At her home in the Chilean port city of San Antonio, 64-year-old Edita Bizama expressed her relief at finally reuniting with her daughter, Adamary Garcia, who was taken from her over 40 years ago during the regime of Augusto Pinochet.

Bizama recounted how a social worker had coerced her to give up her daughter in 1984 despite her initial doubts. She recalled spending five precious days with her newborn before being forced to relinquish her and return home.

Adamary Garcia, who was adopted and grew up in Florida, now resides in Puerto Rico. Through the NGO Connecting Roots, she was able to trace her biological family in Chile and reunite with her mother and siblings.

Their emotional reunion at the airport was a culmination of years of searching and brought both tears and laughter to the family. Garcia shared her plans to delve deeper into her Chilean roots, embracing the culture, cuisine, and slang of her newfound family.

As Connecting Roots continues its efforts to reunite families separated during the dictatorship, Garcia's story serves as a testament to healing wounds from the past and building enduring relationships for the future.