Man Stolen from Mom at Birth Finally Hugs Her for the 1st Time 42 Years Later

Something as simple as greeting his mother was not an opportunity that Jimmy Lippert Thyden was not afforded. Forty-two years later, he could finally present his mother with a bouquet and a hug.

Jimmy Lippert Thyden and his Chilean birth mother, Marìa Angélica González, did not meet until Thyden was 42, and he moved heaven and earth to discover where he came from after discovering the mysteries surrounding his adoption.

Thyden's journey to discovering who he was began in April this year after he read an article about children born in Chile who had been reunited with their birth families through a Chilean non-profit called Nos Buscamos.

Nos Buscamos discovered that Thyden was born prematurely and was placed in an incubator. His mother, González, was then told to leave the hospital and was told that her son had died and they had disposed of his body.

What Happened to Thyden?

In what Thyden describes as his "counterfeit adoption," he says he read that he had no relatives from his biological family. However, Nos Buscamos allowed him to discover he has a mother and five siblings.

Constanza del Río, founder of Nos Buscamos, says that it is believed that many counterfeit adoptions took place in Chile in the 1970s and 1980s. Del Río shared:

"The real story was these kids were stolen from poor families, poor women that didn't know. They didn't know how to defend themselves."

Thyden says that his adoptive parents were "unwitting victims" of the crimes against his birth family and confirmed that they support his journey to building bonds with his biological family.

He clarified that his adoptive parents had been desperate to start a family but would never have adopted him if they knew their happiness came at the cost of his biological mother's. Thyden's adoptive parents declined to comment on the story.

While Thyden's adoptive parents did not want to share their version of the story, Thyden recalled what his biological mother said to him when they met. Talking to her son for the first time in 42 years, González lamented:

"Mijo (son), you have no idea the oceans I've cried for you. How many nights I've laid awake praying that God let me live long enough to learn what happened to you."

While Thyden talked about his first meeting with his birth mother, the video of the moment spoke more than words ever could. Thyden's wife and two daughters joined the pair.

Life After Adoption

Thyden and his mother recently met, with a video beginning with Thyden on a plane announcing his name and saying he was traveling to Valdivia in Chile to meet his mother for the first time.

Thyden and his wife and daughters walk toward González as Thyden holds a bouquet for her. He then greets her with a simple "Hola (Hello) Mama," the pair fall into a tight embrace as they both shed tears.

González and Thyden then told one another how much they loved each other, and the introductions to the rest of the family began. Thyden then spent time with his biological mother at the zoo.

While the family spent much time doing exciting things they had never before got to experience, they also spent time at González's home, where Thyden and his birth mother found a shared passion for cooking and enjoyed doing it together.

Thyden says he is frustrated that he lost so many years with his biological family and lost his culture but feels blessed that he has now been able to hug his mother and spend time with his birth family for the first time.

Thyden also met with authorities regarding his illegal adoption and confirmed that he did not want money. Still, he did want acknowledgment of what he and his family had gone through, discovering that he was one of the many children trafficked into adoption.

Adoption can be complicated for any family, but for one woman, it became challenging when she adopted a little girl she found at her house, and the girl's mother showed up later. You can read the full story here.