An adopted woman found her mother using a DNA site and Facebook after decades of searching, allowing her to meet her grandmother just days before her death.
Rachel Ruiz always knew she was adopted. On her 18th birthday, she was given a handwritten letter written by her birth mom for her future daughter, saying she hoped they would one day meet. But it contained limited information—not enough for a successful online search.
“I didn’t feel like I needed to find answers to complete myself but I’m so happy I found my birth family.”
Years later, the now-35-year-old turned to ancestory.com last year which led her to her grandfather’s obituary—the key to tracking down her biological mother, Angie Howard.
When she finally saw the 52-year-old woman on Facebook, she knew instantly it was a match because they looked so similar.
On Christmas Day she got a reply to a Facebook message from her delighted birth mom.
The pair were reunited—coincidently wearing similar outfits—just in time for Rachel to meet her grandmother, Angie’s 91-year old mom, Mary.
“It’s like a missing piece,” said photographer Rachel.
Since adopting her at two-weeks-old, her parents had prepared to give her the package when she turned 18.
“They had this beautiful crocheted blanket she made me. She had a baby ring when she was born—a beautiful gold ring—and a written letter which said ‘you were with me for nine months. I will never forget you, I hope one day we will meet’.”
Rachel also received adoption papers, and while sections were blanked out, it said she was born in Louisiana with the surname Deveraux. Though her search on Facebook turned up no family members, an obituary came up. It included six children, with three daughters.
She reached out to Angie because of her age.
“She didn’t open my message for a long time – I think it got lost in her message requests because we weren’t friends.
“I woke up on Christmas day and she had replied. I immediately started bawling.
“I sent her a picture of the letter she wrote me and she replied ‘I can’t believe it’s you, you’ve found me, what a miracle’.
“I printed out the conversation and showed my parents.
“We were all so emotional.”
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Since Christmas, the mother and daughter chatted every day until, one month later, they finally met as adults.
“I could see her drive up and my heart was beating out my chest,” recalled Rachel.
“She got to the front step and she took her coat off and threw her purse on the ground.
“She gave me the biggest hug and said I can’t believe it’s you.
“It was like looking in the mirror. She was like an older version of me.
“She even dresses similar to me – she was wearing wide leg jeans, Converse and a crop top tee.
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“My husband’s jaw was on the floor. He said it was like watching two clones.”
Rachel and Angie chatted for hours and then headed over to meet her grandma Mary, who died three days later.
“It was like it was her final life mission. I went to the funeral and I met my cousins, aunts and uncles.”
Now Rachel feels blessed to have two families, including a half sister who lived a few minutes walk from her home in Lehi, Utah.
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