Stacey and Stephen’s touching story resonated deeply with many people and raised feelings about the importance of every child’s right to know their parents, even in circumstances where the parents may not be able to raise the child…
Reuniting his son with the mother who gave him up for adoption was a surprise unlike any other. When Stacey Faix became pregnant at the age of 15, she made the difficult choice to place her son for adoption. Not once did she manage to hold him. It was difficult for the father to find the child’s mother because his adoption papers were destroyed in the flood.
However, a law that came into force in November 2017 changed all that and allowed her son to have access to Stacey.
Adoptees could now obtain birth certificates with the names of their birth parents*. Stephen’s Strawn, Stacey’s biological son, had no idea she was trying to track her down. A month after providing the company with his details, he received his birth certificate.
The next year, he shocked his mother by showing up at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, where she was running with the veteran support group Team Red, White, and Blue. Stacey received a letter just before the marathon that read: “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. You didn’t have to wait any longer than I did.
After 35 years, she turned to see her son, whom she hugged for the first time since birth.
In April, Stephen found Stacey on Facebook and decided to surprise her at the marathon. He told Inside Edition when they first connected on social media, he said: “It was a big relief. I texted her, ‘Hey, I have a really weird question.’
“I said, ‘You gave the baby boy up for adoption in 1982?'” he continued. She replied, “Yes! I suppose you could be my biological mother,” I said.
“I got really choked up and started crying,” he admitted to Inside Edition. She remarked, “I never got to hold you,” as we hugged and held each other, and it broke my heart. She was not advised to keep me as it was a pre-arranged adoption.
We must have hugged each other ten times, Stephen continued. After we’re done hugging, we look at each other for a while before hugging again. Because it happened so quickly, it was just really weird that it finally happened.
Stephen commented, “The race was great,” as mother and son later ran the marathon together. Although it wasn’t about speed, we made it in 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Many people commented on the burning story on social networks. One person said: “Every child should have the right to know who their parents are, even if the parents don’t want the child. The weakest should be protected by law (in this case the newborn).
I was adopted at six and discovered my biological mother and the rest of my family at thirty. Another commenter offered his own comparable personal story. I am the youngest of 15 siblings! What a wonderful reunion it was.
The impact of the story reached far and wide, with individuals sharing their own personal experiences and reflections. One person shared their journey to adoption at the age of six and then reunited with their biological family when they were in their 30s. Their story, too, was a testament to the powerful and often emotional nature of these reunions, illuminating deep connections that transcend time and circumstances.
Ultimately, Stacey and Stephen’s story is a beautiful reminder of the enduring power of love, the power of the human spirit, and the profound impact of a single decision. The law that made their reunion possible opened a new chapter that allowed mother and son to find each other after decades of separation. Their journey full of emotions, surprises, and shared experiences serves as inspiration and encourages us to cherish the connections that define our lives and to recognize the incredible resilience of the human heart, capable of creating bonds that stand the test of time.