Couple Reunites After 53 Years, Finds Daughter Given Up For Adoption

A Minnesota couple's story proves time and distance are no match for true love, reports John Lauritsen (3:38).
WCCO 4 News At 10 - February 11, 2021

[@c.erine78]

This story is so heartwarming. Their daughter looks like both of them together!! I am glad they found each other and their daughter.

[@angelashafer9100]

I am a jeweler and you would be surprised how many people are finding their 1st loves because of social media. I've had almost a dozen couples with similar stories. Absolutely beautiful

[@samanthab1923]

I love that ❤

[@pablotown77]

Very sweet, I am happy for them! I never had a first love, first crush only.

[@Lunafalls]

Wow!

[@yvonnepagan9912]

I love stories like this. That could have been me and my husband. We went to school all our lives together. When he was in year twelve and I was in year ten, we started going steady. We were together for 33 months when we found out I was pregnant. I was two months short of 18 and he was a little over 20. We got married, had our beautiful daughter, struggled for a few years, then bought a our first home then had two more kids. We will celebrate our 53rd anniversary in May! And thank God for our beautiful mistake…she is the nicest person in the world and the other two are as well. Thanks to our parents for their confidence in us and their ongoing help.

[@Trund27]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful love story. I am so glad you got to be with the love(s) of your life

[@anoodono1841]

​@@Trund27amen

[@linwoodouellette413]

People where Cold back in those days all they cared about what would the people in the Town say about us me I don't care what people say about it. Talk is cheep she had a butyfull baby u can still be a good Mom and Dad without being married it's time for The UK to get there Head out of there you know what and drop this stopped Low They have May be it's time for The US 🇺🇸 government to step up and s change their ways before other Good people gets scood over by there government. I ♥️🇺🇸 WE ARE NOT BABY THESE 😅♥️🤍💙🍼

[@ItsMeHello555]

She’s the spitting image of her dad! I’m so thankful everyone was still alive to see this to fruition. Beautiful. 🌿❤🌿

[@sallygard63]

My brother-in-law’s mum was 15 when she got pregnant. Her father took her away to have the baby, a little girl, and then arranged for its adoption. He also managed to send the boyfriend away by paying the boy’s parents. Years later that baby, now a grown woman, managed to track down not only her mother, but also her father! They all met up. The love between the mother and father rekindled and finally after all those years got married! My brother-in-law now has a sister he never knew of ! ❤

[@janinein2yourself809]

Bless them and you for sharing this lovely story ❤️🙏🏽

[@sallygard63]

@@janinein2yourself809 thank you 🙏

[@Orpilorp]

I dont understand why her parents thought a career would be more wonderful to their daughter than the love of a husband and a baby girl. I'm glad they got back together.

[@michelleficinski9813]

They were teens when her daughter was born.

[@WoodlandDance]

@@michelleficinski9813True - but after he returned from the service, he proposed. Her parents said no, as they wanted their daughter to go to college.

[@sharondoan1447]

Perhaps they had deep resentment towards Danny. In those days the girl was expected go away to a home for unwed mothers, in shame and humiliation. It was understood that the baby was automatically forfeit. Today girls are pressured into having an unwanted abortion by their parents or boyfriend. Today’s daughters are told the human growing in their uterus has no value, is a burden they don’t have to carry. Both ways lead to heartbreak.

[@irenemak1302]

I dont understand parents why her parents thought she couldn't have both. What is it with people who think that women can't be mothers and handle a career outside? It does not make her a bad person or a bad mother. It probably made her whole. Just very lovely that she has now.

[@sharondoan1447]

@@irenemak1302 Each day has only 24 hours. Mothers who are only present for their children 2-3 hours out of those 24, cannot deliver the same focus on mothering that they are delivering to their career. It cannot be done. A trip to Disney World , the latest in gaming computers, hurried shopping sprees for the current trends and fads do not substitute for playtime at home. Moms who are physically present after work, but are consumed with tasks undone during their career days are not meeting their children’s need to be seen and heard. Sit on the floor and build Legos. Read books to your children while you snuggle under a warm blanket. And so much more. There is a difference between having a career and having a job. Ask some adults who were sidelined by their parents.

[@34goofylucy]

She really really looks like her dad. I pray they get to live a long life together

[@carolg6598]

This isn’t fair to force people to give up their love child and force them apart.

[@rebeccadieter6131]

My parents did

[@peachygal4153]

it depends. it also is not fair for grandparents to be expected to support the child either because the parents are still kids. I had a couple of friends whose parents eventually adopted their babies because the romance died with the baby and when they later married the new husband did not want the responsibility of another man's child. However, in their case, he was older, a senior and went into the army shortly after graduation. She could have followed him with their baby and gotten her GED wherever he was stationed. If her parents wanted her to go to college, they could have encouraged her to enroll in night classes and eventually get her degree.

[@pablotown77]

@@peachygal4153I guess her parents didn’t like that Danny boy at all.

[@EllsworthJohnson-ui1xm]

Well, they were responsible for their decisions. It is not fair to the people who raised her and acted like real parents.

[@madaketmom]

As an adoptee who found her biological families, this story warms my heart ❤️

[@will_9342]

Time can't defeat love. This story just goes to prove it. So happy for them but more so for the daughter.

[@whifflydilly]

Fabulous story with a wonderful ending. Bless you all, and peace be with you.

[@annamarielewis7078]

What a lovely couple. So glad they are all together now.💜

[@lesliebrickey8357]

It's criminal what happened to those kids. I can't imagine the pain of having to give up my baby and my true love. I'm so glad they are together now and I wish them many years of happiness.

[@Lunafalls]

Please, only judge people by the times in which they lived. Society and social norms were very, very different 60 years ago. And, I can guarantee you that 60 years from now, the people of the future will be horrified by some of the things we consider "normal and right" here in 2024.

[@louDAY831]

Where did it say the young couple objected to putting the baby up for adoption?

[@ez2u1]

@@louDAY831 in those days they were told to do so and did what they were told to do. . it was shameful to have sex outside of marriage and worst to get pregnant. Your reputation was ruin.

[@MegaVictorygirl]

A beautiful life began late. That gives me joy and hope. Thanks to Karen, Dennis and their reunited daughter, Jean. You’re blessed!

[@JCP969]

"All is well that ends well". This was such a heartwarming story. I wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. God bless! ❤

[@KA-eu9sy]

What a wonderful family. Finally reunited. Enjoy your time together. Much love to you all!

[@Trund27]

This is where social media can be spectacular and change lives for the much better! How precious and beautiful this story is.

[@kathrynsinclare8459]

Such a lovely human interest story. We need many more of these types of stories. Life is so interesting. It gives us all such hope. Thank you for sharing your story with us. 😊❤❤❤

[@jun6017]

I hope this story inspires us that 50 years is a really long time apart. Imagine the life they could have created together instead of apart. They missed so much to be together. If there is someone you can’t imagine losing so much time and the life you could build together, don’t let go of this person. Take a chance.

[@mamapeppa3326]

I hope that they live together in health, wealth and happiness til they are at least a hundred years. I wish tremendous joy and endless happiness for this couple, their daughter,and her wider family.

[@harmlessgrey]

It is so sweet that they got married 36 hours after they reconnected. That brought tears to my eyes.

[@peachygal4153]

You mean seeing each other in person again. they had been communicating online for a while before he flew out to see her.

[@susangordon1833]

This is so heartwarming and wonderful...so glad they all found each other...❤

[@tomiekawakami6018]

She has her moms looks but dads smile and sparkle in her eyes

[@peachygal4153]

Nope, she is the female version of her father. All the mom did was cook her for 9 months.

[@amberc.2137]

That is the GREATEST LOVE STORY of all times!

[@Afiajustifiee]

This is a real love story and happy for these folks but the greatest of all time is Jesus Christ dying for our sins even when we don't know Him yet.

[@wendylbranchfield7959]

I love this family! This brought a huge smile and tears to my face. Love, love, love love love this post!❤❤❤

[@toniagutierrez6464]

Same thing happened with my grandpa, he was put up for adoption, his mom was forced to put him up for adoption. When he was 5 his birth mom wanted him back and his adopted mom got scare so she left the states to another country with my grandpa.

[@PinkHypatia]

If the young man who got her pregnant was responsible and loyal enough to propose marriage and attend the childbirth, they should’ve been given the chance to be a family. Being denied the right to marry and raise their child is so tragic and wrong. I’m sure that the happiness of their reunion is tainted with sadness and grief for what they lost. It’s a bittersweet ending, but God is good.

[@Lunafalls]

Or maybe they'd have been divorced decades ago, as young couples who marry because of a pregnancy very often end up.

[@portlandgirlx0x096]

She looks just like her dad! Im so glad she got to have her wishes ✨️ come true! ❤💙💛

[@dennysmith7862]

This very thing happened to a dear friend I know who is now an elderly lady.... Her parents sent her all the way from another country to the Cape ON HER OWN to have her baby before, GOD FORBID, the neighbours got to hear of it! Needless to say, they all met up 40 years later thanks to daughter's relentless search for her parents... I cried on hearing this... Sad that natural affection (of the parents of this pregnant lady) was missing...

[@jt.s.7418]

So happy they were finally complete ❤❤❤

[@JustDulci]

This story just made my day! I am so happy for all of you ❤️

[@teresalegler2777]

How precious is this story. So glad things worked out. May they share many years of get togethers. And yes, definitely her father’s daughter.

[@hannahrose5739]

What persistence can do. So unfortunate the attitude taken by the parents, but they have made the best of the situation they were handed in those days, and their determination to be reunited is a lesson in perseverence. My hat is off to them.

[@scrappypooh1515]

I love that story so much!!!!

[@beatpirate8]

i guess back then this happens a lot. so lucky they can be alive n well to find each other! im blubbering w joy!!!

[@Iceland874]

Beautiful story. I’m so happy their were all reunited.

[@Thatsinteresting363]

What a beautiful story. Heartbreaking yet breathtaking all at once❤️

[@delphinium5555]

Beautiful story. God bless them all.

[@gladysvogel9442]

I congratulate them for not giving up and pray they Thank God For their Unique Blessing!!❤

[@mandwandwe3246]

This is a heart-warming story ❤

[@AHHUAT2]

a heart breaking and happy story. luckily they didn't end up in missing out on each other.

[@kathyhoskin8350]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[@user-wk5jo4hx7w]

Beautiful! An exceptional story of true love ❤️

[@annoommen7278]

Such an amazing reunion!!My eyes rolled out with tears💕🥰🥰

[@toheaveninjesusandmary.3781]

Why am I crying? Beautiful

[@michaelsmith141]

Love stories like this and pray all is well with these folks.

[@treece01]

This is awesome. I have an adopted niece and it is really weird because her birth mother and I look more like sisters than my blood sister. So my little niece looks more like me and my mom than anybody else, almost like it was meant to be.

[@EGee-tc1si]

Thanks for that love that won't quit. Don't quit on your people no matter what hardship there is..

[@jmama6058]

Absolutely precious!💕💕💕

[@mikethemechanic7395]

My mom passed away 5 years ago. They married in 1969. My Dad reconnected with the woman he dated before my mom. They are 78 and married. Happy for them.

[@kardoyle]

Makes me cry😢

[@car65los]

Blessed and Beautiful.

[@carolmccullough-kuchar4782]

So heartbreaking that her parents wanted her to go to college, instead of helping her get a college degree while getting to know their granddaughter, by babysitting, and supporting them. Very selfish grandparents. i am glad this guy found his beautiful lady and their daughter. God bless.

[@Lunafalls]

It wasn't done like that in the 1960's.

[@louDAY831]

That's pretty harsh to call the grandparents selfish. We can't possibly know all the details and their reasons for making the decisions they did. You seem to be romanticizing this situation because never once has this couple said they didn't want to put the baby up for adoption, so they apparently agreed that it was the best decision for all.

[@b0borden437]

That's how things were back then, it was considered shameful if you got pregnant when not married.

[@dragonmummy1]

Such a judgmental statement. I too, had a baby in the 60s while unmarried. Not only was it a shameful thing but the church told me it was a sin. To the world, the very fact that you’d had the baby was a sign that you weren’t fit to be its mother. Luckily, I was reunited later with my grown-up child and my grandsons.

[@jibrealyaaseen]

I can’t stop watching this story this is the most beautiful love story ever I am in tears/ first seen this story on Steve Harvey show

[@mimim8532]

Thank you!

[@cherylwilliams9745]

Beautiful! true love never die.awesome to reunite with love one's.much love and happines.

[@anitraridgeway2714]

Aww how sweet. Much happiness to u all.

[@theresahvassman9965]

When your life goes full circle ❤

[@titalinda8515]

What a beautiful story!!! ❤

[@bsheehan3269]

Brought tears to my eyes. True love.

[@amywantland5359]

I love this Love story ❤

[@marylair7778]

Beautiful story and family!

[@ladymomo4702]

Omg, I love this for you all

[@PollyAlice2000]

The sweetest story for really blessed and kind people.

[@marksstudio]

What a terrific story. Just amazing. It's uplifting too.

[@BORN-to-Run]

AWESOME story. And both of them had been married and had become Widows. I love this story.

[@annabanzon313]

Breaks my heart!

[@user-gb6re9eg3i]

CONGRATS TO ALL. VERY SWEET.

[@lionden4]

Wow! Love the story

[@lliamjurdom9505]

That makes you a little teary eyed ...

[@connormcdowell945]

Such a beautiful story

[@cherylbarkley8471]

What a wonderful story!

[@silentnight9655]

There is nothing more natural than a pregnancy. Babies are a gift from the universe.

[@Lunafalls]

I assure you that was NOT the attitude of society toward out-of-wedlock pregnancies in the 1960's.

[@robynboyd2583]

What a great story!

[@stargazer5073]

So happy for them all.

[@merindasteele1074]

Love this story. So happy for all.of them

[@debbieschmidling8158]

Such a beautiful story! ❤️❤️

[@Hephzibah444]

Beautiful reunion!

[@celinefederici6951]

Heartwarming story...a true miracle...so happy for all.

[@allisonknight1763]

I am so thankful that they are together!

[@tinamariaschmidt5828]

I think, that it is an absolutely wonderful story. And, it is truly wonderful, for all of them. And, Dennis is great. They all are. :)

[@livelovenow8862]

I’m so happy for them all!!❤

[@rampageclover9788]

Beautiful story

[@mamabear5289]

SHAME ON THOSE PARENTS FOR KEEPING THESE LOVE BIRDS A PART BUT GRATEFUL THEY FOUND EACH OTHER again

[@judykyle380]

She looks like her Dad.

[@janewatt683]

A beautiful story!

[@nelks1284]

How wonderful!

[@nancyguzman3461]

Such a Beautiful true story. May God bless you all and add many many more years of life laughter and LOVE 💕

[@petercoyotl5192]

Wow, what a heart warming story.

[@chaski777]

Thank you Lord for restoration!🤗🙏💛

[@wrenisme]

What a lovely story.

[@daisybb8148]

Lovely real love story and their daughter is a replica of her father 💕💕💕

[@marlaroberts2087]

Wow, what a wonderful story!

[@virginianewman7738]

the most beautiful story. god bless

[@user-ni1ig7un1e]

Beautiful story.

[@laurahernandez839]

When love is strong everything is possible.❤bless them all they found each other again🤗

[@willytawamack6170]

What a beautiful story!!!

[@vibrantscolor]

Congratulations to all 💞💕💕💕

[@sheilaparchman2169]

Amazing!!

[@annecornine8469]

Awwww...very sweet ending!!