In a heartwarming twist of fate, Stacey Faix and her son Stephen Strawn were finally reunited after 35 years of separation. Stacey was just 15 years old when she made the difficult decision to place her baby up for adoption. She never had the chance to hold him or even see his face. Tragically, the adoption records were lost in a flood, making it incredibly challenging for her son to find her.
Thankfully, in November 2017, a new law was introduced that provided adoptees access to their birth certificates, which included their birth parents’ names. Little did Stacey know, Stephen was on a determined search to find his biological mother. He reached out to an agency, provided his information, and after a month, he received his birth certificate.
The following year, Stephen surprised his mother at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. Stacey was participating in the marathon with a social organization supporting veterans. Just before the race began, Stacey received a heartfelt letter that touched her deeply. It read, “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. I didn’t want to make you wait one more.” She turned around and found her son standing there, 35 years later. Finally, she received the long-awaited hug she never got to experience when he was born.
Stephen had reached out to Stacey on Facebook back in April, and after confirming their connection, he decided to surprise her at the marathon. Reflecting on their initial contact, he shared, “It was such a relief. I messaged her and asked, ‘Did you put a baby boy up for adoption in 1982?’ She replied, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘I think you may be my biological mom.’” As they embraced each other, tears filled their eyes. Stacey expressed how she had longed to hold him all these years, which deeply touched Stephen’s heart. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances surrounding the adoption, holding him was not recommended back then.
They must have hugged each other at least ten times. It felt surreal for both of them that this long-awaited reunion was finally happening, unfolding so quickly. After the emotional reunion, the mother and son ran the marathon together, not focusing on speed but cherishing the special bond they had found. Together, they completed the race in 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Their touching story has touched the hearts of many on social media. One person commented, “Every child deserves the right to know their parents, even if adoption was chosen. The law should protect the most vulnerable, in this case, the baby.” Another individual shared their personal story, saying, “I was adopted at six and found my biological mother and the rest of my family when I turned 30! I am the youngest of 15 siblings! What a reunion that was!”
The beautiful reunion between Stacey and Stephen is a testament to the power of love, perseverance, and the undeniable beauty of long-awaited connections. Watch this heartwarming reunion in the video below:
