For 56 years, Michael Thomas Steele has been waiting for this day.
His world was turned upside down on April 16.
He learned that he had a sister that he never knew about.
Kelly Prock sent Steele a letter from Elgin, S.C., where she resides.
Through the website, Ancestry.com, Prock found Steele’s address and stated that they were related.
She revealed various facts about him and his parents to prove that she was for real.
“Kelly couldn’t believe that she had a brother for all of this time,” Steele said. “When I got halfway through the letter, and saw my mother’s name, I started to cry. I was so overwhelmed, and I didn’t know how to contain myself. It was so amazing because they had been looking for me for a long time.”
Mary McGuire had Steele when she and his father, Harry Steele, were both 19 years old.
They were married at the time of his birth, but separated shortly afterwards.
After a car accident, McGuire spent months in the hospital.
It was then that Steele’s grandmother decided that he should live with other relatives in Wisconsin.
Eventually his father picked him up, and he lived with his father until he became an adult.
McGuire never knew about this, and expressed her anger about the subject when she learned about it.
“She was heartbroken,” Prock said in the letter. “She sent you letters and gifts for years, but they were all rejected and returned to her. She never stopped wondering where you were or loving you. We have both been trying to find you for a long time.”
McGuire eventually remarried, and gave birth to Prock.
It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that Steele spoke to his mother for the first time.
She lives in Tupper Lake, N.Y. these days, but Steele keeps in contact with her at least once a week whether it’s through phone or email.
“I just talked to my mom on Wednesday,” he said. “We were on the phone for about 15 to 20 minutes. It was mostly me just asking more questions. She’s sending me some more information about my family that should get here around Tuesday. I just feel so blessed.”