Gerda Cole received a remarkable and unforgettable gift for her 98th birthday—an opportunity to meet her daughter for the first time in 80 years.
This unexpected reunion was made possible by the determination of Stephen, Gerda’s grandson and the son of her daughter Sonya. During the pandemic, Stephen embarked on a quest to locate his mother’s biological parents to address citizenship-related matters.
Sonya, too, had been searching for her parents, but her efforts proved futile. Her adoptive parents had falsely claimed Gerda’s death and concealed her whereabouts.
In contrast, Stephen’s search bore fruit as he discovered his biological grandmother alive and residing in a nursing home in Canada.
It was revealed that during World War II, Gerda, a Jewish woman, had to emigrate from England to Austria at the age of 18. Unable to care for a child, she made the difficult decision to put her daughter up for adoption, with the stipulation to sever all ties.
Upon learning that her mother was alive, Sonya promptly purchased tickets from England to Canada, ensuring she would be present for Gerda’s 98th birthday celebration.
“I had no idea my mother was alive. I was too naive. I have a lot of questions for her, but I would not want to overload her,” shared Sonya.
Following an emotional reunion, the mother and daughter had the chance to communicate, discovering numerous commonalities.
Gerda expressed immense joy at finally meeting her daughter, expressing gratitude to her grandson Stephen and Sonya for orchestrating this unforgettable moment.
