In 1987, Matt Paul was a college student in Arizona. His girlfriend became pregnant, and the two knew they couldn't provide for their little girl. So, they gave her up for adoption.
"I held her when she was born and said sorry I think you'll have a better life, and I'll see you again someday," said Paul.
Anna Swahn had been trying to track down her birth parents since she was 19. She finally hired a detective. He found Paul who now lives in St. Marys. The two first spoke on St. Patrick's Day.
"It was like the St. Patrick's Day miracle. I got to talk to him on the phone. We've been talking pretty much every Sunday," said Swahn.
Swahn lives in Arizona. She was visiting Nebraska this week and figured she was halfway to Ohio. After making the 13 hour trip, the two finally met in person.
"Now that I actually got to talk to him and see him, everything makes sense. Why I am the way I am."
Swahn says she became even more anxious to find her dad after having a child of her own.
So, Matt Paul not only got to meet his daughter for the first time but his five year old granddaughter as well.
"They're both beautiful. I'm glad to meet them."
The family reunion has sparked Paul's curiosity about his own birth family. Paul says he was born in Lima in 1964 and was also given up for adoption.
"We've got part of the puzzle so we need to find the rest. Find out where I came from."
The reunited family was able to spend just a short time together. However, they plan to stay in contact to make up for 25 years of lost time.
