MUST SEE: Mother & Daughter Find One Another After 23 Years Apart

Natalie Bader of Langhorne knew since a young age she was adopted and always had questions about her birth mother. Last year, her adoptive parents showed her a letter written by her birth mother 23 years ago.

Within 15 minutes of searching on social media, Natalie Bader, 23, had found her birth mother’s Facebook page and sent a friend request.

Colette Brasseur, a Levittown native now living in Nashville, said she was at home with her 21-year-old son watching football on that fateful December evening and saw the friend request.

“Ironically, my first thought was that she looked really familiar. I looked and I thought, ‘I must know her parents,’” Brasseur, a 47-year-old minister in training, told LevittownNow.com. “I didn’t accept it at first.”

A short time later, Bader said she sent her 21-year-old brother a message explaining that she believed she might be a long-lost sister he never knew about. Brasseur said she didn’t tell her son about the adoption because she hadn’t wanted him to search for a sister who didn’t want to be found.

“I was in shock I found her that quick,” Bader said.

In the months since they reunited via Facebook, Brasseur and Bader both said they talk nearly every single day. They use phone calls, social media, Skype and text message to catch up.

“I really enjoyed getting to know her,” Bader said. Both said they filled each other in on the moments they missed.

Both the women are graduates of Neshaminy High School in Middletown, which Brasseur said was both “ironic” and “wonderful.”

So far, and despite plenty of offers to meet in person from television programs, the two have not made the costly trip to meet in person.

Brasseur said the offers were only for her and Bader.

“We want to meet, but I want her (adoptive) parents there,” Brasseur said. “I would want her mother there – that’s who raised her. I want to do what’s in her best interests.”

Brasseur said she would love to be reunited by television host Ellen Degeneres.

Brasseur was 24-years-old and had just enlisted in the Army when she found out she was pregnant with Natalie. She was not financially secure and knew raising a child was unaffordable at that point. Her next move was to put her unborn daughter up for an open adoption. She chose Don and Roise Baser because the connection she felt was instant.

“From the time I met them they were perfect. They were older and more established in life. She was sweet and he reminded me of Santa Claus, so jolly,” she said.

Brasseur and the Bader were able to keep in touch for some time but that ended when the agency where the adoption was through closed. Before the agency closed, Brasseur mailed two photos that were taken in the hospital just after Bader was born. Brasseur asked the Baders to share it when they felt the time was right.

“I put in the letter a lot of identifying information so they could find me,” Brasseur recalled.

Both said they hope to grow the relationship going forward.

They also said since they have reunited they have received plenty of attention from media around the nation. Brasseur said staff at Facebook heard their story and reached out to hear more.

“It’s been amazing. I’ve got to give God all the credit in this,” Brasseur said.