Long lost sisters find each other at writing class
Two long lost sisters have been united in the US, after signing up for the same writing class.
Lizzie Valverde, 35, and Katy Olson, 34, met in a class at New York's Columbia University back in January 2013.
While the pair, who were both given up for adoption, were strangers when they met, they quickly discovered that they were in fact sisters.
CBS News reports that Valverde was telling the story of her life during an introduction exercise during first class, while Olson was across the table listening.
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“A few of the details that she said matched up with things that I knew about her from doing my homework, and I had started looking for her family online,” Olson said.
Valverde noticed that something was wrong with Olson and thought she was having a panic attack.
It was at that point that Olson said: “I think you’re my sister.”
Olson then asked Valverde more detailed personal questions, including if she had been given up for adoption in Tampa, Florida.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’” Valverde told CBS News. “The room just kind of froze, and I said, ‘Is this real life?”
After their mother Leslie Parker gave them up for adoption, Olson grew up mostly in Florida and Iowa, while Valverde lived in New Jersey. Both women moved to New York as adults and enrolled in Columbia’s School of General Studies.
When they were attending the school, Valverde thought her sister was dead, while Olson was looking for her missing sister.
After their initial meeting the pair spent hours asking each other questions and trying to make up for lost time.
"We went straight to the bar," Olson told ABC News. "And we just ordered pitchers of beer and just started going back and forth with our lives and biographical details... Like, do you like chicken wings? I like chicken wings. Do you have a weird pinkie toe? I have a weird pinkie toe."
Ms Parker who described the reunion of her daughters as a miracle, said she gave her daughters up to give them a better life.
“I wanted to give them the best possible future they could have, and it wouldn’t have been with me. “
The trio will all come together this week for the very time, when Valverde graduates with a degree in creative writing.
News break - May 18
