Sometimes, life surprises us in the most extraordinary ways. This is the touching story of Stacey Faix, who made the difficult decision to put her baby up for adoption when she was only 15 years old. Little did she know that, 35 years later, she would be reunited with her son in the most unexpected manner.
Due to the loss of adoption records in a flood, it had been a challenge for Stacey’s son, Stephen Strawn, to find his birth mother. However, a new policy introduced in November 2017 changed everything. The policy allowed adoptees to obtain birth certificates with their birth parents’ names. Stephen took advantage of this opportunity and sent his information to an agency. One month later, he received his birth certificate, which held the key to finding his mother.
To surprise his mom, Stephen chose a special occasion – the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. Stacey was participating in the event alongside members of Team Red, White, and Blue, an organization that supports veterans. Just before the marathon, Stacey received a heartfelt letter that read: “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. I didn’t want to make you wait one more.” As she turned around, she came face to face with her son, whom she had never held in her arms.
The journey to this reunion had begun when Stephen found Stacey on Facebook in April. He mustered up the courage to reach out to her, starting an emotional conversation. Recounting their initial contact, Stephen shared, “I sent her a message and said, ‘Hey, I have a really weird question.’ She said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘I think you may be my biological mom.’” The weight of this revelation hit Stephen hard, bringing tears to his eyes. He was overwhelmed with joy as he finally embraced the woman who had given him life.
As they held each other, Stacey whispered, “I never got to hold you,” breaking Stephen’s heart. It was a prearranged adoption, and holding him was not recommended. Their bond was sealed in that moment, and they hugged each other countless times, relishing the reality of their long-awaited reunion.
With emotions running high, Stacey and Stephen embarked on their shared journey by running the marathon together. It wasn’t about winning or speed; it was about the incredible connection they had discovered. “The race was great,” Stephen recalls. “We finished in 2 hours and 50 minutes, but it was never about speed.”
This heartwarming story touched the lives of many as it spread on social media. People expressed their support for the right of every child to know their biological parents. One commenter even shared their own personal experience, saying, “I was adopted at the age of six and found my biological Momma and the rest of my family when I was 30! I am the youngest of 15 siblings! What a reunion that was!”
Stories like Stacey and Stephen’s remind us that love and family can defy time and circumstances. Their reunion serves as a beautiful reminder that it is never too late to find one another and create lasting connections.
