1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,581 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,621 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,461 --> 00:01:26,011 Speaker 2: Life Audio. Welcome back to Story Behind Podcast, inspiring stories 14 00:01:26,091 --> 00:01:29,961 Speaker 2: to uplift you in the middle of your week. I'm 15 00:01:30,061 --> 00:01:33,751 Speaker 2: Sean McAvoy, the host here and the executive director of 16 00:01:33,841 --> 00:01:38,451 Speaker 2: content at the Salem Web Network. This week, I've picked 17 00:01:38,511 --> 00:01:42,750 Speaker 2: out a couple stories for you about the sometimes amazing 18 00:01:42,810 --> 00:01:47,090 Speaker 2: ways that families come together or find themselves across the 19 00:01:47,151 --> 00:01:52,891 Speaker 2: miles or how love can bloom in unexpected ways. So 20 00:01:52,931 --> 00:01:55,831 Speaker 2: with that tease, I'll let you think about that and 21 00:01:55,931 --> 00:02:00,341 Speaker 2: about Any wonders in your own family stories that might 22 00:02:00,401 --> 00:02:03,621 Speaker 2: be worth sharing and remembering with your loved ones today? 23 00:02:03,801 --> 00:02:06,041 Speaker 2: And I'll be back in just a second with those 24 00:02:06,081 --> 00:02:15,611 Speaker 2: stories for you. All right. As a reminder, all of 25 00:02:15,711 --> 00:02:20,031 Speaker 2: our stories are from GodTube.com, where you can watch without worry. 26 00:02:21,191 --> 00:02:23,381 Speaker 2: And our team has picked these out as part of 27 00:02:23,461 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: our GodTube blog, which we call our God Updates section. 28 00:02:28,201 --> 00:02:30,301 Speaker 2: And that is where we get our stories for the 29 00:02:30,341 --> 00:02:34,241 Speaker 2: story behind all the bad news or anything else that's 30 00:02:34,281 --> 00:02:37,430 Speaker 2: going on. We want to remind you that good things 31 00:02:37,490 --> 00:02:40,590 Speaker 2: are still going on. God's still active and people are 32 00:02:40,631 --> 00:02:42,831 Speaker 2: still sharing with each other. You may not be hearing 33 00:02:42,870 --> 00:02:46,111 Speaker 2: about it, but you are here. So thank you for 34 00:02:46,151 --> 00:02:50,071 Speaker 2: joining us. Our first one today is by Heather Riggleman. 35 00:02:51,941 --> 00:02:55,541 Speaker 2: This is about a couple of families living 3,000 miles 36 00:02:55,581 --> 00:03:03,141 Speaker 2: apart who learned their adopted children are identical twins. Families 37 00:03:03,141 --> 00:03:07,921 Speaker 2: 3,000 miles apart learn their adopted children are identical twins. 38 00:03:09,601 --> 00:03:12,281 Speaker 2: As a college student, Heather says, I traveled to China 39 00:03:12,341 --> 00:03:16,381 Speaker 2: and walked through orphanages where tiny faces peered out of 40 00:03:16,461 --> 00:03:20,521 Speaker 2: cribs and little hands reached out to anyone willing to 41 00:03:20,561 --> 00:03:24,641 Speaker 2: hold them. Babies were dropped off in the hope of 42 00:03:24,701 --> 00:03:28,921 Speaker 2: a better life due to illnesses or because the birth 43 00:03:28,981 --> 00:03:32,941 Speaker 2: mother couldn't care for them, and mainly because of the 44 00:03:33,041 --> 00:03:36,481 Speaker 2: one-child policy that was still in place when I visited. 45 00:03:36,501 --> 00:03:42,551 Speaker 2: These mothers would often give birth in secret and find 46 00:03:42,571 --> 00:03:45,331 Speaker 2: a way to get their children to safety at the orphanage. 47 00:03:47,391 --> 00:03:50,551 Speaker 2: I remember hearing and learning pieces of their stories and 48 00:03:50,591 --> 00:03:53,351 Speaker 2: wishing I could gather every child into my arms and 49 00:03:53,391 --> 00:03:58,171 Speaker 2: bring them home. Those moments have never left me. They 50 00:03:58,221 --> 00:04:03,761 Speaker 2: changed the way I see adoption, family, and the extraordinary 51 00:04:03,801 --> 00:04:11,661 Speaker 2: way love finds what was once lost. Sometimes, against impossible odds, 52 00:04:12,141 --> 00:04:16,861 Speaker 2: it really does change. When Stacey Kugel of Kentucky was 53 00:04:16,901 --> 00:04:22,241 Speaker 2: scrolling through photos from her adoption group, she stopped suddenly. 54 00:04:23,140 --> 00:04:25,841 Speaker 2: Looking back at her was a little girl she could 55 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:31,731 Speaker 2: have sworn was her daughter, Olivia. Except it wasn't. It 56 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,171 Speaker 2: was another little girl living more than 3,000 miles away 57 00:04:35,551 --> 00:04:42,411 Speaker 2: in California. That single photograph uncovered a breathtaking truth. The 58 00:04:42,451 --> 00:04:47,911 Speaker 2: two little girls, adopted by different families, were identical twins. 59 00:04:49,791 --> 00:04:53,661 Speaker 2: The odds are almost impossible to comprehend. Dropped off at 60 00:04:53,671 --> 00:04:57,701 Speaker 2: the same orphanage in China just days apart, the girls 61 00:04:57,741 --> 00:05:02,961 Speaker 2: were given different birthdays and different paperwork. Their records gave 62 00:05:03,061 --> 00:05:07,651 Speaker 2: no indication they belonged together. Had one family traveled on 63 00:05:07,831 --> 00:05:12,010 Speaker 2: a different day, chosen another child, or simply never shared 64 00:05:12,111 --> 00:05:16,021 Speaker 2: photos years later, These sisters might have spent their entire 65 00:05:16,061 --> 00:05:20,191 Speaker 2: lives never knowing the other existed. Instead, God wrote a 66 00:05:20,211 --> 00:05:25,391 Speaker 2: different story. At just 22 months old, Olivia Kugel and 67 00:05:25,411 --> 00:05:30,450 Speaker 2: Emmeline Ricketts were reunited at the San Francisco International Airport. 68 00:05:31,591 --> 00:05:34,671 Speaker 2: The moment they saw each other through the glass, they 69 00:05:34,711 --> 00:05:38,481 Speaker 2: instinctively reached out their tiny hands. It was as though 70 00:05:38,521 --> 00:05:40,401 Speaker 2: they had simply picked up where they had left off. 71 00:05:42,101 --> 00:05:45,081 Speaker 2: They were literally turning pages of books for each other. 72 00:05:45,761 --> 00:05:50,221 Speaker 2: They were feeding each other, Emmeline's mother, Sherilyn Draper, recalled. 73 00:05:51,701 --> 00:05:55,231 Speaker 2: There was this really clear bond. They really knew each other. 74 00:05:56,751 --> 00:06:00,351 Speaker 2: Sherilyn still marvels at what happened. This is a miracle, 75 00:06:00,611 --> 00:06:04,951 Speaker 2: she said. Within 18 months, we figured it out. Within 76 00:06:04,951 --> 00:06:09,261 Speaker 2: 22 months, they were back together. They've never known a 77 00:06:09,321 --> 00:06:14,481 Speaker 2: time when they didn't have a twin. It's extraordinary. Growing up, 78 00:06:14,561 --> 00:06:18,651 Speaker 2: the sisters bridged the 3,000 miles between Kentucky and California 79 00:06:19,611 --> 00:06:26,391 Speaker 2: with Skype calls, virtual tea parties, shared TV shows, family visits, 80 00:06:26,531 --> 00:06:33,411 Speaker 2: and yearly reunions. Today, at 20 years old, they still 81 00:06:33,451 --> 00:06:37,921 Speaker 2: share the same love of music, art, and remarkably similar 82 00:06:38,041 --> 00:06:43,861 Speaker 2: personalities despite being raised in different homes. Their story is 83 00:06:43,911 --> 00:06:48,031 Speaker 2: a beautiful reminder that family is sometimes found in the 84 00:06:48,211 --> 00:06:53,831 Speaker 2: most unexpected places. What looked like an impossible separation became 85 00:06:53,871 --> 00:06:58,071 Speaker 2: an incredible reunion because one mother paused over a photograph 86 00:06:58,871 --> 00:07:05,381 Speaker 2: that simply didn't make sense. Some miracles arrived with fanfare. Others, 87 00:07:06,531 --> 00:07:09,491 Speaker 2: Begin with a Facebook photo, two little girls who looked 88 00:07:09,611 --> 00:07:13,731 Speaker 2: exactly alike, and families willing to believe that perhaps God 89 00:07:13,841 --> 00:07:17,941 Speaker 2: was weaving together a story far greater than anyone could 90 00:07:17,961 --> 00:07:23,421 Speaker 2: have imagined. As it says in Romans 12.10, Be devoted 91 00:07:23,481 --> 00:07:28,351 Speaker 2: to one another in love, and honor one another above yourselves. 92 00:07:30,011 --> 00:07:31,891 Speaker 2: We'll be back with our second story in just a moment. 93 00:07:39,711 --> 00:07:43,371 Speaker 2: Welcome back. I'm still thinking about that first story of 94 00:07:43,471 --> 00:07:48,581 Speaker 2: ours this week. I've always been fascinated by twins and 95 00:07:48,641 --> 00:07:52,501 Speaker 2: how they just seem to know each other, find each other, 96 00:07:53,401 --> 00:07:57,741 Speaker 2: and love each other across the miles. We've got a 97 00:07:57,801 --> 00:08:03,111 Speaker 2: second story about a love today, this one by Michaela Gordonei, 98 00:08:04,591 --> 00:08:08,671 Speaker 2: about two-time cancer survivors who met as teens. and ended 99 00:08:08,751 --> 00:08:14,341 Speaker 2: up finding lasting love together. A couple of two-time cancer 100 00:08:14,381 --> 00:08:18,601 Speaker 2: survivors recently tied the knot, after more than a decade 101 00:08:18,641 --> 00:08:23,521 Speaker 2: of knowing each other. The UK couple is perfectly matched, 102 00:08:24,561 --> 00:08:26,481 Speaker 2: as they each have a deep understanding of what the 103 00:08:26,581 --> 00:08:31,531 Speaker 2: other has gone through. The story couldn't be sweeter. Liv 104 00:08:31,631 --> 00:08:35,971 Speaker 2: Shaw and her new husband, Sam, first met when they 105 00:08:35,991 --> 00:08:39,391 Speaker 2: were just teens. Right away, she was drawn to his humor. 106 00:08:40,871 --> 00:08:43,251 Speaker 2: A few years later, she saw him again at another 107 00:08:43,371 --> 00:08:48,511 Speaker 2: teenage cancer event. We were both involved in speaking about 108 00:08:48,871 --> 00:08:52,611 Speaker 2: body image following treatment at the conference a few years later, 109 00:08:53,761 --> 00:08:57,241 Speaker 2: and Sam got involved in a charity fashion show that 110 00:08:57,341 --> 00:09:02,221 Speaker 2: I'd been involved in, Liv recalled. They started dating at 111 00:09:02,261 --> 00:09:06,041 Speaker 2: that time, and got married in Las Vegas last year. 112 00:09:08,381 --> 00:09:12,021 Speaker 2: Sam has been an absolute rock throughout my second cancer 113 00:09:12,061 --> 00:09:19,571 Speaker 2: diagnosis and subsequent LFS diagnosis, Liv says. Sam can find 114 00:09:19,631 --> 00:09:23,951 Speaker 2: laughter anytime and always knows how to lift my spirits 115 00:09:24,231 --> 00:09:28,771 Speaker 2: and support me. Liv admits she tries to live a 116 00:09:28,811 --> 00:09:33,531 Speaker 2: normal life, but to be 29 and have gone through 117 00:09:33,591 --> 00:09:38,011 Speaker 2: two different cancers is very unusual. She was born with 118 00:09:38,111 --> 00:09:45,091 Speaker 2: a genetic condition called Leigh-Fraumeni syndrome, LFS, which significantly increases 119 00:09:45,151 --> 00:09:50,111 Speaker 2: the chances of cancer in both childhood and adulthood. She 120 00:09:50,151 --> 00:09:53,521 Speaker 2: developed bone cancer at age 14 and had to have 121 00:09:53,601 --> 00:09:58,361 Speaker 2: most of her right leg amputated. Then when she was 122 00:09:58,401 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 2: in college, she had a cancerous tumor removed and eventually 123 00:10:03,141 --> 00:10:05,631 Speaker 2: had both of her breasts removed to reduce the risk 124 00:10:06,251 --> 00:10:10,331 Speaker 2: of breast cancer. She now shares her experience to raise 125 00:10:10,401 --> 00:10:16,571 Speaker 2: awareness and advocate for early cancer detection. Using my voice 126 00:10:16,631 --> 00:10:20,511 Speaker 2: to make a positive difference gives me strength, and knowing 127 00:10:20,571 --> 00:10:23,170 Speaker 2: that there could be a better outlook for people like 128 00:10:23,251 --> 00:10:27,821 Speaker 2: me with LFS on the horizon spurs me on, she said. 129 00:10:29,681 --> 00:10:33,141 Speaker 2: It's incredible that Liv has found this love with Sam. 130 00:10:33,321 --> 00:10:37,421 Speaker 2: They share something very unique. They'll have a close bond 131 00:10:37,461 --> 00:10:42,501 Speaker 2: because of what they've gone through. Congratulations to this sweet couple. 132 00:10:44,881 --> 00:10:47,521 Speaker 2: As it says in Ecclesiastes 4.9, two are better than 133 00:10:47,671 --> 00:10:50,780 Speaker 2: one because they have a good return for their labor. 134 00:10:52,051 --> 00:10:54,790 Speaker 2: If either one of them falls down, one can help 135 00:10:54,831 --> 00:10:59,381 Speaker 2: the other up. but pity anyone who falls and has 136 00:10:59,461 --> 00:11:03,661 Speaker 2: no one to help them up. So let's remember to 137 00:11:03,721 --> 00:11:07,940 Speaker 2: be that for each other this week. I'll miss you 138 00:11:07,981 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: until next time. I'm Sean McAvoy signing off with another 139 00:11:11,361 --> 00:11:13,581 Speaker 2: episode of The Story Behind. 140 00:11:14,581 --> 00:11:15,121 Speaker 1: Have a great day.