I originally was born in Germany during World War II, near the Baltic seaport city of Rostock where a few months after my birth my mother passed away from pneumonia and tuberculosis. My mother’s sister, Anna, took over care of me. After some time, my aunt needed to go see her husband in another city and left me with her girlfriend till she returned. Since it was war time, events changed from day to day. The war escalated, and she was unable to return. Her girlfriend had to evacuate. She took me along with her children and fled. Near the city of Zwickau she had her hands full with her own children and left me with a family there. I was probably about a year old. I lived with this family until I was about five. After the war my Aunt Anna and Uncle Otto ended up in West Germany, and were able to trace me. After living with the family in Zwickau for about four years my aunt came to take me to what had then become West Germany.

A few years later we, my uncle, aunt and I, immigrated to the United States. My uncle died shortly after arrival and years later my aunt died also. But they had never talked about who I had lived with during those first few years. Now my wonderful friends, Gert and Ingrid Poehlmann, who belong to Friendship Force of Vogtland but live in Zwickau, listened to my story. Though I had no details to give them they said they would see what they could find out when they returned to Zwickau. I did give them a copy of the only photo that I had of those younger years. Where would they start looking - no name, no address?

On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, I had a message on my phone from Gert saying, "I have some news about the search." We made connections and Gert told me they had placed an article along with the photo in their local newspaper, Freiepresse with the headline " Wer erkennt die Kleine Lilly?" (Who recognizes little Lilly?). Shock of all shocks, in the morning, while they were still reading the article in the newspaper they received a phone call and the lady said "I recognize Lilly". Can you imagine after 60 years that such a miracle could happen? After a few more e-mails and phone calls Gert and Ingrid went to visit with the family. Gert called from their home, but again I was not at home. They later e-mailed me some family photos in which I am included. Then on Saturday morning, November 3, Siegried Schuster, one of the two cousins who knew me called, and we talked for the first time. As I was so young I do not remember much of that time so at some time in the future she will have to fill in some of the details. Saying ‘Yes’ to hosting has opened up some wonderful new/old doors in my life. Herta, who cared for me, is 84, and Siegried, her cousin, who helped is 77 years old.

On Tuesday, November 6, I received a call from Erich Reim, son of Herta, and he told me that after I was taken away, everyone in the village talked about me over the years. Some years ago he had made an attempt to locate me, the trail ended in Leer, Germany. He had no knowledge of our immigration to the US. In just a week’s time, I have gained a new family from sixty years ago. I am excited, they are excited and neither thought this would ever happen. It is a miracle, and I am so grateful to Gert and Ingrid Poehlmann and Friendship Force International.