Finding a way to make your family whole, when for so long there had been a part missing, can be very hard to do.
Adoption can make it difficult at times to find your birth parents. Rules with closed adoptions are often harder to break, and the time it can take is daunting. But for one woman, her perseverance and adoptive family’s love, helped her find the piece she’d been missing – her birth family.
Rachel Ruiz, from Utah, recently met her birth mother, Angie Howard, for the first time in 34 years. The emotional reunion was shared on TikTok, and the video went viral with almost 4 million views.
In the video, Ruiz can be seen nervously opening the front door of her home and embracing her birth mother, who is accompanied by her husband Teddy. Ruiz’s parents, Brent and Marianne Haslam, her husband Felix, and their 2-year-old son Enzo are also present during the reunion.
I finally reunited with my birth mom after 34 years! My adoption was closed, and I’ve been trying to find her for over 10 years with failed attempt after failed attempt,” Ruiz said in the caption of the video.
@rachelhruiz I finally reunited with my birth mom after 34 years! My adoption was closed and I’ve been trying to find her for over 10 years with failed attempt after failed attempt. Thank you @ancestry for being a huge reason why this was able to happen. #adoption #birthmomreunion #adoptionreunion #birthmom #adoptionsucess #closedadoption #ancestrydna #love ♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) – Sia
Ruiz was adopted at two weeks old in a closed adoption, where adoptive and birth parents maintain their privacy. She didn’t think it was possible to learn about her biological parents. The only information Ruiz had about her mom was a brief physical description, education level, and a list of hobbies. There was no information on her birth father.
However, when Ruiz turned 18, her parents gave her two gifts from Howard: a knit blanket and a letter written on the day of her birth, expressing her wish to reunite one day. This sparked a desire in Ruiz to learn more about her biological parents, and she began searching for them.
She contacted the adoption agency, but the only thing she was able to find out was from a piece of paper that had been whited out. Ruiz was able to just make out her birth mother’s maiden name, Deveraux. but they didn’t provide new information. Ruiz searched the name online, with no luck.
In 2014, Ruiz took a home DNA test through Ancestry.com. The site revealed some possible matches with family members who had the last name Deveraux, one of whom she would learn was her maternal grandfather, Richard. Ruiz messaged him, but never heard back. Later, she discovered an obituary for him, in which Angie was listed as a surviving relative.
“From there, I found Angie’s Facebook profile,” Ruiz said. “I sent her a Facebook message that basically said, ‘Hey, I believe we are related after looking at my adoption papers and my DNA test.'”
Howard didn’t see her message until Christmas Day, and she responded “that second,” Ruiz said.
She wrote, ‘I think you are onto something … I’ve been praying for this day for 34 years and always wished you would show up on my doorstep.'”
Howard, who lives in Arizona, grew up in Pleasant Grove, Utah, about 30 minutes from Ruiz’s childhood home. She wanted to come to Utah and meet Ruiz, and on Jan. 26, they finally met.
Rachel Ruiz’ birth mother, Angie Howard, hugs her parents, Brent and Marianne Haslam. Photo from TikTok
“It was like looking into a mirror,” said Ruiz about meeting her birth mother. “We have the same facial features and a low voice. We’re both artistic and free-spirited.” Ruiz learned she has a 30-year-old half-sister who lives in Arizona and a half-brother who died of cancer as a child.
That same afternoon, Ruiz was able to meet her biological grandmother three days before she died.
Completing her family, Ruiz and her husband are expecting a baby girl via surrogate in June. “It’s a dream come true,” she said.
Watch below for a look at this amazing family.
Sources: Today | Daily Mail
