Tammy Oswalt’s recent birthday became an unforgettable milestone in her life—a day when the past and present collided in an unexpected twist of fate. Nearly two decades ago, Tammy faced a difficult decision. As a single mother of two on the verge of homelessness, she made the heart-wrenching choice to give her newborn son up for adoption.

“A mom doesn’t give up her child like a sack of potatoes,” Tammy said “All I could give him was love and sometimes that’s not enough. I had to make the decision to give him up because I did love him.” Though she knew it was the best option for her son’s future, the pain of separation lingered, plunging Tammy into a deep abyss of depression and guilt. She got information on how her son was doing, but after a few of those, the depression was just too much.

I tried to commit suicide,” she said. “The emotional guilt and loss overwhelmed me.”

Years passed, but the ache in Tammy’s heart remained. Then, on her birthday, her daughter Sammy Hewett orchestrated a gift beyond compare—a reunion with the son Tammy had longed to hold once more. It began with a simple text message. Dylan Rich, now her son’s adopted name, had reached out to Tammy’s daughter, seeking connection. Months of secret communication followed, until Sammy finally unveiled the surprise to her mother.

Left: Tammy holding Dylan one final time before placing him up for adoption; Right: Dylan and Tammy together for the first time since that last moment.

“All these questions were running through my head,” Tammy recalled, stunned by the revelation. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of emotions, there was hope—a chance to bridge the gap of lost time. She and Dylan were able to talk on the phone once, but Tammy made sure to put no demands on Dylan about meeting, all that mattered, she said, is that she got to talk to him.

As the birthday celebration unfolded, Sammy’s carefully planned surprise came to fruition. Sammy began filming the moment and Tammy knew that it was going to be something momentous. “As soon as she said about it being something that “money can’t buy”, something in my heart knew what was about to happen and I was so afraid to turn around.”

“As soon as she said, ‘Meet your son, Dylan,’ I broke,” Tammy said. “I waited almost 19 years for this moment and all I could do was say, ‘Oh my God, I love you. You’re beautiful.'” She finally got to hug her son, so many years after having to say goodbye. And for the mother, it was the final piece she had been missing. “I felt whole for the very first time since I last held Dylan in my arms,” Tammy said.

From left, Dylan, mom, Tammy, and sister, Sammy.

The newly reunited family found out they only live 90 minutes from each other, and have plans to keep in touch. In that poignant moment, years of longing melted away, replaced by the warmth of family reunited. Despite the years apart, the bond between mother and son remained unbroken. Today, Tammy and Dylan are taking the first steps toward rebuilding what was lost—a relationship forged in love and strengthened by resilience.

“I feel so complete now,” Tammy said, smiling. “Everything I ever wanted, I now have. I’ve got what matters and that’s family.” The journey from separation to reunion was long and arduous, but in the end, it was worth every moment. For Tammy Oswalt, her birthday became a celebration of love, hope, and the enduring power of family. Watch below to see this beautiful family reunited – but make sure you have the tissues ready, there will be tears.

Sources: Inside Edition | Daily Mail