Woman's Journey to Find Birth Parents Leads to Unexpected Facebook Discovery

After a difficult search, Tamuna Museridze discovered that her biological father was a Facebook friend she had unknowingly connected with years earlier. Her journey not only revealed her family ties but also shed light on the baby trafficking crisis in Georgia.

Tamuna Museridze had longed for the day she would find her birth parents, a journey that took eight years to unfold. After her adoptive mother passed away, she uncovered a birth certificate that hinted at her adoption, prompting a deep desire to understand her origins. With both excitement and trepidation, Tamuna made the call to the woman she believed to be her biological mother, only to be met with hostility and denial. “She started screaming, shouting - she said she hadn’t given birth to a child,” Tamuna shared, recalling her shock.

Her determination to learn the truth about her adoption fueled her efforts, leading her to establish a Facebook group called Vedzeb, or "I’m Searching," which aimed to connect with others in similar situations. As she embarked on this quest, Tamuna stumbled upon an alarming case of baby trafficking in Georgia—an issue that has affected countless families for decades. Parents were misled into believing their children had died, while the infants were sold under the radar.

Tamuna herself is a journalist and had successfully reunited numerous families through her work, yet the mystery surrounding her own identity remained unsolved. “I was a journalist on this story, but it was a personal mission for me as well,” she noted.

A major breakthrough occurred when a message arrived through her Facebook group from a rural Georgian resident. This person mentioned a woman who had secretly given birth in September 1984, the time of Tamuna's birth, and provided her name. Intrigued and hopeful, Tamuna searched for this woman online, but when this led to a dead end, she posted a public appeal.

Soon after, a woman responded, claiming the individual who concealed her pregnancy was her aunt. Tamuna agreed to a DNA test, which revealed that she was actually cousins with this woman. Armed with this information, and despite her mother’s initial resistance, Tamuna soon learned the identity of her father through persistent dialogue.

Her father, Gurgen Khorava, was not only reachable but had also been a follower of her journey on social media for years, blissfully unaware of their connection. After making contact, the two arranged to meet in Zugdidi, where Tamuna found both excitement and anxiety as she approached her father’s home. Personal feelings overwhelmed her as they embraced, realizing an emotional reunion was at hand.

Their meeting turned into a warm family gathering, revealing shared interests and connections, including Tamuna's daughters who inherited Gurgen's love of dancing. Yet, Tamuna feared she might be part of the baby trafficking scandal she had investigated. To resolve her lingering uncertainty, she sought a private conversation with her birth mother, facilitated by a Polish documentary team.

In a painful revelation, Tamuna learned that unlike thousands of others, she had not been stolen. Instead, her birth mother, overwhelmed with shame from a brief encounter with Gurgen, had made the difficult decision to give her up, leading to Tamuna's adoption. Despite the hurtful truths uncovered during this journey, Tamuna expressed gratitude for the discovery of her family and connections.

Looking forward, she emphasized the importance of honesty regarding child adoptions, stating that to lie would dismiss the reality faced by many families. Although her relationship with her mother remains strained after their revelations, Tamuna is resolved to forge ahead with newfound family bonds and understanding.

Returning to her life enriched by these discoveries, her story resonates with many who have shared similar parental searches fueled by hope, resilience, and the pursuit of identity.