A tearful reunion, 38 years in the making, took place Saturday at Comox Valley Airport.

Courtenay resident Michelle Alksne met her biological mother, Debbie Touet, for the first time Saturday. With Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 loved ones on hand, holding signs that said 香蕉视频直播淵ou Found Me香蕉视频直播� and a balloon saying, 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a girl,香蕉视频直播� they waited in anticipation, and when Michelle saw her mom approaching the terminal, she jumped up and down and ran for an embrace. Mother and daughter hugged for several minutes, before Michelle starting pointing out who was who to her mom.

Debbie flew in from Barrhead, Alta. for the meeting.

Michelle was born in Mission. She and her adoptive parents, Steve and Wendy, moved to Vancouver Island in 1991, when Michelle was 10.

She found out she was adopted five years later, and has been searching for her biological parents ever since - including some time back on the mainland.

香蕉视频直播淚 actually spent an entire year, driving from Surrey to Mission every day, trying to find clues,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Little did she know that her biological parents were doing the same.

Though their intimate relationship ended shortly after Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 birth, Debbie and Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 biological father, Sean Ferguson, have maintained a connection all this time, in hopes of someday meeting their child.

香蕉视频直播淪he (Debbie) told me they never stopped looking for me,香蕉视频直播� Michelle said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat means the world to me.香蕉视频直播�

One of the challenges was that Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 birth name was Kelly-Anne. Her adoptive parents named her Michelle.

For Debbie, if it was a short flight from Alberta, Saturday香蕉视频直播檚 meeting marked the end of a much longer journey. She remembers the day she gave birth vividly, saying the nurses differed on whether she should even hold the baby.

香蕉视频直播淕ive the mom a second to even hold the child, give her a first kiss,香蕉视频直播� Debbie said.

In the end, she didn香蕉视频直播檛 get the chance. She and her mother even went back to the hospital a few days later, but her baby was gone. What followed were some difficult choices, as she moved into the city to spare her family. Along the way, there was misinformation and deception from social services people, as she had been told things, like being able to get a photo of the child at age 19, then was not allowed to, or having the records released. She waited in anticipation for the baby香蕉视频直播檚 19th birthday but was given no information.

香蕉视频直播淭hey didn香蕉视频直播檛 give me anything after she was 19,香蕉视频直播� Debbie said. 香蕉视频直播淚 always stayed positive. I knew I would find her.香蕉视频直播�

The name changes and everything else only made the search harder. Social media, though, helped her track down her biological daughter.

香蕉视频直播淚 was extremely nervous because after 38 years, you don香蕉视频直播檛 know if you香蕉视频直播檙e going to get rejected,香蕉视频直播� Debbie said.

Debbie reached out to Michelle香蕉视频直播檚 partner, Dave Goodall, on Facebook, July 10.

香蕉视频直播淒ave didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what to think at first香蕉视频直播� some random woman claiming to be my mom, contacts him out of the blue,香蕉视频直播� said Michelle. 香蕉视频直播淭his is so surreal. This is 香蕉视频直播� years of wondering if she is alive, who she is, what she looks like, all these different things.香蕉视频直播�

Michelle said an important part of the reconnection is learning about her medical background.

香蕉视频直播淚 have been through a lot of medical issues. So for me to find out a lot of that medical background is wonderful, because now I know who I get if from and why I have these issues.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a big puzzle piece that was missing. I feel complete now.香蕉视频直播�

Sean, who now lives in Edmonton, did not make the trip to Courtenay, but they have already been in contact. Michelle found Sean on Facebook and the two met through a FaceTime visit.

香蕉视频直播淭he weird thing is my dad lived in Union Bay for about six years,香蕉视频直播� said Michelle. 香蕉视频直播淭his is a pretty small community, so chances are good that we香蕉视频直播檇 met before.香蕉视频直播�

Michelle has four step-sisters from Debbie香蕉视频直播檚 side and two brothers from Sean香蕉视频直播檚 side.

香蕉视频直播淭hen there香蕉视频直播檚 my adoptive brother, here, so I have seven siblings,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Debbie will be visiting until Aug. 28.

(With files from Mike Chouinard)