Radio is not only a medium to entertain and inform . . . it is also capable of helping others and bringing people together.
Eileen Macken (81) grew up in an orphanage in Ireland and never knew her parents.
She’d started searching for her mom when she was 19, and kept searching for 60 years without any leads, when, just last year, she shared her story on one of her local radio stations.
A genealogy expert happened to be listening, heard Eileen’s story and wanted to help.
After some intense and in -depth digging, they were able to learn the name of the woman who birthed Eileen, and she was STILL ALIVE!
Eileen’s birth mother was found to be living in Scotland, and just celebrated her 104th birthday.
Her name is Elizabeth, and Eileen flew to Scotland to meet her for the very first time.
Elizabeth had no idea Eileen was coming to meet her, but Eileen just showed up at the door and was greeted by her half-brother.
After the visit, Eileen called back into the radio station to share the good news that she found her mom, and their meeting couldn’t have gone better.
Eileen shared that Elizabeth was incredibly kind, wouldn’t let go of her hand the whole time, and didn’t want her to leave.
A beautiful reunion, just in time for Mother’s Day.
(RTE / The Journal)