives are now intertwined.
