Woman Adopts Baby From Same Orphanage Where Her Mother Found Her Four Decades Ago

MALVERNE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Like mother, like daughter -- A Long Island woman followed in her mother's footsteps and adopted a child from the same Central American orphanage where her parents found her four decades ago.

"He came into the family just completely as you would give birth to your other child, and now we're a family of five," Andrea Glassing said of her son Gabe who is about to turn one.

Gabe's journey to Long Island uniquely bound three generations, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported.

In May, Glassing and her husband adopted the boy from Bogota, Colombia. In fact, from the same orphanage where Glassing's parents adopted her 41 years ago.

After having two biological children of her own, Glassing decided to pay it forward.

"They're amazing people what they did for me, and I couldn't imagine not doing that for another child," she said.

Glassing kept news clippings chronicling her own journey. In 1975, her mother also traveled to Colombia to adopt a toddler, but instead found 2-day-old Glassing and fell in love. The two don't share DNA, but do share the conviction that adoption doesn't have to be a last resort.

"It's miraculous that he is in our family, and I think it's one of the best things that's ever happened to them. Just like I felt it was one of my best decisions, I think this is one of their best decisions. And if she does it again, that would be great!" Glassing's mother Liz McGeary said.

According to the adoption center, four percent of their cases are children returning decades later to adopt kids of their own. The center said all adoptions are special, but second-generation adoptions make them feel like proud grandparents.

The adoption process has improved in the past four decades. What hasn't changed is the drive to give an abandoned child a loving home.

"There is just a life that's saved, more or less. I don't know where I'd be without my parents," Glassing said.

With a table set for Thanksgiving and a birthday celebration, the family marveled in the gift of life and love passed on from one generation to another.