On her 98th birthday, Gerda Cole received an extraordinary and unforgettable gift that surpassed all expectations. After an astonishing 80 years of separation, she was finally blessed with the opportunity to meet her long-lost daughter.
The emotional reunion, captured on video, is a testament to the enduring power of love and the indescribable bond between a mother and her child.
This remarkable turn of events was made possible by the unwavering determination of Stephen, Gerda’s grandson and Sonya’s son. During the pandemic, Stephen embarked on a quest to locate his mother’s biological parents in order to address citizenship-related matters.
Despite Sonya’s own unsuccessful attempts to find her birth parents, Stephen’s search yielded incredible results. He discovered that Gerda, his biological grandmother, was alive and residing in a nursing home in Canada.
It was revealed that during World War II, Gerda, a Jewish woman, had been forced to flee from England to Austria. At the tender age of 18, she found herself unable to provide for a child and made the difficult decision to place her daughter up for adoption.
The adoption stipulated that there should be no further contact or connection between Gerda and her child.
Upon learning of her mother’s existence, Sonya promptly purchased plane tickets from England to Canada, ensuring she could be present for her mother’s 98th birthday celebration.
“I had no idea my mother was alive. I was incredibly naive. There are so many questions I have for her, but I don’t want to overwhelm her,” shares Sonya, reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions.
Gerda, overwhelmed with joy, expressed her profound gratitude to Stephen and Sonya for bestowing upon her this unforgettable and life-changing moment.
