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LOST LOVE: DAVE & CHRISTIE CARLSEN

SYNOPSIS: In 1973, in Mason City, Iowa, Christie Wismer was 16 and her boyfriend, Dave Carlsen was 18. Their youthful romance burned briefly, but brightly. After six months together they broke up, only to discover that their love had consequences that would last a lifetime. Christie was about four months pregnant and just beginning to show when she and Dave told her parents with the news. Although Christie and Dave considered marriage, ultimately it seemed the best thing to do was to put the child up for adoption. Dave and Christie talked about getting married, but that was out of the question. In fact, Christie says she was forbidden to see Dave.

In June of 1974, Christie Wismer gave birth to a baby girl. The baby was immediately whisked away to be put up for adoption. Christie had only a few chances to look at her new daughter. Before the baby was 24 hours old, she was on her way to a new family. Christie Wismer never saw her daughter again. She and Dave Carlsen went their separate ways. They each married, had children, and divorced.

In 1995, Christie returned to Iowa for her 20-year high school reunion. Friends told her that Dave Carlsen had been asking about her. So Christie called him up. The romance that had smoldered for two decades re-ignited. Christie and Dave were married on June 22, 1996. Now, they feel their happiness would be complete if they could locate their daughter. Dave and Christie know little about their daughter. They believe that she was adopted through the Catholic Charities organization by a Minnesota couple who may have named her Karen. She was born on June 19, 1974 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Mason City, Iowa and would now be 22 years old.

UPDATE: Christie Wismer and Dave Carlsen's search for the daughter they put up for adoption 22 years ago came to a happy ending just moments after their poignant story aired on Unsolved Mysteries. Karen Jacobs of Ft. Myers, Florida called the Unsolved Mysteries phone center and provided information which identified her as the couple's daughter. Karen's mother-in-law had watched the show and immediately contacted her. Karen, who goes by the name Kate, stated that she had known since childhood about her adoption and, with her adoptive parent's blessing, had always wanted to meet her birth parents. It was a thrilling and emotional moment for both birth mother and daughter to finally speak to each other.

Kate is married and has a young daughter. Christie and Dave are ecstatic that not only have they found their daughter but are now also grandparents. At the time this update was compiled, the two families were busily planning their reunion, which was to occur within a few weeks. At that time, Kate, who has an older adoptive brother, planned to meet not only her birth parents, but two half-brothers, a half-sister, and several aunts and uncles.

Christie Wismer Carlsen was only 16 when she put her daughter up for adoption. Thanks to Unsolved Mysteries, the two have been reunited.