Not a Day Went by That She Didn't Think about Baby She Gave Up 33 Years Ago, Then They Met
September 23, 2021
One mom had a baby boy back in 1988 and gave him up for adoption. It has been more than three decades since that day, and now, the mother and son are finally reuniting!
Melanie Pressley was just 18 years old when she had her first child, a baby boy. The day was June 17, 1988. Since Melanie did not have the support or finances to take care of the child, she gave him up for adoption. She wanted him to be raised in an environment where he would thrive and have a mom and a dad who would love him.
RELATED: Katie Page Adoption Story Has Divine Twist When God Brings Adopted Son’s Sister To Her Doorstep
The adoption was closed, so Melanie only had one photo of her and her newborn son that was taken the day after his birth. And over the next three decades, Melanie thought about her first-born son quite often, especially when his birthday rolled around each year.
“You go through a mourning period and yet live the rest of your life mourning,” Melanie shared.
The boy that she gave up for adoption is Greg Vossler. He lives in Winchester, Virginia and is married with two sons. He was told that he was adopted when he was a child, but once he became a father himself, he started to want to know more about his origins and family history.
Greg decided to take a DNA test to learn about his genetics. “Everything checked out, but in the back of my mind, [23andMe] always suggests new DNA relatives,” Greg said. “I was like, ‘You never know. Maybe one of these lesser connections will lead to something significant.’”
Mom Reunites With Baby She Gave Up For Adoption 33 Years Ago
Melanie was also given a 23andMe DNA kit from her daughter as a gift. Melanie later found out that her daughter was hoping the DNA kit would help her mom find her first son. But instead of saying that, she told her mom that the DNA test could give her a health report.
“I lost a mother to lung cancer — who had never smoked or drank a day in her life. So, she was selling that to me, saying, ‘Oh my gosh. Then you’ll see if you have any of those genes or if there are any flags,’” Melanie said.
Once Melanie took the DNA test, it only took a few days for her to be matched to Greg as a potential relative.
Melanie messaged Greg on the website, and when she found out his age and birthday, she knew that she had finally found her son! She told him that she believed that she was his birth mother. Then two started communicating via email and then text.
The mother and son finally met in person in June 2021. They decided to meet at Melanie’s home in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Mother and Son Reunited Thanks To DNA Test
Greg was able to meet his half-brother and two half-sisters as well as Melanie’s husband. And Melanie was able to meet Greg’s wife and children.
“Life has a funny way of giving you what you need and not necessarily what you want. Sometimes those wants and needs do match up, but sometimes you don’t realize what you actually need until the future,” said Greg. “Melanie’s family coming into my life at this point, has been a blessing. It’s kind of re-ignited some passions and excitement.”
And Melanie shared how much this long-awaited reunion meant to her. “After finding him, I felt like my heart was just whole again,” she said. “Becoming older, you kind of become a little wiser, but there is no shame in giving somebody up for adoption. There are loving couples out there that cannot have children that would love to raise a child. I’m telling you, if you could meet Greg, he was given a life beyond my belief. He was raised with manners. He was raised how you would dream. It’s just unbelievable.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Mom Driving With Windows Down Hears Baby’s Cries Coming From A Ditch And Jumps Into Action
What a heartwarming reunion! And Greg has one piece of advice to share with those that hear his story.
“It’s just a blessing beyond blessings. It really is,” he said. “If I could share one piece of advice, it would be: Don’t be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
WATCH: Woman Finds Grown Son After Putting Him Up For Adoption As A Baby
LISTEN: Mom Gave Birth To 4th Child And Died Just 5 Days Later | 84-Year-Old Army Veteran Spent 16 Hours On Floor After Fall But Then His Cat Saves His Life
h/t: NY Post
Featured Image Credit: YouTube
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Celebrating God's Faithfulness in Hard Times - Your Daily Prayer - January 22
If you're facing a hard time, ask God to remind you of his love for you. Look and cling to the promises in His Word and ask others to pray for you during this season. We all need each other.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Celebrating God's Faithfulness in Hard Times - Your Daily Prayer - January 22
If you're facing a hard time, ask God to remind you of his love for you. Look and cling to the promises in His Word and ask others to pray for you during this season. We all need each other.
Past Stories
- Musician is Reunited With Letterman Jacket, 30 Years After Ordering It Back in High School
- Twin Brothers Both Pop the Question Just Days Apart, Without Planning to Do So
- Girl Scout Saves Her Dad's Life Just 11 Days After Learning CPR
- This 100 Year Old Kentucky Centenarian Works At Home Depot, Offering Great Tips For a Long Life
- Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party
- Man Discovers 46 Year Old Christmas Present in the Wall of His Childhood Home
- 4 Year Old Twin Girls Are Heroes After Finding Retired Police Officers Wallet
- Her Cat Was Missing For 7 Years, But She Finally Came Back Home
- Delta Held a Plane So a Daughter Could Have One Last Goodbye With Her Dying Mother
- Even Through Dementia One Special Phrase Kept a Grandmother Connected to Her Husband
- Mom, Dad, and 6-Year-Old Daughter Are Heroes After Rescuing Woman From Overturned Car
- Couple Receive the Biggest Surprise Blessing After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
- Old English Sheepdog Who Appears to Have Special Powers, Receives an Award
- 49 Years Later Daughter is Reunited With Birth Mother and Other Family After Taking DNA Test
- 22 Family Members Surprise Grandparents With a Fun Family Sleepover
- Scared Doodle Rescued From Thin Frozen New Jersey Lake With Help From Neighbors Drone
- Woman Caught in a Riptide is Saved by Fisherman's Hook
- Couple Finds Lost Ring In a Snowy Wonderland During Engagement Photo Shoot
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Passes Away at 100, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Service
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley Talks About Getting Her Voice Back After Losing It Two Years Ago
- 90-Year-Old From Oklahoma Is Rewarded For Going Out of His Way to Help Others
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Oak Ridge Boys Singer William Lee Golden Shares How Group Has Navigated Recent Loss and Grief
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Casting Crowns ‘Good Good Father’ – Stunning Worship From Casting Crowns
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
toby mac TobyMac Drops ‘a Lil Church’ Official Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.