‘Dreams of this': Video shows moment sisters separated by adoption reunite

Biological sisters separated by adoption, met for the first time Saturday in Oakbrook.

It was an emotional moment, decades in the making, and NBC Chicago was invited to capture it on video.

Sandy Lucidi was given up for adoption by her biological mother when she was a baby. She was living in Virgina with no idea she had a younger sister.

“My heard is pounding,” Lucidi said. “I am excited, nervous. The anticipation leading up to today was wild. We have communicated and built a relationship. It happened immediately.”

Renee Villari-Clous learned she had a sibling when she was 16.

She spent years trying to find her sibling and even hired a private investigator. But still, she had no luck.

“I feel overwhelmed. We did not do any Facetime or Zoom. We wanted it to be authentic and genuine, seeing each other for the first time,” Villari-Clous said.

Lucidi had shared her DNA on several genetic testing sites, including 23andMe.The company recently announced it was beginning Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and she said she thought about deleting her DNA from the site.

But when she logged into her account a few weeks ago, there was a message from her first cousin.

“The message was 'looks like we are first cousins, give me a call,', Lucidi said. “That is when it started to become real and I thought something could be happening here.”

Several calls later, the connection was made.

“Why was I given away? That does not matter. At this point, the fact is I have a sister,” Lucidi said.

The sisters planned to celebrate Easter Sunday for the first time with their entire family including their biological parents.

“I have had dreams of this, and I am glad she is here and we are together as we start this new journey,” Villari-Clous said.