In a heartrending reunion, a man who was stolen from his mother’s arms at birth 42 years ago finally embraced her for the first time in Valdivia, Chile. The profound moment came after decades of believing that his mother had died shortly after his birth.
Jimmy Lippert Thyden, who resides in Ashburn, Virginia, met his birth mother, Maria Angelica Gonzalez, after months of investigation and assistance from the Chilean nonprofit, Nos Buscamos. The organization works to reunite Chilean-born adoptees with their birth families.
Thyden’s journey began in earnest in April after learning about the work of Nos Buscamos. The organization found that Thyden had been born prematurely in a Santiago hospital and placed in an incubator. Gonzalez was told to leave the hospital, and later, that her baby had died.
Thyden, a criminal defense attorney, used a DNA test to confirm his Chilean heritage and found a first cousin who helped him connect the dots. After showing his mother proof of his life through pictures, the reunion was set in motion.
The emotional reunion in Chile was marked by 42 colorful balloons, symbolizing each year of lost time. Thyden’s heartfelt meeting with his mother has not only reconnected him with his roots but also shed light on the vast illegal adoption network active in Chile during the 1970s and 1980s.
This touching story underscores the importance of transparency and justice in adoption practices and reminds us of the deep bonds that connect families, no matter the distance or time apart.