For 20 minutes, two strangers stood in silence, both knowing they shared an extraordinary connection but unsure how to proceed—whether to speak or embrace. Finally, one took the first step, bridging the gap of 44 years with a single hug.
A mother’s love is selfless and unwavering, but sometimes, circumstances can tear that bond apart. Some children grow up never knowing the warmth of that love, left to wonder how life might have been different.
This is the story of a mother and son, separated for decades, neither aware of the twists fate had in store. But in a turn of events worthy of a novel or film, they were brought back together in the most unexpected way.
Losing Her Infant Son
When Reda Mahmoud gave birth to her son, she was filled with joy and eager to raise him. But just two weeks later, her baby fell gravely ill and was taken to the hospital. As she anxiously awaited news, her husband delivered the devastating blow: their son had died.
This tragedy coincided with the breakdown of Reda’s marriage. After her divorce, she returned to Egypt, carrying the unbearable grief of her lost child.
Living with an Empty Space
Years passed, but Reda never forgot her son, keeping his memory alive in her heart. Meanwhile, her son, Wissam Mohamed, grew up in Jordan, unaware of his mother’s love and searching for answers about the woman who had given him life. He knew only her name from his birth records and had a faint memory of her home in Cairo.
Determined to find her, Wissam made several trips to Egypt, but each attempt failed. The house where Reda once lived had been destroyed in a 1992 earthquake. In 2018, he discovered there was no death certificate for her, sparking hope but providing only a small lead.
A Sudden Turn of Events
In late 2022, a Jordanian aunt of Wissam’s posted old photos of Reda on social media. The images caught the attention of “Missing Children,” an Egyptian group dedicated to reuniting families. Within 24 hours, in early December 2022, the group’s administrator located Reda.
The next day, Wissam flew to Cairo, setting the stage for a reunion that had been 44 years in the making.
A Reunion Decades in the Making
Rami el-Gebali, founder of the “Missing Children” group, was present for the emotional meeting at the airport. For 20 minutes, Wissam and Reda stood frozen, unsure of how to react to the moment they had both waited for.
Wissam finally stepped forward, gently taking his mother’s hand and kissing it. Reda, overwhelmed, melted into his embrace. “You thought I was dead?” Wissam asked. “They told me you were,” she responded. Wissam, filled with emotion, explained that he had been searching for her for 20 years.
The Truth Behind the Lie
During their reunion, Reda learned the heartbreaking truth—her husband had lied about their son’s death to keep him after their divorce. “He was afraid she would take me away,” Wissam revealed.
For 44 years, Reda believed her son had died in the hospital, unaware he had been living with his father all along. Although they lost so much time, their reunion was nothing short of a miracle. For Rami, who had reunited many families over the years, this moment was particularly profound.