Two women who met as adopted teenagers in the Netherlands now discover, nearly 30 years later, that they’re actually biological sisters.
Meena Geltink (43) and Minal Tijssen (44) were both born in India and abandoned at an orphanage as children, before being adopted separately by Dutch families. Despite living a short drive apart, neither was aware they had a sister.
Their story went viral earlier this week after news agency Reuters filmed their emotional reunion, and it’s the sort of feel-good story that really warms the heart.
Two adopted kids with an instant connection
The pair first crossed paths as teenagers in 1996, at a gathering for adopted children. Though they’d never met each other before, the connection was immediate.
Even close friends were shocked by how alike the pair seemed. The two even jokingly called each other “sis” in their correspondence, long before they had any real reason to.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” Geltink tells Dutch broadcaster NOS.
Unfortunately, life then dragged the two in different directions. They each found partners, became mothers, and lost touch for 15 years. In that time, Tijssen even moved to France.
A DNA test changed everything
The truth surfaced when a small notification on Tijssen’s mobile popped up: Meena, sister.
In April of this year, Tijssen had taken a DNA test through the popular service MyHeritage, and her results now yielded a rare 100% match.
“At first, I didn’t even realise it was the Meena I knew,” she confesses to NOS. Once the shock wore off, she immediately contacted her newfound sister.
Geltink, meanwhile, had been searching MyHeritage’s database for biological relatives since 2017. Finally, she’d found her answer.
“I finally feel complete”
This week, the sisters finally reunited in Den Bosch; their first meeting in 15 years. According to Reuters, there were tears, hugs, laughter — and even their first selfie together.
Both also spoke of a loneliness that had followed them through otherwise happy childhoods.
“For years, I felt a hole in my heart,” Geltink tells Reuters. But after officially meeting her sister, “It’s like a missing puzzle piece has been found.”
Tijssen echoed the sentiment to NOS: “I have always had people around me who loved me and took good care of me, but a part of me has always felt lonely. And now this happened. Deep down, I felt that I would no longer be alone.”
This story, at least, has a happy ending.
Geltink notes that she finally feels “complete”; the sisters now spend hours a day talking and messaging.
Do you have a heartwarming family story to share? We’d love to hear it in the comments.
