My daughter was STOLEN from hospital at 3 days old – it took 17 years to track her down but my nightmare had just begun | The Sun
GAZING at her newborn daughter, young mum Celeste Nurse felt a rush of love and thought excitedly of the beautiful nursery she’d decorated for her new arrival.
But two days later, on April 30 1997, her world fell apart when a woman posing as a nurse picked up baby Zephany and calmly walked out of the Cape Town hospital as Celeste slept.
Despite frantic searches and a nationwide police hunt, it would be 17 years before she would see Zephany again – when a bizarre twist of fate brought them together.
Tragically, the joyful reunion led to more heartache for Celeste and husband Morné, as Zephany – now known as Miché – took the side of kidnapper Lavona Solomon, who had raised her as her own and was jailed for ten years over the crime.
Now, in an emotional interview ahead of the documentary Girl Taken, which streams on Paramount+ from today, mum-of-four Celeste opens up about the heartbreak of losing her first-born child not once but twice.
“When she was taken from hospital, it felt like somebody had ripped the heart out of my chest,” she says.
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“The saddest part was when I arrived home and saw the cot standing empty, the bottles unfilled, the toys and the nappy bag. I collapsed on the floor and just broke down.
“I was supposed to come home with my baby and the baby wasn't there.
“Even talking about it today, I get a feeling of fear, heartache, sadness and a sick feeling in my stomach.”
Although they never gave up hope, the tragic loss also caused the couple’s marriage to break down.
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