Daughter Reunites with Birth Mother After 59 Years
On Valentine's Day, 83 year-old Barbara Bugbee received the greatest love gift of her life, her long lost daughter. After 59 years, Barbara reunited with the daughter she gave up for adoption.
In the early 1950s, financial difficulties plagued the Bugbee home. Barbara had nine children and due to financial struggles she had to give up eight of them to foster homes.
Deborah Larson was 10 months old when she taken from her mother. Many years later, she discovered she was adopted when her adoptive parents passed away.
Barbara Bugbee, after 59 years of dreaming, was now faced with the reality of her deep desire. There she was, at the Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, waiting for Delta flight 3968 to land. The plane was carrying the daughter she had not seen in nearly six decades.
Barbara and her son, Clayton, along with his wife, Penny, were anxiously waiting to see Deborah’s face peek around the corner. Deborah sent them a picture so they would recognize her as she approached them.
“I’ve been nervous all day,” Barbara said, “My stomach is doing a jig.”
The happy family saw a wheelchair trudge toward them and they immediately knew it was Deborah.
Barbara and her long lost daughter met in a tight embrace.
“We’ve been waiting for this,” exclaimed Deborah “Unbelievable!”
“I never thought we would find her, because she’s been the hardest one to find.” Barbara said.
Deborah was at a loss for words. She was in shock at what was taking place.
“I’m just so happy,” she said, “I don’t know what to say; I don’t even know how to describe what we’ve gone through to find each other.”
Clayton was excited to meet the sister he never knew. He was born after Deborah had been given up for adoption.
“I’ve been wanting this for so many years,” said Clayton
Now that her precious daughter is found, Barbara is making it her life mission to find the rest of her birth children. This Valentine’s Day will be one she will never forget.