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Detroit woman reunited with birth mother after nearly 50 years apart

‘I’ve got a huge family now. It’s amazing’

DETROIT – A Detroit woman, who was adopted nearly 50 years ago, was on a mission to find her biological family.

She recently discovered her birth mother was still alive in Georgia and that she had five siblings.

The two had lived separate lives for decades -- 78-year-old Lola talon and Leah Cartwright, the baby she gave up for adoption. Their dreams came true early October.

“My first view of her was a photo and I was like. ‘That’s my face!’” Cartwright recalled.

It was a reunion nearly a half century in the making.

“I knew. I really did believe in my heart that one day I would meet her,” Talon said.

Cartwright was an infant when she was adopted. Now 49, the Detroiter was always curious about her biological family. In August, she discovered a niece through Ancestry.com and within days, she was on the phone with her biological mother.

“She’s a sweet person, she’s cute,” Talon said.

After countless Zoom calls, the pair met in Detroit.

“Just to be together, to touch and hug her, it was really good,” Talon said.

“I always wondered if I look like somebody, do I have mannerisms like someone?” Cartwright said.

Both love to laugh, enjoy breakfast foods and the color purple.

“It brings everything full circle,” Talon said. “The fact that she wasn’t resentful and understood why I did what I did made me feel so much better.”

More: Community news


About the Authors
Priya Mann headshot

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism

Dane Kelly headshot

Dane is a producer and media enthusiast. He previously worked freelance video production and writing jobs in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts. Dane graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.

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