Long-lost sister connects with family after STAR story

March 5, 2021, will forever be etched in the memories of the Salmon siblings as that precious day when they finally located a long-lost sister.

It was only a few hours after Shellion Salmon's story of attempting to locate sister Jacqueline Salmon appeared in THE WEEKEND STAR that the four sisters were bonding via a WhatsApp video call.

Shellion had been searching for Jacqueline since 2003, after their dad passed, but all attempts were futile. She was on the brink of giving up.

"After the story come out on Friday, my phone was just ringing off the hook. This man from Falmouth called to say he know the lady in the photo, her name is Jacky and her mother's name is Winnie, and he would try and get her number for me," Shellion told THE STAR. "But before he did, I got the last call, which made the 11th call. The person was crying, but I hung up because I didn't know what to say."

"When I finally called back, I hear the person say, 'Shellion, my sister' and I said, 'Jacky' and she say, 'Yeah', and both of us were there crying," she added.

EXCITING NEWS

Having confirmed that it was definitely Jacqueline, now 57, Shellion shared the exciting news with the extended family.

"I called my sisters and mom overseas to tell them that I found her. Then I hook up all of us on WhatsApp with Jacky and when she came on the screen, everybody scream out, because she looks like our dad even more than the other siblings," said Shellion. "We were like, 'Jesus, look at daddy', and everybody just broke down in tears. It was just like a moment of joy. We cry for about five to 10 minutes."

Their dad Hubert Salmon had only given them sparse information about Jacqueline, whose mother he met while working as a truck driver in Trelawny.

"Her mom told me the story of how she met my dad, but the last time she saw my dad was when Jacky was nine years old," Shellion revealed. As for Jacqueline, she is still in disbelief and has been cherishing the moments.

"I was shocked and in tears when I saw the story and realise that my sister is looking for me. I also didn't know that my father passed away, so that was really touching for me," she told THE STAR. "It feels wonderful. I cried a lot, especially when I was hooked up with all the sisters after Shelly called. We talk every day now and it is just wonderful, because all along I didn't know I had other brothers and sisters other than the two my mother has."

Only three of the five Salmon siblings are living in Jamaica now, Jacqueline, Shellion and their brother, Sheldon. Plans are being made for a link-up soon.

"I'm planning to go see her [this] weekend coming. I just to want to see her, hug her, because I still can't believe it is real," said Shellion. "We talk every day since then, and she talk to the other siblings as well and it is just great. I really I just want to thank THE STAR for changing our lives."