{"id":4090,"date":"2025-02-14T13:53:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T02:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=4090"},"modified":"2025-07-09T09:37:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T23:37:28","slug":"stephen-finds-family-he-never-knew-he-had","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/stephen-finds-family-he-never-knew-he-had\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen finds family he never knew he had"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n \r\n

Stephen has spent much of his life living with a lie, a lie no person should have to endure.<\/p>\n

His is a story of separation, uncertainty, grief, loneliness \u2026 but ultimately one of joy.<\/p>\n

Stephen\u2019s story took a turn for the worst when, in the early 1970s, his parents separated and he and his three siblings were placed into a children\u2019s home. At first, the four children remained together, but eventually Stephen was removed and placed into the state disability system. He would not see his family again for more than 40 years.<\/p>\n

Indeed, for much of that time he did not even know he had a family, having been raised to believe he was an orphan. Stephen\u2019s sister Lisa also had a traumatic upbringing and said she spent most of her adult life believing Stephen was dead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe tried for years to track him down, but didn\u2019t hear anything, so you just assume the worst,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d given up all hope of ever seeing him again.\u201d<\/p>\n

But that all changed in late 2022 when State Trustee, who manage Stephen\u2019s affairs, reached out to the family and told them Stephen was alive and well and being supported by Melba.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw the letter, I went into shock,\u201d Lisa said.<\/p>\n

Initially, she thought the letter was to confirm that Stephen had died. But as she kept reading, shock turned to disbelief, which set off a train of emotions.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven reading it, I couldn\u2019t believe it,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cI had to read the letter several times. It\u2019s hard to explain what goes through your head, but I was just so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

I just broke down in tears, thinking about all those years of wondering if he was even still alive<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Planning commenced and a date was set for Stephen to meet his mother and sister and, late last year, the three were finally reunited.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing him again, I couldn\u2019t believe it,\u201d Lisa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I was sitting right next to him, holding his hand, it still didn\u2019t feel real. I just broke down in tears, thinking about all those years of wondering if he was even still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

What also gave Lisa and her mother comfort was knowing Stephen was being well cared for.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people at Melba are amazing,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cThey treat Stephen like family, you can see how much they care for him. Mum and I wouldn\u2019t have been able to look after him as well as Melba has.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lisa said reuniting with Stephen had given herself and her mother a sense of peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mum was in shock at first,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was overwhelming to reunite with a child you thought you\u2019d lost forever. But now, knowing he\u2019s safe and cared for, she\u2019s at peace. She keeps pictures of Stephen by her bed and looks at them every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the years of separation can never be reclaimed, Lisa and her mother are now focused on the present. She visits Stephen as often as she can, despite the challenges of shift work and distance, and Stephen\u2019s support workers regularly send photos and updates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a relief to know where he is,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cAnd that after all these years, we\u2019re together again.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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