Violah's mother embraces her daughter and Stacey Wells, the woman who adopted Violah and then returned the girl to her Ugandan village. "I'm very happy and very grateful," Violah's mother said.<br />
Violah's mother embraces her daughter and Stacey Wells, the woman who adopted Violah and then returned the girl to her Ugandan village. "I'm very happy and very grateful," Violah's mother said.
Courtesy Stacey Wells
After her return, Violah, right, met with her sister, Resty, center, and Mata, left. Mata was taken from the same Ugandan village and also adopted by a US family. Like Violah, she was returned to her birth mother. <br />
After her return, Violah, right, met with her sister, Resty, center, and Mata, left. Mata was taken from the same Ugandan village and also adopted by a US family. Like Violah, she was returned to her birth mother.
Courtesy Stacey Wells
Stacey Wells and Violah show villagers images on a smartphone. In America, Wells homeschooled Violah and bought her a pass to a local YMCA, where she enjoyed swimming.<br />
Stacey Wells and Violah show villagers images on a smartphone. In America, Wells homeschooled Violah and bought her a pass to a local YMCA, where she enjoyed swimming.
Courtesy Stacey Wells
Violah's description of her mother raised a red flag for Wells. Violah said her mother cooked for her, made her fish and walked to church with her. The paperwork Wells had been given told another story.<br />
Violah's description of her mother raised a red flag for Wells. Violah said her mother cooked for her, made her fish and walked to church with her. The paperwork Wells had been given told another story.
Courtesy Stacey Wells
Wells and her husband discovered the truth when they found a Facebook page for Reunite and saw a photo of a woman who claimed that her children had been taken. "We said, 'that's Violah's mother,' " Wells said. "And we were just sick." Here, Ugandan investigators join Violah and her mother (center, in gray shirt) for the reunion.<br />
Wells and her husband discovered the truth when they found a Facebook page for Reunite and saw a photo of a woman who claimed that her children had been taken. "We said, 'that's Violah's mother,' " Wells said. "And we were just sick." Here, Ugandan investigators join Violah and her mother (center, in gray shirt) for the reunion.
Courtesy Stacey Wells
Back in her village, Violah was also reunited with her great-grandmother. Wells and her husband thought they were giving an abandoned orphan a home. Instead, Stacey says, Violah "was made an orphan."<br />
Back in her village, Violah was also reunited with her great-grandmother. Wells and her husband thought they were giving an abandoned orphan a home. Instead, Stacey says, Violah "was made an orphan."
Courtesy Stacey Wells
Violah also was greeted by jubilant siblings. Her oldest brother took her by the hands and broke out in dance, swinging her around in celebration. "In that moment," Stacey says, crying, "I knew she was where she was meant to be."<br />
Violah also was greeted by jubilant siblings. Her oldest brother took her by the hands and broke out in dance, swinging her around in celebration. "In that moment," Stacey says, crying, "I knew she was where she was meant to be."
Courtesy Stacey Wells