A Wadsworth woman was reunited with a son she put up for adoption33 years ago.

Beacon Journal partner News 5 Cleveland reports that the woman found her son through 23andMe, a DNA genetic testing service.

Melanie Pressley told News 5 that she was 18 when she was pregnant with her first son. She knew she couldn't take care of him financially, and she wanted him to have a mom and dad, so she put him up for adoption through an agency in Akron.

She gave birth to him in 1988, which was the last time she saw her son.

News 5 reports that her son, Greg Vossler, was adopted by a family in Stow. At age 7, he and his family moved to Winchester, Virginia.

Pressley had gone on to become happily married and had more children, but she always wondered about her son, she told News 5. Eventually, Vossler also wanted to know more about his biological parents.

He took a 23andMe test in 2019. She took one in May 2021, and the tests matched them together.

Instantly sent a message, and my first message wasI believe we're related, said Pressley. The next message wasI believe I am your birth mother. And from there it just blew up.

One of the very first questions I asked him, which was big for me, was, Are you happy? And he came back that he was oh, my gosh that he's married, he has two boys. I mean, it was just like spilling everything, Pressley said.

In June, the two met in Wadsworth and saw each other for the first time in 33 years.

Vossler told News 5 thathe and Pressley talked for four hours straight that first day. He also met 17 members of his new extended family.

Everyone's emotional, everyone's shaking hands or hugging. And, you know, Hey, I'm your half-brother, your half-sister. And her oldest sister, who was instrumental in allowing Melanie to have that first picture, came up and grabbed my face. The first time in 33 years that she's seen me, Vossler said.

It's an amazing feeling. And it just goes to show that there's always room for families to grow and always room for more love within each other, Vossler said.

The two are continuing to nurture their new relationship, News 5 said, with Pressley planning to visit Vossler in Virginia soon.

Read more about the story from News 5 Cleveland here.

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Wadsworth woman reunited with son she put up for adoption after 33 years - Akron Beacon Journal

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