Rachel Weiner, adopted from Colombia in 1998 at two months old, always wished for a sister. She grew up in Rockland County, New York, with her adoptive parents and an older adopted brother, but the desire for a female sibling remained. "If you ever do adopt another baby, please make it a girl. I'll be the best big sister ever," she recalls telling her parents.

Her wish unexpectedly came true in February 2025 when Emely Moe, 26, a Swedish woman also adopted from Colombia, saw a video of Weiner on her TikTok "For You" page. Moe, who was adopted in 1999, was struck by the resemblance. "Omg, I think we are sisters," Moe messaged Weiner.

A FaceTime call confirmed their suspicions. "I was in so much shock. I remember I was shaking," Weiner said of the natural connection that formed during their hour-long conversation.

Moe had grown up in Stockholm knowing she had an older biological sister. Her adoption was closed, and she had not yet begun the process of contacting the orphanage. Weiner, a talent acquisition agent in New York, had posted a video in summer 2024 recounting her adoption story, which Moe discovered. The video did not mention any siblings.

Moe's suspicions were further solidified when Weiner shared a passport photo of their birth mother, Mariana. The distinctive eye shape was identical to a photo in Moe's adoption files, which her parents had kept in a safety deposit box. Weiner, around age 12, had also seen the photo and was happy to see it.

During their initial video call, the sisters learned they shared the same birth mother, Mariana, and were adopted from Bogota, Colombia, about 18 months apart. Despite the vast distance, they quickly developed a close bond, with daily texts and frequent video calls.

In June 2025, Weiner traveled to Stockholm to celebrate Moe's 25th birthday, marking their first in-person meeting. "When I got off the plane, she ran up to me and hugged me. She says that it was the best hug of her entire life," Weiner recalled. "There was something in her reaction, just seeing how emotional she was in a happy way. It made me emotional, too."

During Weiner's visit, they engaged in activities she had always longed to do with a sister, such as shopping and getting their nails done. Moe later visited Weiner in New York City, where they explored popular landmarks. Their New York trip was followed by a journey to Colombia to meet their birth mother.

Weiner had first learned about Mariana in 2021 after navigating the complexities of her closed adoption. She had a video call with Mariana, during which her potential sister's existence was not mentioned. Mariana explained that she did not have the means to support them and felt they deserved a better life, struggling without help from their biological father.

When Moe entered the picture, their plans to visit Mariana shifted. "I said to my dad, 'Can we just hold off on the planning? Because I just want to go with Emely,'" Weiner said. Her father was supportive.

On May 29, the sisters arrived in Bogota and met Mariana at their biological aunt's house. Moe encouraged Weiner to meet their mother first. The reunion was emotional, with tears and embraces. A video of their meeting garnered significant attention online.

"She was so sweet. Like there's no other word to describe her other than sweet and caring," Weiner said of Mariana. "She said she had had a weight lifted off her shoulders." Mariana called them by their biological names, crying and kissing them.

While not fluent in Spanish, the sisters communicated with Mariana through a cousin who spoke English. Mariana expressed her love for music, and the sisters danced and sang with her. They also celebrated Mariana's 60th birthday in Colombia.

Weiner, who is planning her wedding for the following year, hopes Mariana can attend, but acknowledges the difficulty of obtaining a U.S. visitor visa. She plans to visit Mariana again or have her involved once she has children. Mariana expressed her wish for them not to forget her, a sentiment Weiner assured her she would not.

"Mom, I will never forget you," Weiner said. "I will always remember you. You're always in my heart."