On February 27, Zephany Nurse, a girl kidnapped from Groote Schuur Hospital in 1997, was found and reunited with her family.

At just three days old, Nurse was stolen from her sleeping mother’s arms. For the first 17 years of her life, Zephany was raised by her kidnapper and her husband just miles away from the home of her biological family. She became reunited with them after she befriended her biological sister, Cassidy Nurse, at school.

When the two girls met, they bonded instantly. “There was just an incredible connection,” Zephany’s aunt, Shantal Berry, told the Cape Talk radio station. Teachers and classmates instantly pointed out how similar the two friends looked.

When Cassidy invited Zephany over for coffee at her house, her parents, Celeste and Morne Nurse, noticed the uncanny similarities between the two girls as well. They decided to call the police and run a DNA test.

After they received the results, they discovered that Zephany was in fact their long lost daughter.

The 50-year-old woman accused of kidnapping Zephany was arrested and charged with kidnapping, fraud, and contravening sections of the Children’s Act. (The Gurardian). “She fraudulently pretended that she was the biological mother of a child,” Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut, a police spokesman said. “The kidnapped girl has since been placed in the care of the Department of Social Services of the Western Cape Government.”

Celeste and Morne, who never gave up their hope of finding their daughter, plan on throwing a joyous celebration to commemorate the return of Zephany. “Over the years there was negative talk from people outside about her being killed, but not in the family,” Berry said. “We knew she was alive. We had birthday parties for her every year. She’s back now and we’re going to have a big party” (Examiner).