logo
twitter.com/wcnc
twitter.com/wcnc

5 Siblings Get Separated after Their Mom Abandons Them — They Reunite Nearly 40 Years Later

Dayna Remus
Dec 02, 2021
07:30 A.M.

A family torn to shreds believed they would live apart from one another until their deathbed. That was until one party, and a simple conversation revolutionized their entire worlds.

Advertisement

It was the early 1960's when a young boy going by the name Dave Carlson ran to say goodbye to his little sister Cheryl. He didn't get there in time.

She was being adopted from the Annie Wittenmyer Home, where Carlson and his four younger siblings stayed, including her, until her new parents took her in.

Siblings Dave Carlson, Cheryl, Tom, Jim, and Mary Jo as children. │Source: twitter.com/wcnc

Siblings Dave Carlson, Cheryl, Tom, Jim, and Mary Jo as children. │Source: twitter.com/wcnc

Advertisement

A FAMILY SEPARATED TOO SOON

As the oldest of the five, Carlson remained at the orphanage until, one by one, he ensured that every one of his four younger siblings was adopted before he found a new home.

This was a mission he had taken upon himself after promising his grandmother that he would look after his four younger brothers and sisters: Cheryl, Tom, Jim, and Mary Jo.

Carlson was eventually taken in by Byron Carlson, a plumber, and Corine Carlson, a nurse. Officially far away from the orphanage and in a new home, the young boy was probably never going to be able to see his siblings again.

Advertisement
A sad boy putting his forehead on his knees with his arms crossed. │Source: Shutterstock

A sad boy putting his forehead on his knees with his arms crossed. │Source: Shutterstock

AN UNFORESEEN TRAGEDY

These kids ended up at the Annie Wittenmyer Home after their single mother dropped Carlson and two siblings off an aunt, taking the other two with her.

Advertisement

After she didn't return when she said she would, the children's grandmother told Carlson to go back to his mom's apartment in Grinnell, Iowa, to get some clothing, where he found a tragic scene.

Advertisement

NOWHERE TO BE FOUND

Jim, about 2 years old at the time, and Mary Jo had been abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Recollecting this event, a 64-year-old Carlson expressed:

"It was hot as hell, and the whole place stunk to high heaven. They hadn't eaten."

The issue was taken to court, where heartbreakingly, the mother refused to take her children back, leaving them in the orphanage's care.

Lonely boy staring out of a window. │Source: Shutterstock

Lonely boy staring out of a window. │Source: Shutterstock

Advertisement

WALKING INTO ADULTHOOD

Dave Carlson grew up and moved to Goodland, California, became an all-state football player, and fought in Vietnam.

He did return to the orphanage at one point to see if he could find anything on his lost siblings but to no avail. However, in 1990, this all changed at a party in Jasper County that the second eldest, Jim, now Jim Bush attended.

Young adults enjoying themselves together. │Source: Shutterstock

Young adults enjoying themselves together. │Source: Shutterstock

Advertisement

LOST AND FOUND

Jim began speaking to someone about his adoption and life story, mentioning his older brother, to which someone exclaimed that he knew Carlson. The two immediately got in contact with one another. Speaking about their meeting, he said:

"I'd always driven a Dodge truck...And there he was, driving one the same color of mine. I smoked Marlboros. He smoked Marlboros. We both love horses."

The brothers looked for their other siblings to no avail, but time wasn't up yet. Their sibling, Tom Crew's wife, Cindy Crew, took an interest in finding out more about her husband's origins.

Advertisement
Two men hugging. │Source: Shutterstock

Two men hugging. │Source: Shutterstock

WHERE ARE THE GIRLS?

She eventually connected him to Carlson through a Public Library in Grinnell, which is the area where he and their siblings were picked up from the apartment.

Advertisement

After another beautiful reunion, the trio got hold of an individual specializing in missing person investigations, Jim McDonald, asking him to help find their long-lost sisters.

A detective standing in the shadows. │Source: Shutterstock

A detective standing in the shadows. │Source: Shutterstock

Advertisement

A RECONNECTED FAMILY

Using a lead from a social worker's letter written about the five siblings' case, he could locate Cheryl and Mary Jo.

Both women flew up to reunite with their brothers on separate occasions - the fabulous five back together and hopefully never to be split up again.

A group of people hugging in a field. │Source: Shutterstock

A group of people hugging in a field. │Source: Shutterstock

Advertisement

CATASTROPHE STRIKES

Being separated from one's brother and sisters can sometimes be excruciating, as Tessa Ferguson can attest. In the early 1970s, she and her four other siblings have torn apart. This followed a fire in their childhood house that killed their parents.

She was finally adopted and chose, after many years, to let go of finding her siblings; Dena, Frank, Rebecca (Becky), Tessa, and Rae Lynn. However, one day her father-in-law called her and told her that a woman named Dena was looking for her.

This is how she reunited with not only Dena but the rest of her siblings. Unlike many of us, Carlson and his brothers and siblings and Tessa and hers understand the importance of sibling bonds.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
info

news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. that benefits the victims. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible.

Related posts

Brother Separated from Sister as Kids Reunites with Her 18 Years Later, Having Only Her First Name

February 15, 2022

Little Boy Gets Lost in Busy Market While Looking for His Mother, Gets Approached by a Taxi Driver

April 20, 2022

5 Siblings Think Their Mother Is Dead, 58 Years Later They Get an Email Disputing Their Belief

February 19, 2022

Father Is Told That His Baby Daughter Died, Gets a Message from Her Many Decades Later

April 14, 2022

Boy Runs into Huge Box on Doorstep in the Winter Cold, Hears Loud Cry from Inside — Story of the Day

February 01, 2022

Man Who Was Adopted 50 Years Ago Learns His Birth Family Was Down the Street All This Time

February 11, 2022

Before Disembarking Plane, Pilot Notices Last Passenger inside Who Is a Carbon Copy of Him – Story of the Day

March 30, 2022

After His Little Brother's Death, Boy Starts Disappearing After School until Mom Follows Him — Story if the Day

May 08, 2022

Homeless Man Who Left His Sister 38 Years Ago Returns to Her with an Old Box from Their Father – Story of the Day

April 07, 2022

Lady Sees Portrait of Her Carbon Copy among Artist's Works, 'I Drew Her an Hour Ago,' He Says – Story of the Day

February 06, 2022

Family Reunites 5 Siblings, Adopting Them after They Were Separated in Foster Care

March 14, 2022

81-Year-Old Lady Finds Long-Lost Brother to Walk Her Down the Aisle after a 50-Year Search

March 03, 2022

3 Siblings Get Adopted Together after Four Years in Foster Care: 'It Means I Have a Family'

March 13, 2022

3 Sisters Are Ripped Apart from Their Mom, Meet Again 63 Years Later

March 05, 2022