Meet me on the bridge: Discovering the truth about my parents after 20 years (FULL FILM) BBC Stories

When Kati Pohler was three days old she was left at a market in China. She was later adopted by an American family.
When she was 20, Kati discovered her birth parents had left her a note, and that every year on the same day, they waited for her on a famous bridge in Hangzhou.

Filmed and directed by Changfu Chang.

[holoa]

'You look so much like your mum .. but you don't understand what I'm saying', said her mum. That hit hard

[hitomitanaka]

I like the Dad. He's an old romantic. "Meet me on the bridge in 20 years".

[jessicahaskins]

It's so strange to think that thousands of girls have similar stories. I'm also adopted from China and raised in the US. My parents told me from the beginning, "your biological parents loved you so much and sacrificed their lives to give you up and give you a chance for a better life". Although I was never interested in finding my biological parents, I believe they really did love me and had no option bc of the 1 child policy.

[chennabay]

As an adoptee from China myself, this definitely hits home. It's so interesting to see how us adoptees ended up and also to see the similarities. I hope that one day, I will find my biological parents as well.

[kiirakunn]

fact that her dad lived across the globe and thought of her every day and felt so much love and guilt, while some dads live in same city as their kids and dont give a shit, is just heartbreaking

[JB-uoty]

"her birth dad texts her "good morning" and "good night" every day" - i cry so hard

[nt]

Kudos to the adoptive parents for doing a good job in raising Katie to be an emotionally matured adult.

[williamsimpson]

Kati was so open and forgiving - she never blamed her biological parents and wanted to meet them with open arms. Wow. And kudos to the adoptive parents for their unwavering love and support, they're amazing too! This is moving and impactful. Glad there was a happy ending.

[TheBlackBeltPanda]

For those wondering what the note says:
“Our daughter, Jingzhi, was born at 10am on the 24th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, 1995. We have been forced by poverty and affairs of the world to abandon her. Oh, pity the hearts of fathers and mothers far and near! Thank you for saving our little daughter and taking her into your care. If the heavens have feelings, if we are brought together by fate, then let us meet again on the Broken Bridge in Hangzhou on the morning of the Qixi Festival in 10 or 20 years from now.”

[jennyng]

one minor translation error here. When they're at the video chat, after Kati's biological mother said "thank you", she didn't just say "for taking care of Kati" but "for raising her to become such a wonderful child."

[sandrataylor]

Kati has been doubly blessed with two sets of parents who truly love her very much. Glad that she has finally met her birth parents.

[ananyaverma]

The biological dad won my heart. How expressive he is of his love and regret. And the fact that like every Asian dad, he too likes to text his children Goodnight and Good morning. I loved this.

[wangxian]

I lost it and cried when her parents gave her the red packet full of 20 years of money. Red packets is a custom, older married relatives will always give the younger generation red packets. This means every chinese new year, they put aside money and saved red packets for her. Every year they were thinking of her, probably prepared two red packets — one for her sister and one for her — and saved it for their younger daughter, hoping to give it to her one day. The level of thoughtfulness and love for their daughter completely blows my mind.

[LouisaKloe]

Yo they signed it "from your heartless parents" I am in tears

[YIGlz]

Being an adoptive parent is so difficult. You walk a very thin line. I don't think they get enough credit. People will always have something to say. Make sure you keep the kid close to their culture, make sure they know the language, make sure they learn their history. All the while, people forget how difficult it is raising a child as is.

[monfisch]

I could understand the mother, the father speaks in a dialect that I’m not familiar with. But their anguish was obvious. And when they pulled out the lucky money, it had me crying. That’s what parents do every new year for their children.

[NBA]

man wtf this sad af, this quarantine got me watching all types of stuff

[lilyraimey]

IT BROKE MY HEART WHEN SHE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND HER MOTHER’S FIRST WORDS TO HER! Oh my God...

[maggie_o]

Oh wow I'm bubbling like a baby. You can literally feel their pain on the bridge 😭 You notice how the Mum didn't smile once until she got her baby back? She looked like a whole new woman 😭❤️

[deatbird]

As an adopted child, I understand that they were afraid that they would lose her love. However if they trusted the upbringing they provided, they would see that they would never lose her love. My adopted mom is my mom. My birth mom is a friend.