- A mother and daughter, 96 and 82, were finally reunited after 82 long years
- Lena Pierce and her daughter, Betty Morrell, reunited in the lobby of Greater Binghamton Airport in New York
- Pierce was only 14 years old when she gave birth to Morell and was able to take care of her only for six months
- The state took Morell away from Pierce; saying she was unfit for motherhood, and eventually sent Morell for adoption
How long would you search for a loved one? Well, this daughter spent five decades trying to find her birth mom — and it was not in vain.
After 82 long years, a mother and a daughter were finally reunited; bringing tears not only to both of them but to everyone who witnessed the heartwarming moment.
Lena Pierce, now 96 years old, had been wondering for 82 years as to what had become of her daughter after she was taken away by the state of New York, US News said in an article published on February 5.
Pierce was only 14 years old when she gave birth to Eva May at a hospital in Utica. The very young mother was able to take care of her baby for six months before the state took her away; saying that Pierce was unfit for motherhood at her age.
Eva May was eventually adopted by a family, and she grew up on Long Island; her name changed to Betty Morrell. Unfortunately, Morell’s adoptive parents died when she was 21. It was then she decided to search for her biological mother, but it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack — and not knowing where to start as there were haystacks everywhere.
The good thing is that Morell’s aunt “slipped” with the truth one day and told her that her name was Eva and that she was born in Utica. From the clues she got, Morell started her long long search. She started making calls in the two hospitals in Utica, narrowing down her search and eventually finding her birth certificate.
An article by Myriah Towner for Mail Online published on February 4 said that the hospital sent her the birth certificate, and with the help of a granddaughter, more clues were unveiled; thanks to the site ancestry.com. Later on, they caught hold of a Millie Hawk — who turned out to be Pierce’s daughter.
“There was no connection. Nothing to tie me to anybody,” Morrell said.
Photo Credit: Daily Herald
“And so, ya know, when it came through and she was alive, and I had been talking to her on the phone it was like, it’s all gone. My life is complete at this point,” she added.
“I’m not alone anymore,” said 82-year-old Morrell from Florida upon seeing Pierce on January 15 reunion in the lobby of Greater Binghamton Airport.
“I have my mother and I have sisters and brothers. It’s surreal, but so wonderful, to be together again after all this time,” Morell added.
Sasha Brady mentioned in her article for News Americas that Pierce often thought and worried about her baby which was taken away in 1933. From that time she was separated from her first-born, Pierce stayed in Twin Tiers and had married twice and became a mother to another seven children.
“She was growing up and I was growing old,” said Pierce; who now lives in a home care facility in Hallstead, Pennsylvania.
Following the reunion which took place in January, the mother and daughter spent the rest of the day with friends and family. Now that they are finally reunited with each other, they plan to continue their relationship and spend time with each other.
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