Mother reunited with son lost in healthcare system for years
Published: September 13, 2006
There has been a happy ending to the story of an elderly Rotorua woman whose disabled son was lost in the health system for four years.
Melva Charles had been writing to her son for many years, until one day a birthday card was returned saying her son Eric was deceased.
After some investigation by her niece, he was actually found alive and well.
And on Wednesday he had a very special visitor.
Melva, 87, travelled from Rotorua to Napier to be reunited with her son, who she had not seen in years. It was an emotional meeting as just days ago she had thought he was dead.
The hospital responsible have admitted they had been accidentally giving his mail to another man - and it was him who was dead.
Eric left the Pacific Care Centre four years ago and was shifted three times after that but neither his family nor his doctor were informed.
Melva’s niece Judi Batty finally tracked him down in Napier.
“For them to get together after all these years is great. It’s like something you read in a magazine,” she said.
With some long overdue mother-son catch up, Melva says they will do what they can to keep in contact from now on so they never lose touch again.
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