It was a nightmare that no parent should have to endure. In 1987 the daughter of Joy White and Carol Tyson was kidnapped. Taken right out of Harlem Hospital when she was less than one month old.
Newborn Carlina White had a fever. When it hit 104 degrees, her parents immediately took her to the hospital. As Carlina’s mother waited for news, she was met by a nurse. The woman was calm and supportive. She told Joy that everything was fine, and suggested she go home to rest.
Missing
Joy, who was only 16 at the time, followed the nurse’s instructions. She went home, rested briefly and returned to check on her baby. But Carlina was gone.
No one knew the woman who posed as a nurse and spoke to Joy. She seemed to have entered the hospital, put on a uniform, grabbed Carlina White and vanished. There were no clues to identify the mysterious kidnapper.
Years Pass
The search began immediately. Joy and Carl worked tirelessly with authorities to find their only child. Although they never gave up hope, each day without Carlina was a stress-filled ordeal that was almost too much to bear.
Over time, the official search slowed down. Carlina’s case remained open, but there were no leads to follow. The worried parents never gave up. They held on to the hope that one day they would find their daughter.
Growing Up Nejdra
Nejdra Nance always felt something was wrong with her life. She believed that she didn’t fit in with her family, and wondered if they were even really related. Though she often asked why she couldn’t get a copy of her birth certificate, she never received a helpful answer.
When Nejdra was a teenager, she took matters into her own hands. She started some personal research, and came across the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website. While there, she found a photo she recognized instantly. It was her. But with the name Carlina Renae White.
Reunion
After recovering from the shock of this discovery, Nejdra called the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She explained who she was and asked for help. Once the claim was verified, a representative contacted Joy White.
Joy was astonished. She finally received the news she’d been dreaming about for 23 years. She was shown a photo of Nejdra as a baby. It was more than she needed. Her child had been found. They quickly made plans to meet.
The reunion was full of tears. Some of sorrow over lost time, but mostly tears of joy because they were finally together. Carlina had another surprise. When she reunited with her parents, she introduced them to someone special. Their five-year old granddaughter.
It’s Never Too Late
At PeopleFinders, we love stories about people reconnecting with loved ones. We believe the greatest joy comes from spending time with the people we love.
Stories like Carlina White’s are rare, but people reconnect with loved ones from their past every day. Do you have a story about reuniting with someone special? Then leave us a comment to share, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders people search blog.
