A mother and daughter had a moving reunion after having been separated for almost 50 years! Born in St. Louis, Missouri in November 1965, Melanie Gilmore had all but given up on finding her biological mother. Gilmore used to think mom, Zella Jackson Price did not want her after she was born. Meanwhile, Price came to believe for more than four decades that her daughter was dead, as reported in Oregonlive.com.
Gilmore was a premature newborn that did not even weigh a pound at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. Price was informed that her baby girl died after living for only a few hours after birth that day. A couple eventually adopted Gilmore. And, now the 49-year old mom herself is a resident in Eugene, Oregon. Gilmore is a mother to four children herself. She is employed as a dishwasher and kitchen aide at a special living facility.
Gilmore found out her biological mom's name on her birth certificate. After discovering mom's name, Gilmore called some people to get a hold of her mom. However, Gilmore got bad news time and again that Price has passed away. Gilmore's 22-year old twin daughters were the sources to the long-awaited mother-daughter reunification.
In February this year, Gilmore's daughter, Mehisha, got a hold of Price on Facebook. The two kept in contact leading to Price to agree for a DNA test to prove relation to Gilmore. The results were almost 100% match, hence, proving Gilmore and Price's parental blood relation.
Jackson and Gilmore's other children announced the good news to their mother last month. The reveal was recorded in a video that racked up over 1.7 million views in Facebook. Together with her daughter and son, Gilmore traveled to St. Louis to see her long-lost mom in person, as reported in Fox2Now St. Louis. Price and Gilmore met face to face for the first time in Olivette, Missouri.
There was nothing more wonderful than having Price meet her daughter for the first time in her own home. Price marveled at the feeling of being reunited with her beloved daughter, saying, "There's nothing greater. There's nothing greater than this. Nothing."
Price is just as thankful to have a second chance in being with her daughter. She was quoted as saying, "(God) has given me everything the devil has taken from me. I'm getting it back. I'm getting my baby back."
Time magazine reported that Price planned to find out the reason why she was mistakenly told at Homer Phillips hospital that Gilmore died. Aside from Gilmore, Price had 6 other children. She is a successful gospel singer whose song, "I'm His Child" was featured in the Fox series, "Glee."
