Reunited for the first time: Twin sisters meet their long-lost brother

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Looking at family photos never felt incomplete for twin sisters Valerie Peterson Baker and Vicki Peterson Thompson. Their parents had always been honest with them.

"Our mom always told us that we were adopted, but that she felt like we were her own," Vicki said.

Their adoptive mother had said that she would tell them about their biological family when they were 18, if they wanted.

They both said they never felt a need to even ask about their biological family ... until they were about 25.

“I just mentioned that it would be cool if we could figure out who it was and my mom just said ‘I know who it is’,” Valerie said.

The open, private adoption explained why the girls were always required to send graduation announcements and the like to people in California they had thought of as just family friends.

Then they found out they had a younger brother in the Golden State.

Michael Leonard suspected he had sisters after overhearing his mother’s conversation when he was about 10 or 11. But like his sisters, he never asked.

And now they’ve finally met.

They first contacted each other years ago and had kept up on the phone and through Facebook. They had always meant to meet up, but life got in the way.

Already established in their lives, they felt like they had plenty of time.

Then they hit their 40s.

"I feel like I know you guys already, it's like we've been chatting all day … maybe we should've been sequestered from Facebook," Michael told them.

The twins understand and appreciate why their biological mother, pregnant at 15, gave up her rights to them.

If you define a parent as one who sacrifices what they want for the good of the child, it seems like she qualifies.

"She was one brave strong woman to have done that," Valerie said.

And they're grateful for the chance to connect in person.

Technically it’s not a reunion, although it kind of feels like one.

"We're meeting again and, ... or finally meeting, and it's coming true and it's like a big dream," Valerie said.

"They're my sisters; same mom, same dad, I mean this is … it's very important to me," Michael said.

All three siblings had independently decided to work in nursing, but Michael switched careers because, as he jokes; "it was too much work".

Their first activity together will be a good Kansas City barbecue dinner.