David Pagnotta: Reuniting with My Mother and Father in Colombia, Thanks to a Chain of Hearts

Before leaving for Colombia, I was filled with doubt, fear, but above all, an overwhelming desire to know.

Why had I been separated from my biological family? Why had this emptiness always been there?

But I was not alone.

Oscar Ruiz, whom I consider my brother, helped me. He knew people in Colombia, and his aunt lived in Yopal, in the department of Casanare, not far from where my family had once lived.

This aunt was a true angel on my path. She knew the region, the people, the stories, the voices. And thanks to her, something incredible happened: She contacted the local radio station in Casanare. She told them about a young boy who had come from far away, searching for his mother and father.

And the radio broadcast my story. A simple message, yet full of hope:

"A boy is looking for his biological parents. He wants to find his mother and father."

And this message traveled across the airwaves, the mountains, the villages.

And it reached my mother. She heard it. And she wanted to see me. My father too.

The first meeting – My mother. In a church.

When I arrived in Colombia, my heart was beating faster than ever. The first meeting was planned with my mother. I had believed she was dead. I had grown up with this idea.

And now, we were going to see each other. For the first time.

And it didn't happen just anywhere. It was in a church.

A place of peace. Silence. Faith. A sacred place.

And there I saw my mother alive for the first time in my life.

I can not describe this moment with ordinary words. It was bigger than me.

I was trembling. I was frozen. My heart was exploding in my chest.

She looked at me. I looked at her.

And for a few seconds, nothing else existed around us. Just her. Just me.

I was filled with joy, surprise, anger, release, tears. But above all… I was finally whole.

Then I reunited with my father. With my father, it was a different emotion.

Because I had lived with him a little in the past. He wasn't a total stranger, but we had been separated. And this meeting, though less shocking than the one with my mother, was also very powerful.

He saw me, and in his eyes, I saw the past, regret, tenderness, and silence too.

But he was there. And I was there. And it was real.

A chain of human beings, a miracle of reunion

None of this would have been possible without those who reached out to me:

• My friend, Oscar Ruiz, my hearted brother, who supported me tirelessly.
• His aunt in Yopal, who believed in my story.
• The local radio station, which gave a voice to my call.
• And finally, my mother and father, who answered that call.

What I experienced was more than a journey. It was a rebirth. An inner healing.

And above all, a proof that love can cross borders, time, and silence.

David's story is just one example. Together, we can write many more stories. Casa Alta will be a place of connection and healing, made possible thanks to you.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your attention, your trust, and your support.