Reuniting After 31 Years: An International Adoption Story of Hope, Healing, and Homecoming
By Debbie Price, Executive Director of Children’s House International
A Moment 31 Years in the Making
Ever wonder what it really looks like—the very instant a birth mother sees her child after 31 years?
Most people never get to see something like this. I was lucky enough to be part of it.
In June 1991, just after the Romanian revolution, we adopted our daughter Alyssa through international adoption. She grew up always knowing her story—where she came from, who her birth mother was, and even that she had two biological siblings born after her adoption. We maintained contact with her birth family through the years, never quite knowing if the moment to meet again would come.
At 31, Alyssa was ready. And so, our family traveled to Romania for a birth family reunion—a meeting decades in the making.
What a Birth Family Reunion Looks Like Decades Later
We arrived in the Romanian mountains, where her birth family still lives simply—electricity paid monthly, with food, water, and heat sourced from the land. And yet, nothing about their welcome felt lacking. They were warm, loving, and open from the very start.
The moment Alyssa and her birth mother saw each other—words failed. Her birth mother was moved to tears, embracing her as though no time had passed. I stood beside them and hugged her too. That embrace felt like it lasted 20 minutes. It probably did.
Her biological siblings, close to her in age, hit it off immediately. It was easy, natural—as if they’d always known each other. Together, we explored where Alyssa might have lived, how her life might have looked. And she got to ask the questions that had lingered quietly in her heart for three decades.
They asked questions, too. All the siblings were curious to understand what had happened on both sides—how lives had diverged, and how fate had brought them full circle again. Answers were shared, truths revealed. And with each story told, a little more of the mystery dissolved.
Supporting an Adoptee Through a Reunion Journey
This experience confirmed what I’ve believed for years as a parent and as the Executive Director of Children’s House International: post-adoption support is not just a chapter—it’s part of the whole story.
From the very beginning, we raised Alyssa with openness. Her adoption story was never hidden. And because of that, the idea of meeting her birth parents was something she could approach with curiosity, not confusion or fear.
As her family, our role was to support her without expectation—to travel alongside her, offer emotional grounding, and be present, but not overshadow the experience. Reuniting with birth family is deeply personal. It’s a journey that belongs to the adoptee first.
The Power of Openness in International Adoption
For Alyssa, the reunion wasn’t about replacing anything—it was about seeing. Seeing where she came from. Seeing people who shared her smile. Seeing a life she might have lived.
This “seeing” confirmed her life story. It validated everything she had always known and filled in the pieces she hadn’t yet understood. It was healing, not only for her but for her birth mother and siblings as well. The openness we practiced from day one paved the way for this moment to feel natural, honest, and whole.
Open international adoption isn’t always easy, but it is powerful. It gives space for questions, for growth, and—when the time is right—for reconnection.
A Lifetime of Support: What CHI Believes In
At Children’s House International, we believe adoption doesn’t end with placement. It is a lifelong journey—for adoptees, families, and birth parents alike.
This reunion—my own daughter’s—reinforced why CHI supports families not just through paperwork and home studies, but through every stage of the international adoption story, including birth family searches and reunion support.
As Executive Director, I’ve walked this road both professionally and personally. And I want every family we work with to know: you’re never alone in this journey.
Reflections & Looking Ahead
As we said our goodbyes, there were no final chapters—just the beginning of a new relationship. Alyssa plans to stay in close contact with her birth family and visit again. The mystery is gone. In its place is connection, truth, and a sense of peace.
Seeing her with her birth mother, with her siblings, with the land where she was born—it affirmed everything we’d ever hoped for. Reunion after international adoption is not the end. It’s another piece of the story that adds depth, beauty, and healing to what came before.
To other adoptive families or adoptees thinking about reconnecting: be open. Be patient. Be brave. What’s waiting on the other side might just be the moment that brings the story full circle.