WHAG EXCLUSIVE - The holidays bring many families and friends together, sometimes from worlds apart, but for some like the Hird family, it's a much more difficult task.
Leon was 10 and Donald was 13 when the two brothers were separated by the state of Maryland. At the time their mother was suffering from serious health issues and could not take care of their youngest, Leon.
Leon was sent away to spend time with immediate family before he ended up in foster families homes, meanwhile the state deemed Donny old enough to care for himself, and their mother.
"We grew up in Hagerstown," says Leon Hird.
Leon went back to see his mother and brother in 1995, but its been years since he's made any contact.
"The last time I saw him was for a brief second. I went to visit down there, I was talking to him on the phone, and when I got down there, he answered the door and it's kind of like he didn't recognize me, didn't know who I was," adds Hird.
Leon now lives in Ohio with his wife, Samantha and little boy, Damien. Together they desperately search for their long lost family member who they say could possibly be somewhere in the four state region.
"We've tried looking on the social network sites, Facebook, Myspace, even White Pages," says Samantha.
During WHAG's Skype interview the family also revealed they received a tip, saying their brother, Donald might be working with a local Salvation Army, but when WHAG reached out, no one recognized the name.
Leon's message to his long lost brother says, "We've been looking for you. You have a nephew. He's a very smart, and handsome kid. I would definitely love for them to be apart of each others lives. We go back a long time. I think 20 years without your brother is way too long."
Little Damien also wants his Uncle to know, "I miss you. I love you. I'd like to meet you."
If you know Donald Hird, or know of him, please reach out to WHAG by e-mailing us at news@whag.com.
You never know, you could be the one to help us make a Christmas miracle for one family come true.
Leon was 10 and Donald was 13 when the two brothers were separated by the state of Maryland. At the time their mother was suffering from serious health issues and could not take care of their youngest, Leon.
Leon was sent away to spend time with immediate family before he ended up in foster families homes, meanwhile the state deemed Donny old enough to care for himself, and their mother.
"We grew up in Hagerstown," says Leon Hird.
Leon went back to see his mother and brother in 1995, but its been years since he's made any contact.
"The last time I saw him was for a brief second. I went to visit down there, I was talking to him on the phone, and when I got down there, he answered the door and it's kind of like he didn't recognize me, didn't know who I was," adds Hird.
Leon now lives in Ohio with his wife, Samantha and little boy, Damien. Together they desperately search for their long lost family member who they say could possibly be somewhere in the four state region.
"We've tried looking on the social network sites, Facebook, Myspace, even White Pages," says Samantha.
During WHAG's Skype interview the family also revealed they received a tip, saying their brother, Donald might be working with a local Salvation Army, but when WHAG reached out, no one recognized the name.
Leon's message to his long lost brother says, "We've been looking for you. You have a nephew. He's a very smart, and handsome kid. I would definitely love for them to be apart of each others lives. We go back a long time. I think 20 years without your brother is way too long."
Little Damien also wants his Uncle to know, "I miss you. I love you. I'd like to meet you."
If you know Donald Hird, or know of him, please reach out to WHAG by e-mailing us at news@whag.com.
You never know, you could be the one to help us make a Christmas miracle for one family come true.
