News Article August, 2001

Years of dedication and persistence finally paid off and father and daughter sit beside each other talking and laughing as if they've never been apart. Ludingtons Caroline and her father, Davey Arell, were reunited Aug. 14 after 24 years of being apart. Carolines parents divorced when she was 3 years old. Her mother was awarded custody of Caroline and Arell was granted reasonable visitation. But, Arell explains, If I didn't know where she was, that didn't mean much. No one would help me find her. For years, Arell searched for Caroline. Because she and her mother moved often, his search was futile. At one point, Caroline lived in San Jose, and when Arell learned of her whereabouts, he traveled to see her. When he got there he found she had left the day before. In the meantime, Caroline began her own search. I wondered where he was all the time, she said. She had a copy of Arells birth certificate listing his birthplace as California, so she started there, making her way through a list of California cities and towns and calling directory assistance, trying to gather whatever information she could. Every lead resulted in another disappointment. Arells search continued, too, but Carolines moves with her mother took her to Washington state, Oregon, New York state and eventually Ludington, leaving him no obvious clues with which to work. I looked for her until I gave up, said Arell. I thought, If anybodys going to find anybody, she'll find me. Enter modern technology. About a year ago, Caroline began posting messages to genealogy and missing person sites on the Internet. In March, one of Arells relatives surfaced, and Caroline e-mailed him via the Web site. Can you help? she asked. And he e-mailed back the word Caroline had been waiting for: Yes. His information led her to her fathers sister, also named Caroline, and through her she contacted Arells mother. Carolines new-found grandmother was amazed, and so nervous she couldnt find Dads phone number. But she did give her the number of Arells sister Debra, who told her Arell lived in Berry Creek, California. One more call to directory assistance and Caroline had her fathers phone number. Arell explains that on Aug. 10 he came home from work to the ringing of his new telephone, the first hed had in 10 years. Is this Dave? Its Caroline. Initially, he thought it was his sister, but Caroline said, You're my dad. It kind of floored me, Arell said. That first night, five days before Carolines birthday, the two talked for hours. Arell closed the conversation with a promise: You gave me my daughter back, he told her. Im going to give you your dad for your birthday. Arells boss, a father himself, was fully supportive of Arells last-minute flight to Michigan, to the extent of funding the trip. Caroline and Arell were apprehensive about meeting in person. I was so nervous! she said. But when he came through the gate at the airport, Arell said he walked right to her. The two have been talking ever since, catching up on the past 24 years. On Aug. 15, Caroline received her first birthday cake from her father. The two share some striking similarities. They both have a weakness for French vanilla ice cream and take their coffee the same way, with cream and sugar. When he packed for his Michigan trip, Arell decided to bring Caroline his prized Red Wings mug. Unbeknownst to him, the Red Wings is Bills favorite sports team. Arell, employed by a well-drilling operation in California, is considering a move to Michigan. Ive taken care of kids for years, Arell said. Kids that werent mine. But theres a void thats not filled unless theyre your own. Finally, after all this time, I have a daughter. Its an awesome experience, added Caroline. The best part is being able to call someone Dad.