Teen reunites with biological family in Guatemala after 16 years

By Barney Riley via SWNS

A teenager who submitted his DNA to 23andMe was reunited with his biological family in Guatemala.

Luke Thompson, 16, was put up for adoption as a baby in 2007 by his biological mom who wanted a better life for him.

He was adopted when he was 10 months old by an American family and brought up in Los Angeles, Calif.

Since they brought him home, Luke's adoptive parents, Elizabeth and Kirk Thompson, had always wanted him to reunite with his birth mother.

At the end of last year, Luke took a 23andMe test to gain insight into his genetics and find out about his biological family.

Within 48 hours, Luke was able to find his birth mom and seven siblings.

Luke's sister Larsen Thompson, 22, documented the emotional moment Luke was reunited with his mother and siblings.

Larsen said: "It was a very emotional moment for everyone but I can remember vividly the moment of Luke and his birth mother embracing.

"They hugged for about five minutes as they cried and looked in each other’s eyes.

"It was an overwhelming moment filled with joy, healing, pain and disbelief.

"It gave the two of them an opportunity to share what had been on their hearts the last 16 years."

Luke was taken to an orphanage in Guatemala when he was just two days old after his mother couldn't afford to keep him.

He was adopted when he was 10 months old and spent the greater part of his life in Los Angeles with his adoptive family.

He lives with his mom Elizabeth, dad Kirk and siblings Larsen and Cole.

Larsen said: "My little brother Luke was given up to an orphanage at two days old because his birth mother was not in a good financial position to care for him properly.

"She was only 23 years of age, single and only making $200 a month.

"There was little support from family so she decided to give him up for adoption to provide him the opportunity for a better life."

The family had always wanted to reunite Luke with his biological family so when the results came back, they decided to organize a trip.

Luke was able to make contact with his biological family through an organization called Fundamaya.

Larsen said: "From there we briefly started communicating with her through a third-party sending picture back and forth and then asked her if she’d be willing to meet Luke.

"She was overjoyed at the idea and from that moment we started planning our trip alongside an organization called Fundamaya.

"They were instrumental in communicating and planning our visit as well as providing ongoing social services to support Luke’s birth family."

The Thompsons spent six days in the Central American country, four of them with Luke's biological family in a remote Mayan village three hours away from Panajachel.

Larsen said: "My family and I were honored that we were able to witness such a beautiful reunion.

"We were emotionally moved by this experience and overjoyed knowing that our families had now become one!"

Luke and his adoptive family will visit Guatemala again and continue to have frequent contact with his biological family.

Larsen added: "This is just the beginning for Luke and his journey in Guatemala.

"We plan on visiting them often and communicating daily through WhatsApp.

"[The charity] Fundamaya will be helping us to ensure Luke’s birth family is getting all the necessary services like continued education for his siblings and other essential needs.

"Luke is in the process of creating a non-profit organization that will provide access to arts and music for the youth.

"I’m so grateful Luke had this opportunity to be reunited with his birth family and put together any missing pieces to the puzzle in his heart.

"Our family has now grown, and we look forward to creating many more memories together."