80-Year-Old Woman Finds Her Long-Lost Brother She Never Knew She Had

After almost 80 years of separation, one elderly woman found her long-lost brother. The siblings, Marian Griffin, 80, and Donald Hefke, 81, were adopted by different families, and Marian never knew Donald existed until last year.

When She Got the Call, She Couldn’t Believe It

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"I thought it was a scam," Marian recalled about when her brother finally found her.

The siblings were babies, born one year apart, when they went into foster care in 1946. They also shared another sibling, Ernest, who was deaf. He sadly passed away. 

Donald grew up with a foster family and went into the U.S. Air Force. In 1963, he requested information about his biological family and found out about his sister. He wrote her letters, but sadly, her adoptive parents had hidden the letters from her.

"Our kids could have grown up together, instead we were separated because my parents would not tell me that my brother wrote to me and was looking for me," Marian said.

80-Year-Old Finds Long-Lost Brother

Donald’s daughter, Denise Baker, helped her dad look for Marian for two decades. She eventually found a lead online through Marian’s son.

The first time she spoke with Donald was on the phone.

"My brother was so happy. He says, 'Mariane, Mariane, is that you? Oh my goodness, I've been looking for you Mariane!'" she said. "He couldn't even stop saying my name."

"I still can't believe he found me," Marian said.

Hoping for a Reunion

The two haven’t been reunited in person yet, as they live on opposite coasts. Donald is unable to travel from his home in Florida, but Denise went to California and visited Marian.

Marian plans to visit him soon and has set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money for her travel expenses.

"Oh my goodness, it would be wonderful to be with him even for a few days," she told KRCR. "We have 80 years to catch up on."

She has some advice for anyone who’s looking for their own biological family: “My gosh, don’t give up. This is not the 40s no more, and the 50s. And keep in contact with each other. Family is so important.”

It’s hard to think that two people can go eight decades without seeing each other and then find each other again. And while it’s sad that Donald’s efforts to contact Marian were thwarted so many years ago, it’s an utterly sweet surprise that they found each other and—God willing—will be reunited!

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WATCH: 80-Year-Old Woman Finds Her Long-Lost Brother She Never Knew She Had

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/KRCR News Channel 7

Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.