Two Austrian women, who were 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 shortly after they were born, the two babies were accidentally switched and given to the parents of the other family.
In 2012, Ms. Grünwald discovered that she was not the biological daughter of her parents, Evelin and Josef, when she donated blood and learned that her blood type did not match that of her mother.
Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported on the case in 2016, but the other family could not be identified back then. Ms. Baumgartner was raised nearby by Herbert and Monika Derler. She found out her blood type didn't match that of her parents when she became pregnant, and a doctor informed her about the switched babies.
Jessica reached out to Doris via Facebook, and they met for the first time. 'It was like meeting a sister,' she said, while Doris added: 'We got along right away. It was an indescribably good feeling.'
Recently, the families finally met as well, captured on film by an ORF TV crew. Mrs. Derler expressed her emotional turmoil upon hearing the news but emphasized that Jessica will always be their child. Meanwhile, Evelin Grünwald remarked on her family's expansion, saying, 'For me, my family has just got bigger and I finally have certainty.'
The operations manager at the hospital apologized on behalf of the institution, expressing deep regret for the error. The Grünwalds pursued legal action in 2016 to secure Doris's inheritance rights, receiving compensation from the hospital, while the Derlers are also seeking similar avenues.
Jessica expressed mixed feelings about the clarity of the situation, stating, 'It's emotionally huge, with beautiful sides to it but also a lot of pain.'
In 2012, Ms. Grünwald discovered that she was not the biological daughter of her parents, Evelin and Josef, when she donated blood and learned that her blood type did not match that of her mother.
Austrian public broadcaster ORF reported on the case in 2016, but the other family could not be identified back then. Ms. Baumgartner was raised nearby by Herbert and Monika Derler. She found out her blood type didn't match that of her parents when she became pregnant, and a doctor informed her about the switched babies.
Jessica reached out to Doris via Facebook, and they met for the first time. 'It was like meeting a sister,' she said, while Doris added: 'We got along right away. It was an indescribably good feeling.'
Recently, the families finally met as well, captured on film by an ORF TV crew. Mrs. Derler expressed her emotional turmoil upon hearing the news but emphasized that Jessica will always be their child. Meanwhile, Evelin Grünwald remarked on her family's expansion, saying, 'For me, my family has just got bigger and I finally have certainty.'
The operations manager at the hospital apologized on behalf of the institution, expressing deep regret for the error. The Grünwalds pursued legal action in 2016 to secure Doris's inheritance rights, receiving compensation from the hospital, while the Derlers are also seeking similar avenues.
Jessica expressed mixed feelings about the clarity of the situation, stating, 'It's emotionally huge, with beautiful sides to it but also a lot of pain.'
