See the emotional reunion of 2 sisters after 66 years apart

"I always wanted a sister to dress up with," says Karen Simpton

Mike Krumboltz

They hadn't seen each other in two-thirds of a century, but time couldn't dampen the joy two sisters felt after seeing each other for the first time. Their reunion was filmed by KCRA.

Karen and Anne Simpton were abandoned by their parents in 1948. Anne recently traveled to Karen's home in Auburn, Calif., to reconnect after speaking over the phone and Internet. Their first embrace, captured on camera, speaks to the power of sibling relationships, despite the roughest of circumstances.

As soon as Anne exited her car, she looked at her newly found sister and said, "You've grown up. You were a 12-month-old when I saw you."

Karen spoke of a longtime wish come true.

"I always wanted a sister to dress up with, to play tea parties with. I never had one," she told KRCA.

Three other siblings were also left behind at the Portland, Ore., orphanage all those years ago. Karen is planning another reunion with her older brother, according to KCRA. Cousins, siblings and other relatives are expected to attend.

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