CBS 2 Chicago wbbm7801059 670 The Score

Local

Mother, Daughter See Each Other First Time In 36 Years

View Comments
Elaine Harmon, left, meets her mother, Jenny Hadley, for the first time. (CBS)

Elaine Harmon, left, meets her mother, Jenny Hadley, for the first time. (CBS)

Mike Parker

Reporting Mike Parker

Don't Miss This

(CBS) — A Hobart Indiana woman and her daughter are back together after 36 years of separation.

They were separated when the mother – then a 15-year-old unwed mom – gave her baby up for adoption and what she knew would be a better life.

CBS2’s Mike Parker has the story of their joyous reunion on Monday.

Jenny Hadley waited for the South Shore train carrying her long-lost child.

She had been searching adoptee reunion websites for years.

“I kind of started to lose faith, thinking maybe she doesn’t want to be found,” Jenny told Parker as she waited.

It turns out her daughter had been searching for her, too. They found each other online just after Christmas and have been exchanging phone calls, e-mails and photos ever since.

After an hour of waiting, the train pulled in and life suddenly changed for Jenny and Elaine Harman. They kissed and embraced for what seemed like minutes.

“Amazing, just amazing,” Jenny shouted. “It only took me 36 years.”

Two women, who battled an emptiness in their hearts for so long, were reunited. Those two hearts are full again.

“It’s unbelievable,” Elaine said.  “I mean, I’m the luckiest person alive today.  I’m incredibly fortunate. My parents told me from day one how much they wanted me and how great my mom was.”

And Elaine brought a gift for her mother from Virginia, where she lives now. It was two photos showing both of them at the same age. It’s hard to tell them apart.

“I’m about to start crying,” Jenny said as she held the frame. “It’s a dream come true. A billion-dollar lottery doesn’t feel this good.”

What about the future?

Jenny is eager to meet her daughter’s husband when he returns from serving in Afghanistan.  And she has a standing invitation from Elaine’s adoptive parents to spend every Christmas with them.

View Comments
  • http://www.worldtopstories.com/2013/01/14/mother-daughter-see-each-other-for-1st-time-in-36-years/ Mother, Daughter See Each Other For 1st Time In 36 Years | WorldTopStories.com

    [...] Two women, who battled an emptiness in their hearts for so long, were reunited Monday. Those two hearts are full again. CBS 2's Mike Parker reports. Read more… [...]

  • http://yerepouni-news.com/?p=29078 Mom and daughter reunite—after 3 decades | Yerepouni Daily News

    [...] CBS Chicago filmed the joyful reunion. Hadley waited at a local train station for her daughter and, when Elaine arrived, the two embraced repeatedly. “Amazing, just amazing,” Hadley said. “It only took me 36 years.” [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

RSS Most Popular News

Follow CBS Chicago

Like us on foursquare

RSS Contests & Promotions

  • Benjamin Moore Which Team Colors Matter Most? May 24, 2013
    Which Team Colors matter most to you? Either way, you could be a winner! Just sign up now for a chance to win $500 Depot Dollars to the Chicago Sports Depot to pick up some gear with your favorite team colors as they battle it out this week!
  • AVEENO® MEN’S “Building a Healthier Foundation” Sweepstakes May 21, 2013
    AVEENO® Men’s™ knows your family is your foundation. And to take good care of them, you need to take good care of yourself. Win a family day at the ballpark from AVEENO® Men’s™.
  • Join Hankook Tire To Reel In The Next Big Catch May 20, 2013
    Join Hankook tire to reel in the next great catch! Click here to go to www.TirePrize.com and enter for your chance to win the ultimate fishing excursion in Puerto Rico!
  • Meet Jim Rome On Set In Los Angeles May 20, 2013
    AutoZone and the Jim Rome Show are giving one winner and a guest a trip to meet Jim Rome in Los Angeles on the set of his Showtime television show! Enter for your chance to win!
WBBM Newsradio 780, Radio Stations & Broadcast Companies, Chicago, IL

Twitter Updates