An adopted Chinese woman has been reunited with her “orphanage sister” after 17 years of being separated when her Twitter appeal went viral.
Sara Danyao Courdless, who was adopted by a family from the central Spanish capital Madrid when she was 11 months old, wrote: “I need to try this, I need to find the girl beside me (in the photo).
“Now she’s probably 21 – 23 y/o. I don’t know her name and this is the only pic I’ve got. If you recognise yourself in it, please, contact me.”
Sara, who is 18 or 19 years old, said on social media that the girl was adopted from the orphanage in Hubei in China at the same time as she was.
Sara’s story was picked up by local media and nearly 100,000 Twitter users shared her post.
Within two days, the teenager returned to Twitter to say: “I don’t know how to say this because there was a lot of expectation, but we have found each other.
“Thanks to everyone for everything you have done for me over the past few days and thanks for all the support. After 17 years, we are together again (her name is Alejandra).
Sara shared a tender photo of her cuddling up to her “orphanage sister”.
She also posted a video thanking everyone for their support, saying: “We are glad to see that you are all happy for us, thanks a lot.”
The friends were reunited when Alejandra’s cousin saw the Twitter post and got in touch.
Before finding each other, Sara said: “From what my parents told me, this girl never separated from me during the whole adoption process.
“The translator who accompanied my parents spoke to the girl and she said that she was taking care of me in the orphanage.
“As I was only 11 months old and she was about five, she was one of the eldest there and took care of me like a sister.”
“The day we had to leave China, the girl kept shouting my name (Danyao) at the airport and tried to get away from her adoptive parents.”
Sara’s parents tried to keep in touch with the girl’s new family, but they lost contact over the years. However, now the friends can get to know each other again.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
