Two Austrian women, switched at birth at a hospital in the southern city of Graz, have finally met each other 35 years later.
Doris Grünwald and Jessica Baumgartner were born at the LKH-Uniklinikum in Graz in October 1990. Both were premature and were accidentally switched shortly after birth.
In 2012, Doris discovered she was not the biological daughter of her parents when she donated blood and found out her blood type did not match that of her mother.
Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported on the case in 2016, but the other family remained untraceable at that time. Jessica learned about her true heritage during her pregnancy when her doctor revealed the case of the switched babies.
Jessica connected with Doris via Facebook, and upon meeting, they felt an instant bond, like sisters. Doris expressed her joy, saying, 'It was an indescribably good feeling.'
Recently, their families met as well, captured on camera for a program on ORF. The emotional reactions varied; Doris's mother, Evelin, stated, 'For me, my family has just got bigger and I finally have certainty.'
The hospital management has issued an apology for the incident, acknowledging the mistake that occurred at the time. Both families are now pursuing legal avenues for adoption and compensation.
Jessica shared her mixed feelings about the situation, encapsulating the emotional complexity of their reunion: 'It's emotionally huge, with beautiful sides to it but also a lot of pain.'
