Page 1 - The Friday Flyer ● MAY 11, 2018

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • MAY 11, 2018

Canyon Lakers honor their City to conduct Don't miss Bee Gees
Disaster Response tribute concert May 19

mothers Pg. A3 Drill Pg. A4 at lodge Pg. A13

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CINDY DAVIS

Cindy Davis enjoys her fi rst Easter
with her long lost son, Gary Ed-
wards. From left, Gary, Barbara
Petraznik, Cindy and Linda Davis.

Mother, son reunite after 52 years

BY JILL TORKELSON interest. Prior to giving birth, Cindy pre- moved to Southern California in 1971 neath it read parent child match."
REPORTER, THE FRIDAY FLYER arranged for the baby to be adopted at where she met Paul Davis, who was di- Cindy immediately contacted Gary
Mother's Day is this Sunday and one birth. As per the terms of the adoption, vorced with three children. They mar- through Ancestry.com messaging. She
Canyon Lake mother is grateful to be the baby was to be handed directly to ried in June of 1980 and moved to Can- asked him, "Can you tell me if you were
called "Mom." When longtime resident the adopting parents upon birth. A nurse yon Lake in 1989. Paul owned a mobile adopted?" He answered back, "Yes," and
Cindy Davis took an Ancestry.com DNA mistakenly brought the baby boy into screening business in Canyon Lake until gave his birth date and the location he
test, she never dreamed there would be Cindy's room. "Having seen and held his passing four years ago. They never was born. He also said he spent the first
a match with a son she had given up him, I could not complete the adoption," had children together and Cindy never few months of his life at a Catholic in-
for adoption 52 years ago. Following a said Cindy. She canceled the adoption forgot the son she gave up for adoption. fant home. Cindy wrote back, "I think
year of phone calls and correspondence, and took the baby home. "Through the years, I prayed for Gary I'm your mother!"
Cindy and her son Gary met in person After a few months, the young, un- and thought about him," said Cindy. "I They we're both in shock and it took
for the first time in 52 years on Mar. 30, wed mother was facing personal prob- wanted to look for him, and started to time for each of them to process what
2018. They formed an immediate bond. lems and Cindy realized it was not in a few times, but was fearful of the out- was happening. A few weeks later, they
Cindy was born and raised in Brook- the baby's best interest for her to keep come. Every year around the holidays spoke on the phone for the first time.
Cindy was born and raised in Brook-
In 1965, she
lyn, New York.
lyn, New York. In 1965, she him. She turned him over to and his birthday I would think about "I was on pins and needles wait-
became preg- nant. In her welfare and he was placed looking for him." ing to hear his voice for the first time,"
nant. In her
early 20s and unwed, Cin- in a Catho- lic infant Gary was adopted by Joan and Don said Cindy. "It was wonderful to hear
unwed, Cin-
early 20s and
adop-
dy believed
dy believed adop- home un- til a loving Edwards who had a biological son of his voice and he gave me the answers I
tion would be in family ad- opted him. their of own. He was given every oppor- was looking for." Gary told her he had
the baby's
the baby's b e st Cindy tunity and excelled in school and sports. been raised by two loving parents who
Following his high school graduation, gave him the best of everything and he
Gary moved to Northern California thanked Cindy for giving him a good op-
where he attended Saint Mary's College portunity in life and for giving his adop-
in Moraga, earning a bachelor's degree tive parents the opportunity to experi-
before returning to New York. "He ence having another child to love. He
lived so close when he was in college also told her that his adoptive parents
and neither one of us knew it," said had both passed away.
Cindy. Since that first phone call, Gary has
In January 2017, Cindy's friend sug- called Cindy faithfully every week. He
gested that she use Ancestry.com as a has sent her cards and gifts, including a
way of trying to find her son. Cindy took photo album he put together of his child-
the DNA test through Ancestry.com but hood with dates and important events in
it was to find out more about her ethnic- his life. Last Mother's Day, Gary sent
ity than finding her son. Little did she her a necklace with a hummingbird pen-
know that Gary had taken the Ancestry. dant, Cindy's favorite bird.
com DNA test five months earlier. On March 30, Gary and Cindy met
Gary's girlfriend, Barbara Petraznik, for the first time. Gary and Barb arrived
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CINDY DAVIS the DNA test as a gift for his birthday Cindy was eagerly waiting and wearing
and her daughter, Lauren, had given him at Cindy's home in Canyon Lake, where
a t-shirt that read "This is the Best Day
because they knew he was always curi-
ous about his biological parents. "I was Ever." Mother and son were once again
surprised when the results came back," reunited and spent their first Easter to-

port was a small picture of a bearded mother," said Cindy. "Gary has made my
Cindy Davis walks arm and arm with step-son Paul Davis, at left, and son Gary Edwards. said Cindy. "There at the top of my re- gether. "I experienced the joy of a new
life meaningful again."
man wearing a baseball cap and under-