When Nelly Reyes Perez was told her baby son had died from a heart condition just a few hours after he was born, her world fell apart.
But as she battled her grief, aged just 20, Nelly had no idea her son had been stolen from his birthplace of Chile and adopted by a family in Washington, USA.
The mum and son – Travis Tolliver – were reunited in May this year after he researched his background and discovered hundreds of Chilean babies had been stolen during the ‘70s and ‘80s and adopted by other families.
Nelly, 61, who has five other children, from Valparaiso, Chile, says: “When I found out my son was alive I was stunned. I felt so guilty I hadn’t protected him and angry I’d missed out on 41 years with him. I’m so glad I’ve finally found him.”
Dad-of-two Travis, 41, who works as a warehouse supervisor, adds: “When I discovered I’d been stolen from my biological mum I was shocked, I couldn’t take it in. My adoptive parents had no idea and were horrified.
“They’ll always be Mum and Dad to me, but they understand I need to get to know my biological mum too.”
Read the rest of this story in Closer, out today