María Verónica Soto, a 64-year-old Hualpén, Chilean woman, recently found her lost twins. After being separated for 45 long years, this incredibly emotional reunion left everyone’s hearts beaming. On September 10, in Concepción, María Verónica had a very moving meeting. She held her now 46-year-old daughters for the first time since they were stolen from her as babies during a grim period of Chile’s rule.
In 1979, María Verónica gave birth to Maria Beatrice and Adelia Rose Mereu Chessa when she was just 19 years old. Tragically, the twins were ripped away from her when they were just eight months old. An Italian couple eventually adopted the twins, but their birth certificates were faked. This amendment asserted that no parent had stepped up to enroll them, severing their ties to their birth mother and hiding their history.
A Journey of Hope
By 2020, María Verónica had reached a point of unshakeable optimism in her search for her daughters. She contacted “Nos Buscamos,” a Chilean NGO that fights day and night to reunite families torn apart during the Pinochet dictatorship. This family-run organization without a doubt saves innumerable mothers. They are still looking for their children, who were kidnapped and sold into adoption during that time.
To support her search, María Verónica sent her DNA sample to a DNA bank based in the U.S. This bank is operated by My Heritage. Though seemingly simple, this step was key for her. It further enabled her to bond with her daughters, who’d grown up knowing they were adopted, but had no recollection of their biological mom.
Even with all the years that had passed, María Verónica never gave up hope. “I always believed I would see them again,” she shared before the reunion. Her relentless spirit and the backing of groups like her own “Nos Buscamos” made possible this groundbreaking first step after decades of delay.
The Reunion
When Maria Beatrice and Adelia Rose landed in Chile, it was a charged atmosphere. Family friends and supporters came into the arena waiting excitedly for the emotional reunion. When the twins entered the room, María Verónica’s eyes brimmed with tears of happiness. It was the result of decades—over a hundred years—of waiting, wishing, and dreaming.
The emotional homecoming marked a personal milestone for María Verónica and her daughters. Beyond the individual story, it brought into focus the collective anguish of mothers and losas that endured through Chile’s violent history.
“So many emotions and very, very happy because we finally found our mother … we want to be with her, with the family, all the brothers, all the uncles, all the cousins, everybody!”
María Verónica’s story is a powerful reminder about a tragic reality in Chile. Under the Pinochet dictatorship, thousands of infants were kidnapped from their biological parents. Taken together, these actions formed a clear strategy to dehumanize and weaponize families to achieve political ends.
Reflecting on Painful History
Reflecting on societal changes since then, María Verónica remarked, “They listen to women now. Back then, they didn’t listen to women. They didn’t listen to mothers. We women could not speak up in those years like we can now.” Her words ring true for so many who suffered like she did and for years have demanded accountability and acknowledgment of their suffering.
We wish María Verónica the best in this new phase of her life with her daughters. She acknowledges the wounds that their separation has caused. Still, she is thankful for the chance to reconnect so many years later. Her story serves as a flashback to history. It has served to illuminate efforts currently underway to bring hope to other families still searching for their missing loved ones.
As María Verónica embraces this new chapter in her life with her daughters, she acknowledges the scars left by their separation. Yet, she remains grateful for the opportunity to reunite after all these years. Her story serves as both a reminder of the past and a beacon of hope for others still seeking their loved ones.
