Thirty-five years ago, Stacey Faix of Pittsburgh faced an incredibly difficult choice. At just fifteen years old, Stacey became pregnant and felt unprepared to raise a child. With a heavy heart, she made the painful decision to place her son for adoption. She never had the chance to hold him before he was taken from her, and for decades, the memory of her child remained with her, though finding him again seemed impossible due to the anonymity of adoption records.

Everything changed in November 2017 when Pennsylvania passed a new law granting adoptees the right to access the identities of their birth parents. This unexpected legal shift opened the door for Stacey’s long-lost son to search for her. Unbeknownst to Stacey, he had tracked her down and was preparing to reconnect after more than three decades apart.

The reunion came in an entirely unexpected way. In May 2018, Stacey was at the starting line of the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, ready to pursue her passion for running. Among the flurry of runners and spectators, she was handed a mysterious letter. Curiosity overcame her, and she opened it, unaware that the message inside would change her life forever.

The letter’s words left no doubt about the sender: “It’s been 13,075 days since you last saw me. I didn’t want to make you wait one more.” Stacey instantly understood the meaning. Overcome with shock and emotion, she looked up and saw her son for the very first time. They ran toward each other and shared an embrace that ended the decades-long separation in the most powerful and emotional way imaginable.

The reunion marked the end of a 35-year wait and the beginning of a new chapter in both of their lives. What started as a heartbreaking choice turned into an inspiring story of love, perseverance, and the power of changing laws to reunite families. Stacey and her son’s meeting at the marathon—where she was pursuing her passion—serves as a poignant reminder that hope can triumph even after decades of distance.