Greek Adoptee Reunites with Sister and 93-Year-Old Mother After a Lifetime Apart

Imagine spending 64 years knowing nothing about your biological mother… and then discovering not only who she is, but that she’s still alive, and that she has missed you every single day.

Effie Kaster Myrick had the extraordinary experience of meeting and embracing her 93-year-old birth mother — and a sister she never knew existed — thanks to the collaboration between MyHeritage and The Eftychia Project, an NGO dedicated to helping Greek adoptees reconnect with their origins.

Adopted and raised as ‘twin cousins’

Born in Greece in 1960, Effie was adopted at two years of age along with her twin sister, Dina. However, due to laws that restricted families from adopting more than one child, they were not raised in the same household. Effie’s adoptive father told her that he and his wife loved both Effie and Dina from the first moment and wanted to adopt them both, but because the law wouldn’t allow it, his sister adopted Dina and they raised the girls as “twin cousins.” They spent every Sunday and holiday together.

“We were raised close, but in separate families, and I knew I was in a loving home,” Effie says. “Looking back, maybe it wasn’t the best idea to separate us, but we both had good childhoods.” Sadly, Dina passed away from a heart condition a decade ago.

Throughout her life, Effie had felt a pull to learn more about her biological family but often set the thoughts aside to protect her adoptive family’s feelings. “I always had this desire to find out where I came from and who my biological parents were, to understand why I was put up for adoption,” Effie shares. “But for many years, I hesitated, worried about rejection or that I’d find someone who didn’t want a connection with me.” In her early twenties, she had briefly considered searching for her birth parents, but when she shared this with her adoptive father, she sensed his sadness. He had asked her, “Didn’t we give you a good life?” and Effie, hearing the pain in his voice, decided to wait.

But after losing both her adoptive parents and her twin sister, Effie felt the time had come. Encouraged by a friend, Charlene, she reached out to The Eftychia Project. Effie was introduced to Linda Carol Trotter, president of the organization, who suggested she try a DNA test with MyHeritage to help locate potential family members. “I thought, let’s do it. I have nothing to lose,” Effie recalls. We were happy to provide her with a DNA kit, and she eagerly waited for the results.

‘She always held me in her heart’

When they came in, Effie was floored: she had a match to a half-sister named Jolanda who lived in Switzerland. She tried reaching out to Jolanda through MyHeritage’s messaging system, but received no response. Linda reached out to our Research team to ask for our help, and they worked tirelessly to track her down and make contact with her. After several months, they finally succeeded in reaching her and putting the sisters in touch.

Effie’s sister Jolanda

Jolanda was just as surprised as Effie by the discovery. Hesitant to confront her mother directly, she reached out to her aunt — her mother’s sister — to learn more. She learned that their mother had placed the twins for adoption due to overwhelming societal pressure and financial constraints as an unmarried woman in 1960s Greece.

As incredible as it was to learn that she had another sister, Effie was astounded when Jolanda revealed to her that their mother was still alive.

“I was in complete shock when I found out,” Effie says. “I started shaking, and I knew I had to go and meet her.”

For Effie, it was both emotional and affirming to understand the difficult decision her mother had made out of love. In a message relayed through Jolanda, her mother expressed, “There was not a day that went by that I didn’t think about you. I didn’t want to give you up, and I didn’t stop dreaming about meeting you.” Effie says that these words “filled a void that had been with me for years, knowing she had always held me in her heart.”

‘The most happy and moving moment’

Effie and her husband had been wanting to travel to Greece for nearly 30 years, but there had always been a reason to put it off. “Now we knew there was no better time.” So they finally embarked on the long-awaited journey. Jolanda had traveled to Greece to care for their mother, and when Effie arrived, Jolanda greeted her at the door and simply said, “Mom is here.”

Walking into the room, Effie was overwhelmed by the sight of her mother. “I saw my 93-year-old mother for the first time. I cried, my mother cried, my sister cried, and my husband cried,” Effie recounts. “It was a joyful and emotional group cry, the most happy and moving moment.” This reunion, though joyful, was also filled with bittersweet emotions, as Effie’s mother — also named Dina — learned of her daughter Dina’s passing.

Effie with her birth mother

For Effie, this reunion was the culmination of years of questions, finally bringing closure and a sense of peace she had longed for. She expressed her deep gratitude to MyHeritage and The Eftychia Project: “I can’t explain in words how excited and happy I am about this. Thanks to MyHeritage and The Eftychia Project, I have closed a circle, and I’m so grateful.”

Jolanda, Effie, and their mother

This Christmas, the sisters both unwittingly sent each other the same holiday gift: a photo album, and both received the albums at the same time! Effie was amazed by the “telepathic” connection that led them to select the same gift for each other halfway across the world.

Effie and Jolanda

Effie’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that DNA testing and organizations like The Eftychia Project can have for adoptees seeking answers. With their support, Effie was able to reconnect with her roots and discover the family and heritage that had always been a part of her life. Her reunion is an inspiring example of how, with patience, courage, and the right support, family circles can close in ways that bring both healing and joy.

Learn more about the Eftychia Project on their website: https://www.theeftychiaproject.org/