Her whole life, 47-year-old Denise McCarty thought she was abandoned as a baby. It turns out she actually got lost at a busy and crowded outdoor market in South Korea, and her birth family has been searching for her ever since. Then a year ago McCarty, who has lived in Vermont since being adopted by an American family in 1976, took a DNA test and discovered her family. After a very emotional virtual reunion last year, McCarty traveled to South Korea in September to meet her birth family in person.
… On her trip she met her mom, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and in-laws. McCarty says during her 12-day visit, she and her family feasted during a traditional Korean holiday, laughed and joked around, and celebrated her birthday — which she celebrated with her twin.
… The best gift: McCarty says she’s thankful her mother finally got the peace of mind she has been searching for for four decades. McCarty plans to visit her Korean family once a year.
Watch the update of this story here: Vermont woman reunites with birth family 44 years after going missing (wcax.com)