Nearly five decades after being separated from her birth mother, Dr. Grace LaJoy Henderson, an African American author and advocate from Raymore, Missouri, continues to embrace each moment of reconnection as a gift.
On Saturday, March 16, 2025, she made her third heartfelt visit to the woman who gave her life but whom she didn’t see again until 2018, a reunion that rekindled a bond once thought lost forever.
The journey began early on March 15, when Dr. Grace and her family—her daughter, son-in-law, their 3-year-old son, her niece, and her niece’s 2-year-old daughter—set out across state lines with love as their compass.
After resting overnight in Ohio, they reached the nursing home where Grace’s mother resides, a place now warmed by familiarity and healing.
Upon arrival, Dr. Grace was welcomed with open arms and tender smiles. She brought thoughtful gifts: toiletries, a gourmet box of cookies, and a modest financial token of appreciation.
But more than anything, she brought presence, capturing the moment with an instant camera so her mother could hold their time together in her hands. As laughter echoed through the room, stories were exchanged, and the family bond grew stronger—one moment at a time.
The next day, Dr. Grace and her family returned, bearing more personalized gifts: crochet needles and soft yarn to rekindle her mother’s favorite hobby, a hearty chicken dinner, and a custom coffee mug—a nod to her mother’s cherished morning ritual.
Even more touching was the surprise video call with family members, including her long-lost son and grandchildren. “I can’t believe I have so many grandchildren!” her mother exclaimed with joy and disbelief.
Moved by her mother’s gentle spirit and memories of piano playing and crochet artistry, Dr. Grace extended her visit through Monday, March 18. She met with nursing home staff to share the vibrant woman her mother once was, hoping to inspire deeper care and meaningful engagement.
As the visit drew to a close, saying goodbye was bittersweet.
Her mother’s question—“You’re leaving!? When are you coming back?”—was a reminder of the deep longing still present. Dr. Grace wrestled with a familiar ache, but gently reminded herself, “She made the choice to live far away, not me.” It was a hard truth softened by the love that still remained.
Reflecting on her emotional journey, Dr. Grace LaJoy Henderson shared that her story has inspired a deeply personal collection of memoirs, including:
- Finding Mother After Five Decades: A Story of Hope
- Reuniting with Mother: A Story of Tenacity
- After the Reunion: A Story of Acceptance
- Diary of Emotions: Thoughts and Feelings
These works, available on Amazon, delve into the complexity of foster care, abandonment, resilience, and ultimately, the redemptive power of family and faith.
She also authored A Gifted Child in Foster Care: A Story of Resilience, a compelling testament to her survival and strength through the foster system.
For more on Dr. Grace LaJoy’s literary contributions and journey of healing, visit GraceLaJoy.com. For press inquiries, email poetry@gracelajoy.com.
In a world too often marked by division and loss, Dr. Grace LaJoy’s story is a radiant example of what it means to choose love, again and again—even when it’s late. Because sometimes, reunion isn’t just about finding someone—it’s about finding yourself in the process.
