Unite siblings after 25 years!
Donation protected
Two sisters .... born over 5,000 miles away..... grew up within a few miles of each other in Northeast Georgia and never knew it. They have been reunited within one week! And, now.... they and want to go to Romania!!
April 17, 2017
Amy Penland Damera and her husband Jared Damera watched a movie called "Lion" (https://youtu.be/ziOLGzKq6oo) about an adopted boy searching for and eventually finding his birth mother. The movie gave Amy, who was adopted from Romania in 1991 at age 6 months, the desire to find her birth family. Amy knew she had one biological sister, whose adoptive parents had become friends of Amy's adoptive parents while both couples were in Romania during the adoption process in 1991. The two girls had grown up visiting each other, but neither of them had any further connection with their Romanian family.
April 18, 2017
Amy began looking through papers she had from the adoption, hoping to find a clue that would help in her search. Meanwhile, Amy's husband Jared came across an article about Romanian children in search of birth families at https://theadopteestrikesback.com/…/ways-to-find-your-birt…/ ). The article led Jared to a Facebook group called "The never forgotten Romanian children". Amy sent a message to the group telling them she was adopted in 1991 asked if they might be able to help her.
April 19, 2017
Amy received a response from group leader, Ileana Cunniffe Băiescu, encouraging Amy, offering to assist her, and requesting more information. Amy sent the basic information along with a note that more details would follow the following morning.
April 20, 2017
8:00 AM: With the help of her adoptive mother, Jeannie Penland, Amy sent the remainder of her information to Ileana. After only a few hours, a response from Ileana was received. Amy was told that a contact in Romania would go to the various addresses that were listed in Amy's documents and see if they had any luck. They should know something in about a week, Amy was told.
4:00 PM: Amy got a message from Ileana acknowledging that they had located a brother, Sarkadi Lucian, in Romania. They made contact with him on Facebook, and he confirmed that the lady they were searching for was indeed his mom. He said they had another sister who had been adopted into the United States named Katalina Jones. He had kept in touch with Katalina, but was unaware of the younger two girls. Ileana offered to get everyone on a Facebook messenger chat, and offered translation services. A few minutes later, the transcontinental chat began.
Once on the group message everyone was filled with emotion. Lucian said he would be with their mom the next day and would verify everything with her. He also offered to video chat with Amy from their mom's house, so they could be reunited after 25 years.
April 21, 2017
The amazing video chat took place. Amy learned almost more than she could take in about her Romanian family. She became aware of 4 other siblings, and was able to make contact with 3 of them.
Amy learned hat Katalina, who was several years older, had ALSO been adopted by a family in Gainesville, Georgia, yet neither of the two girls had ever known of the other's existence. Their paths had come so close without crossing at all. Amy and Katalina had mutual friends on Facebook. had both grown up on Lake Lanier, and Katalina had attended the high school where Amy's adoptive dad, Jerry Penland, was a teacher.
The video chat brought Amy, her birth mother, and her adoptive mother together for the first time in 25 years. Amy's birth mom and adoptive mom were able to chat about the day they visited so long ago, when Amy was adopted, and Amy's birth mom was able to see her grandchildren Rhett and Cora for the first time.
April 22, 2017
Amy and Katalina met for a late lunch... which turned into dinner as they talked and got to know each other. They are already planning a summer beach outing to introduce their children to each other. And, while they are at the beach, they want to start planning their trip to Romania! If you can make a donation, even a very small one, it will help these "new" sisters complete the journey into their past.
Amy and Jared are very grateful for what Ileana Cunniffe Băiescu and her organization have done to help them and so many other Romanian-born adoptees locate their Romanian families.
April 17, 2017
Amy Penland Damera and her husband Jared Damera watched a movie called "Lion" (https://youtu.be/ziOLGzKq6oo) about an adopted boy searching for and eventually finding his birth mother. The movie gave Amy, who was adopted from Romania in 1991 at age 6 months, the desire to find her birth family. Amy knew she had one biological sister, whose adoptive parents had become friends of Amy's adoptive parents while both couples were in Romania during the adoption process in 1991. The two girls had grown up visiting each other, but neither of them had any further connection with their Romanian family.
April 18, 2017
Amy began looking through papers she had from the adoption, hoping to find a clue that would help in her search. Meanwhile, Amy's husband Jared came across an article about Romanian children in search of birth families at https://theadopteestrikesback.com/…/ways-to-find-your-birt…/ ). The article led Jared to a Facebook group called "The never forgotten Romanian children". Amy sent a message to the group telling them she was adopted in 1991 asked if they might be able to help her.
April 19, 2017
Amy received a response from group leader, Ileana Cunniffe Băiescu, encouraging Amy, offering to assist her, and requesting more information. Amy sent the basic information along with a note that more details would follow the following morning.
April 20, 2017
8:00 AM: With the help of her adoptive mother, Jeannie Penland, Amy sent the remainder of her information to Ileana. After only a few hours, a response from Ileana was received. Amy was told that a contact in Romania would go to the various addresses that were listed in Amy's documents and see if they had any luck. They should know something in about a week, Amy was told.
4:00 PM: Amy got a message from Ileana acknowledging that they had located a brother, Sarkadi Lucian, in Romania. They made contact with him on Facebook, and he confirmed that the lady they were searching for was indeed his mom. He said they had another sister who had been adopted into the United States named Katalina Jones. He had kept in touch with Katalina, but was unaware of the younger two girls. Ileana offered to get everyone on a Facebook messenger chat, and offered translation services. A few minutes later, the transcontinental chat began.
Once on the group message everyone was filled with emotion. Lucian said he would be with their mom the next day and would verify everything with her. He also offered to video chat with Amy from their mom's house, so they could be reunited after 25 years.
April 21, 2017
The amazing video chat took place. Amy learned almost more than she could take in about her Romanian family. She became aware of 4 other siblings, and was able to make contact with 3 of them.
Amy learned hat Katalina, who was several years older, had ALSO been adopted by a family in Gainesville, Georgia, yet neither of the two girls had ever known of the other's existence. Their paths had come so close without crossing at all. Amy and Katalina had mutual friends on Facebook. had both grown up on Lake Lanier, and Katalina had attended the high school where Amy's adoptive dad, Jerry Penland, was a teacher.
The video chat brought Amy, her birth mother, and her adoptive mother together for the first time in 25 years. Amy's birth mom and adoptive mom were able to chat about the day they visited so long ago, when Amy was adopted, and Amy's birth mom was able to see her grandchildren Rhett and Cora for the first time.
April 22, 2017
Amy and Katalina met for a late lunch... which turned into dinner as they talked and got to know each other. They are already planning a summer beach outing to introduce their children to each other. And, while they are at the beach, they want to start planning their trip to Romania! If you can make a donation, even a very small one, it will help these "new" sisters complete the journey into their past.
Amy and Jared are very grateful for what Ileana Cunniffe Băiescu and her organization have done to help them and so many other Romanian-born adoptees locate their Romanian families.
Organizer and beneficiary
Marty Burtz Hale
Organizer
Gainesville, GA
Amy Damera
Beneficiary
