A Virginia-based attorney named Jimmy Lippert Thyden has been reunited with his Chilean mother, MarÃa Angélica González, after 42 years. The traumatic birth experience caused González to believe her son had died, but they were recently reunited.
González’s baby, Thyden, was born prematurely in a Santiago hospital. The staff placed him in an incubator and instructed González to return the next day. When she came back, she was informed that her son had died and his body had been disposed of.
Years later, Thyden discovered the truth and began searching for his birth mother. With the help of a nonprofit organization called Nos Buscamos Chile, he was able to connect with González and reunite with her in Valdivia, Chile.
The reunion was emotional for both Thyden and González. Thyden described the moment as “knocking the wind out” of him. He also learned that his adoption was part of a scheme orchestrated by the Chilean government under then-dictator Augusto Pinochet. It is believed that over 20,000 Chilean babies were taken from their mothers during this time and adopted by families who were unaware of the scheme.
Thyden’s adoptive parents were also unwitting victims of the scheme. They paid what they believed to be legitimate fees for the adoption process. Thyden expressed his frustration over losing his culture and the 42 years that he missed with his birth family.
Meanwhile, González suffered in silence, never telling her other children about the loss of their sibling. She trusted the authorities at the hospital who told her that her baby had died.
After the emotional reunion, Thyden and González celebrated by popping 42 balloons, representing each year they were apart. Thyden described the act as empowering.
Their reunion has brought closure and healing to both Thyden and González, who are now making up for lost time as mother and son.
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