We started our day on the beach just north of Kapaa this morning.. The weather is overcast with a bit of rain thrown in here and there and temps about mid 70’s.. very pleasant really..
Before we actually got to the beach we shopped a bit at the little outdoor market at the north end of town. We bought a shirt and a cute little cover up type dress. Been wanting to stop there for about a week.. yipee got to stop, now the day on the beach is welcomed.
Ev did some boogie boarding in the surf, while I watched and took so pics.. Then Ev talked me into coming in.. There was a strong under current and it scared me so I got out.. No more going in the surf for me.. scared me to death! We will have to find a less “wavy” beach next time.. After the beach we got back to condo and cleaned up and headed to Poipu for happy hour drinks and pupu’s at TomKats..Very good, by the way.. we recommend TomKats in Poipu/Koloa.
After having our “dinner” we decided to walk the “boardwalk” out front.. We stopped and talked with a few different people when we came upon Jeff & Brenda..
Simply delightful couple from the Fresno area of California, farmers there. Jeff & Brenda age about early 50’s nicest people you would ever want to meet!! We started talking and they started sharing the story of their life for the past couple of years. A series of events that would change the course of their lives forever!
Jeff & Brenda married about 30 plus years ago with two grown daughters. Brenda was adopted as a baby and new this her whole life. She had such a wonderful adopted Mom & Dad and really never felt the need to pursue her birth mother..
I will try and make this incredible journey a short story. Jeff said we should sit down over a cocktail while they shared and absolutely heart warming thrilling story! I will keep this as short as I can, I just hope that I don’t skim over details that were so important..
Brenda was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago or so. Jeff & Brenda’s daughters both had planned big weddings already in process and her adopted Mom died two days after the first daughter’s marriage. In the meantime a friend of Brenda’s went to work for an agency that worked with adopted children. A little light comes on in both Jeff & Brenda and they asked the friend to see if she could find out Brenda’s birth Mom? Brenda probably wouldn’t have to know at this point in her life, but due to the breast cancer she needed to know if this kind cancer ran in the family. Jeff mainly pursued the search at first. To both of their astonishment they found the birth mother and she was located less than 8 hours away!! However when the contact person Jeff knew contacted her she didn’t want to be bothered.. However at this time the birth Mother had just been robbed and her identity had been stolen, so thinking that this was probably part of the crime, dismissed the call thinking Brenda & Jeff were not whom they said they were..
I think that Jeff actually was heading up this effort with out the knowledge of Brenda afraid of the rejection, making life even more difficult at this point. In the meantime Jeff (Brenda’s husband) pursued other avenues. He found Brenda’s brother via FB.. found pictures of family, etc and did share photos of the family.. after sometime (not exactly sure of the time line).. After sometime had pasted Jeff sent the brother and his wife a message through FB etc.. no contact even then.. Eventually Jeff wrote another note and this time, the brother wrote back and then Jeff and the brother spoke on the phone and verified each others identity and adoption. Brenda’ was so excited to know she had a blood brother!! and she had nieces that looked so much like even her own daughters!! And best of all Brenda’s brother went and talked to “Mom”.. It wasn’t long before really they were all one happy family! There was much much more, but mainly I just wanted to tell the story.. It took many months and the biggest worry was rejection..And there was, Jeff saved Brenda some of the disappointment (great husband!).. and Well? It has all worked out wonderfully! Brenda has finished her chemo and radiation and she is now cancer free!! YIPEEEEE!!
Her birth Mother was able to attend her “granddaughters” wedding. Brenda’s adopted family all welcomed her birthmother with hugs into their family. And Brenda’s birth Mom’s side of the family had no history of breast cancer.. How wonderful a horrible disease could bring a family together!
We enjoyed this story so much I need to share it.. Unfortunately I couldn’t relay to you the feelings and tears that went with this heart wrenching story.. I hope you can read between the lines..
I hope we have made some life long friends in Jeff & Brenda! If not it was such a pleasure to meet such an uplifting loving couple and want to thank them for sharing such an important life changing experience with us! We want to wish all of them an extra wonderful fulfilling life! God Bless you and give you much health and happiness!! Loved meeting you both! You two are awesome!!!
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