These co- workers never knew that they are mom and son!
On Thanksgiving Day of 2001, 15-year-old Holly Shearer made the difficult decision to put her baby boy up for adoption. She gave him the life he deserved and made a childless couple’s dream come true. But her heart never forgot her firstborn. Every year, she’d wish him a happy birthday. And last year, she decided to send that wish to him on Facebook—and his reply led to a Thanksgiving Day to remember!
“Good evening,” 20-year-old Benjamin Hulleburg greeted visitors, staff and volunteers as he crossed the St. Mark’s Hospital lobby. For the past two years, the Salt Lake City machine operator had felt called to volunteer in the NICU, running errands, making phone calls and sometimes cuddling a tiny patient—his favorite part of the job. It’s like comforting a little part of myself, he thought.
Benjamin had spent the first three days of his life in a NICU with jaundice and breathing problems. Then, on Thanksgiving morning of 2001, his birth mother, Holly Shearer, only 15 at the time, placed him in the arms of his new mom and dad, Angela and Brian Hulleburg. But as Holly gave thanks that her baby boy would have the life she couldn’t give him, the heartbroken teen prayed that one day they would meet again.
A life- changing message
Benjamin had always known his birth mom had made the difficult sacrifice to ensure he grew up happy and safe. And he had a great life. Still, sometimes he’d wonder, leafing through his mother Angela’s scrapbooks full of the pictures of him and copies of the letters she’d sent through the adoption agency to Holly every week for the first three years of his life (after which time, as agreed upon, the adoption became closed).
Holly cherished those photos and letters, and many times over the years, she’d gaze longingly at them. Benjamin’s birthday and Thanksgiving were especially
tough for Holly. “I just want to know he’s doing okay,” she’d tell her husband, Chris, and on her son’s 16th birthday, she typed the only information she had—his birth date and his first and middle name—into a Google search box.
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed when Benjamin’s photo popped up on Facebook. But she couldn’t bring herself to reach out. What right do I have to impose on his life now? she thought. Plus, would he even want to hear from me?
But with every passing year, the yearning grew, and on Benjamin’s 20th birthday,
Holly sent him a message.
Thanksgiving reunion
Benjamin was scrolling through his birthday wishes on Facebook when he discovered a
Have a great day! message from a name he couldn’t place. Sorry, can you tell me who you are? he typed.
Holly’s heart nearly stopped. Tears flowing, she replied, I’m the woman who gave birth to you. I think about you every day.
Benjamin clutched his phone, his own tears streaming. I’ve wanted to meet you so much for so long, he replied. They couldn’t wait to meet, and learning they lived near each other, arranged to get their families together for dinner the following night.
Holly and Benjamin immediately fell into each other’s arms. “You’re everything I dreamed you would be,” Holly sobbed, and then she hugged Angela. “How can I ever thank you for all you’ve done?”
“I’m the one who should thank you,” Angela insisted. “You gave a childless couple the most precious gift imaginable.”
Conversation flowed for hours as the families got to know each other. At one point, Holly shared she worked as a cardiac assistant at St. Mark’s Hospital in Millcreek.
“That’s where you volunteer!” Angela turned to Benjamin. “You told me you felt called to work at that particular hospital.”
“Me too,” said Holly. “I wonder how many times we’ve crossed paths.”
“It looks like we were fated to meet,” Benjamin smiled contentedly. Last Thanksgiving, the Hulleburgs and Shearers had something extra to be thankful for, and this holiday season, the family bonds are even tighter.
“Reconnecting with my roots has given me a new confidence,” says Benjamin. “Now I have two moms and dads and two more sibs to support and cheer me on.”
“After all these years I get to be a part of Benjamin’s life,” Holly celebrates. “My heart finally feels whole again!”
“I wonder how many times we’ve crossed paths…it’s like we were fated to meet”