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SALT LAKE CITY — If airports are known for one thing, it's waiting.
But on Thursday, a seven-year wait came to an end at Salt Lake City International Airport when Lana Rodriguez's grandson Benjamin flew in to meet family members who, at one point, he never knew existed.
"[My daughter] gave him up for adoption out of self-love, because she wanted him to have a better life,” Rodriguez said.
Her daughter, Michelle, gave Benjamin up at birth to the Mevis family of Wausau, Wisconsin. Since then, Rodriguez was able to get in touch with the family and arrange the trip — something his adoptive mom is grateful for.
"I always felt like the connection, and for him to know is better than keeping it a secret,” Patricia Mevis said. “For him to know that he was loved from the beginning, and it wasn't 'She gave me away,' but 'She loved me so much that she made a choice, a difficult choice.'"
Benjamin and Mevis were greeted by signs held by a dozen family members living in Utah. It was a moment Rodriguez had been dreaming of.
"I haven't seen him for seven years since he was born, and I just want to hold him and hug him right now and tell him that we're very sorry for him having to be away from the family,” she said.
Ben and Mevis will be in town for three days visiting family. The two said they would spend quality time with the Rodriguez family and make visits like these a tradition.
