TV show, ‘Long Lost Family,’ proved to be a real tear-jerker last
week, after a Nigerian father collapsed and threw his first meeting with
his 39-year-old daughter into jeopardy.
Laura Aker, who grew up in Kirkcaldy in Scotland, needed to know why
her father, Andrew Olum Ekpang, abandoned her after meeting her mother
while training for the navy.
The mother-of-three discovered that the man she called dad was not
her real father as a teenager, before being shown a letter where Andy
promised to return. Show host, Nicky Campbell and the team, found
Laura’s half-brother, Ntem, on Facebook and made contact with him.
He revealed that he knew from birth about Laura and that she had
always been important to Andy, but financial constraints meant he
couldn’t see her. Andy was “very elated” to see his daughter for the
first time, but tragedy struck when he collapsed a week before he was
due to travel and was taken to hospital.
It was touch and go whether he would be able to fly, but fortunately
after three weeks, his doctor gave him the all clear to fly over to meet
his daughter. Andy arrived at the airport with his walking stick beside
his son, Ntem.
Speaking to Nicky, he said: “I had to [make it] and it is really
wonderful and great. I felt terribly happy and thanked my god that my
daughter had been looking for me. I have always been thinking about her.
It’s sad. There are moments I sit round with my children and Laura is
not there.”
Laura broke down in tears after Davina McCall told her that her dad
has been found and was ‘thrilled’ to see her – before letting her know
she has 12 siblings. They finally shared a hug during an emotional
meeting at a hotel where Laura and her dad said they loved each other.
Ntem broke down in tears of happiness and admitted his half-sister
“meant so much” to them. Laura said: “I just felt a connection straight
away. When my dad said he loved me it was everything I hoped for.
Now I feel not only part of my family in Scotland but also part of my massive family in Nigeria.”
Source: DailyMirror