My Brother Daniel

Yesterday we had a very big event at my house. For the very first time I got to see and speak to my brother Daniel in Romania. I found out I had a brother 4 years ago. No one at the orphanage we both lived at told us that we were brother and sister. When he was 12 he moved out of the orphanage and into a wonderful foster home where he now lives with his family. Daniel is now 21.

He and I were very excited to speak to each other on SKYPE. His foster mom helped translate since he doesn't speak English and I don't speak Romanian. I felt very shy, so my mom helped me ask and answer questions. Here are the things that we have in common. We both love taking pictures. We both like working with children. We both have the same smile and same color eyes. He is supposed to wear glasses but doesn't like them. We both have curly hair.

Here is what's different. My skin and hair are darker than his. He's not a picky eater and I am. He is 5 foot 8 inches and I am 5 foot 2 inches.

We were both so glad to finally talk to each other. He said he would sleep well last night having spoken to me. We are really looking forward to the day when we can both see each in person!

Love, Daniela ( the bottom picture was take on the day he found out about me 4 years ago - he was so excited and surprised.)


From Tina -

Four years ago I asked a Romanian friend of ours to try to find out if Daniela had any siblings in Romania. We were so surprised to find out that she had a brother 1 year older than her. We had never been told about him, even when we traveled back to visit her orphanage in 2001.

Fortunately for him, he was moved into a wonderful foster home at the age of 12 (in 1999) along with a number of other children from his orphanage. He had never been to school before he moved and had lived a very difficult life. ( He told me he doesn't like to think about it.) The foster home was started by a British non-profit organization (founded by two incredible women). Daniel and the others found love and went to school for the first time with the Nedelcu family. They have a home there together for as long as they live if that is what they want. We talked yesterday about how fortunate he and Daniela both were to have found wonderful lives, especially considering the fate of many other orphanage children in Romania. He said they both were blessed and had a purpose in this life.

Daniel is an amazing young man - handsome, smart, and kind. He is a devout Christian who has many friends and loves working with younger children.He loves working at building homes.

We had actually planned a trip to meet Daniel in Romania 3 years ago. Two days before we were due to travel, my beloved 17 month old grandson was tragically diagnosed with brain tumors. Christian died 2 and a half months later and we will mourn and remember this sweet, brilliant, treasured little boy for the rest of our lives.

For so long we couldn't even begin to think about planning another trip to Romania. Now, unfortunately, the trip will have to wait for Daniela to finish her new educational venture. We have to use all our extra funds to pay for her education ( which will be quite costly). We WILL go to meet Daniel as soon as we can and also hope he gets the opportunity to visit us here.

Until then, Daniela and Daniel will continue to get to know each other via computer. I encouraged them to start sending photos to each other (which have the advantage of needing no translator!)

Daniela failed to mention one other thing that they have in common - they are both wonderful, amazing young people who have both had to handle more adversity and challenges in their lives than most people have to deal with in a lifetime. They should be so proud of themselves. They both deserve to see all their dreams for their futures fulfilled!

All the best, Tina