See This Incredible Story of a Long-Lost Family Meeting for the First Time
Daniel Kim
Updated on May 14, 2026
Recently, social media user Albreanna posted a now-viral thread about how she went from having no family at all to being a daughter, granddaughter, sister, and aunt. Adopted at birth, Albreanna never knew who her biological family was. All she had to go on was that her father was African-American and her mother was Thai. Her adopted mother died when she was 17 and since then she's been on her own.
First of all a little about me. I was adopted at birth and never knew my family or where I came from. I just knew my mom was Thai and my dad was black and I was on a mission to find them.
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
One day, she got a message from a man on Ancestry.com, a website that helps people find their relatives via genealogical and historical records. He asked her if she was born in South Carolina in August. When she replied that she was, he revealed that he was her younger brother and had been looking for her for years. She also found out she had two older siblings.
She got to group-chat with all of them. They all have the same mother but different fathers because, as she put it, "mom was a rolling stone back in the day."
So he gets me on group FaceTime with all my siblings. We all share the same Thai mom but different dads. Mom was a rolling stone back in the day.
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
In a weird twist of fate, it turned out that the brother who found her only lived 30 minutes away from her in LA, so she immediately went over to meet him and her other siblings.
My youngest brother who is the one who found me ironically lives 30mins away from me in LA. So I zoomed over to meet him.
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
They immediately bonded. And the best part is that they already knew who her mom was and decided to fly her out and surprise her for July 4th. Understandably, Albreanna was excited but also nervous about this major moment, worried that her birth mother might reject her.
Fast forward it's about to go down.
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
But when she arrived at the airport and they told her that they'd found Albreanna, she immediately burst into tears.
We meet! My brother's shirt was soaking wet she only 5'2
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
They, too, immediately bonded. "She is loud, wild and crazy, just like me!" Albreanna wrote. She also found out her mom got her name tattooed on her ankle the day after she gave her up and told her she never forgot her.
My mom got my name tatted on her ankle the next day after she gave me up. She told me she was never going to forget about me. And she didn't. 😩
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
"I am complete," she wrote. "I'm a child who found ppl who look like me. Act like me. It's crazy that my mom and I share the same mannerism but never grew up around her."
It's a beautiful story.
Thank you @Ancestry for connecting me with my long lost family. My journey is complete and life has new beginnings.
— albreannafindme (@Albreanna89) July 8, 2018
And for more on ancestry.com, don't miss these 20 Secrets You Need to Know about Genealogy Tests.
To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter!
Diana Bruk Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness.Read moreFiled UnderFamilyRead This NextThe "American Bro" Is an International Embarrassment
What the insidious rise of online frat culture means for the modern man. May 26, 201710 Famous Men Who Wear the Same Outfit Every Day
Is it a uniform? Or is it laziness?June 22, 201710 Things You Didn't Know about Justin Trudeau
Athlete, nerd, hopeless romantic, thespian. Yes, there’s a lot more to Canada’s Prime Minister than just politics.March 21, 2017Jon Hamm: The Best Life Interview
Jon Hamm, star of TV's Mad Men, reveals the secrets of manliness in a postmodern world.November 15, 2016Driving Tips Smart Men Know
Ten easy ways to be the safest driver on the road. April 3, 2017Men Who Set the Time: Cash Warren
The successful producer, entrepreneur and husband of Jessica Alba reveals how you, too, can live your best life.October 31, 2016Dr. Oz: The Best Life Interview
Mehmet Oz, M.D., asks the toughest question: Are you living or dying?October 23, 2016Dr. Oz's 15 Best Life Tips
October 23, 2016The One That Got Away
A single nutrient—omega-3 fatty acids—may have turned early humans into civilized man. Has stripping it from our diet given rise to cancer, diabetes, and other civilized diseases? Our correspondent investigates.February 23, 2017George Clooney Is Having Twins. Here's What Women Everywhere Are Saying About It
The legendary ladies' man who once swore off fatherhood went from zero to "Full House" very quickly—and the Internet has responded.February 10, 2017
