Becoming a mother at the age of 15 is not an easy path to navigate. Stacey Faix found herself in this challenging situation and made the difficult decision to place her baby boy up for adoption. Little did she know that 35 years later, their paths would cross again in a heartwarming reunion.

In November 2017, a new law in Pennsylvania granted adoptees access to their original birth certificates. This development caught the attention of Stephen Strawn, who had always wondered about his biological roots. With determination, he obtained his birth certificate and discovered his mother’s name – Stacey Faix.

Unable to contain his excitement, Strawn reached out to Faix on Facebook. He bravely asked, “Did you put a baby boy up for adoption in 1982?” To his surprise, she replied with a resounding “Yes.” It was the start of a surreal journey for both of them.

Despite living in different states, fate brought them together in an unexpected way. Both Faix and Strawn were members of Team Red, White and Blue, an organization supporting veterans. They were scheduled to participate in the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

On the day of the race, Strawn had a surprise planned for his biological mother. As the team gathered before the marathon, Faix received a card that read, “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. I didn’t want you to wait one more day.” Overwhelmed with emotions, Faix couldn’t believe what was happening.

“We must have hugged about 10 different times,” Strawn recounted. The reunion felt surreal, but it was the perfect culmination of a long-awaited connection. Together, they completed the marathon, cherishing every moment they had lost in the past 35 years.

This heartwarming story is a testament to the power of love and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. Stacey Faix’s courageous decision to continue with her pregnancy, combined with the love of the family who adopted her son, made this reunion possible.

If you share in the joy of this long-awaited reunion, pass on this article and celebrate the incredible journey of two souls finding their way back to each other.