A British woman who was put up for adoption as a baby in 1990 has found her entire biological family in Canada - after they spent years looking for her. Laura Mclean, 32, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, grew up knowing she was adopted but didn't know her birth mum's name, age or location.
After endless empty searches on Google and Facebook, she submitted a DNA sample to 23andMe and finally tracked down her long-lost mum, Janine Henderson, 50. Janine, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, had wanted a better life for her baby girl, and now feels extremely lucky to be given a "second chance".
Laura sent off her DNA sample last year and got an email two months later to say she'd matched with a 'half sister' in Canada.
Actually, the match was her aunt Leanne MacDonald, 35, who emailed to say: "We have been looking for you for years."
Within days, she was Facetiming her mum Janine in an emotional video call, and they met for the first time in three decades.
"I went through a washer machine of emotion," Laura said. "It was overwhelming but I was happy, no human could go through that and not find it overwhelming.
"I didn't know what I was missing until I connected with my biological family.
"It felt like the experiences I have had in life up until now had really prepared me to handle this with resilience and positivity."
Mum-of-two Janine explained: "The last time I saw her she was a baby and to see her as this young beautiful woman - I am not sure I can describe it.
"I tell Laura all the time, my words haven't caught up with my emotions yet.
"You go through so many emotions, to be part of her life again, I have been given a second chance and not many people get that chance. My family felt complete."
Janine said she put Laura up for adoption because she wanted her daughter to have a better life - then after 31 years, Laura started researching her family history.
"I have always known I was adopted, it was never a taboo subject - my family are very supportive," she said.
Sharing the moment Janine spoke to her daughter for the first time, she said: "There were a lot of emotions.
"After she spoke with my sister there was a lot of excitement - none of us really slept the entire weekend.
"You go through all sorts of questions - what do you say and how do you behave? I didn't speak for the first time seeing her over video chat - I cried for 10 minutes."
The first time the pair met in person was in September 2022, when Laura and her partner Abbie Sycamore, 28, flew over to Canada.
"It was a strange experience," Laura said. "I had this underlying feeling that I had to keep some sort of routine and reality as it was such an unknown I was stepping into.
"It is so difficult to describe. We both had been quite honest and vulnerable.
"We both showed up with authenticity. She never felt like a stranger - it felt like I knew her.
"There was never resentment. There was never anger. I always had this gut instinct that I was wanted - we are very alike with our mannerisms and senses.
"My mum flew both me and my partner out. She has been incredible - it is like they have gained two daughters."
After the successful two-week trip, Laura phoned Janine's husband, Steven Henderson, 59, and told him she wanted to jump out of a box as a Christmas present.
"When I jumped out, she was in shock - we immediately burst into tears," Laura said.
Talking about having her daughter back in her life, Janine said: "My family feels complete, it was an amazing experience, Laura and I both bonded so quickly and she fit in no problem.
"She fit into the dynamics of the family with no problem, I can't say how grateful I am to have this opportunity and I am not wasting a minute of it".
Laura and Janine both Facetime once a week and are planning a UK reunion soon.
Have you found your long-lost family? Get in touch. Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
