Now THAT’s a family reunion! Sisters meet after nearly 80 years

Two Pennsylvania women say the pre-Christmas discovery that they’re sisters is nothing short of a holiday miracle.

The Progress in Clearfield reports 78-year-old Barbara Smith, of Pottsville, and 77-year-old Sandra Fitzgerald, of Apollo, met for the first time on Sunday. They hugged, shared stories and laughed.

Fitzgerald’s son-in-law was studying genealogy when he discovered Fitzgerald had a sister. The two women had the same mother, but relatives adopted Smith. Fitzgerald, who was born a year later, was adopted outside of the family. She says she hasn’t slept since her son-in-law told her the news.

Smith says she always thought she was an only child. She learned about her sister three days before Christmas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.