A former drug addict and alcoholic has managed to completely turn his life around and is now reunited with this son two decades after he was forced to give him up for adoption.
Randy Kemp, 55, from Carlsbad in California, gave his son Noah Anderson up for adoption when he was just six months old.
However, the pair have recently reunited after Randy kicked his habit and transformed his life.
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Randy found Noah, 20, on social media and was surprised to discover he lived just 90 minutes away in Riverside County.
The pair met up on Sunday 14 June in an emotional reunion, where Randy was able to tell his estranged son how he gave him up following a battle with drug addiction and a stint in prison.
Maintenance worker Randy said: "The meeting was amazing.
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"I told him what had happened twenty years ago but the most important thing I wanted to tell him was that it wasn't down to a lack of love.
"We're both really similar, it's crazy. We both played in the same positions in football and baseball, we both play guitar, and there are quirky similarities as well.
"We both hate black olives and both reverse into parking spaces rather that drive in forwards. We both have the same sense of humour.
"It was just really wonderful for a first meeting. I'm just really happy, it's life changing."
Randy admits that before going clean he was using a gram of cocaine and drinking a 12-pack of beer every single day. But since going to prison he's now in recovery and volunteers to help other addicts.
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Randy says he was already serving a prison sentence when he found out his then girlfriend was pregnant - by the time he was released little Noah was six months old.
He claims that as Noah was under the age of three he placed on a 'fast track' to be adopted and that he was given just 90 days to find a home, a job and to prove he was off the drugs.
He explained. "It was made very hard for me and I couldn't pull it off.
"I had to sign my rights away and do what was in the best interests of the child. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do because it signified what a failure I was.
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"My time in prison wasn't as painful as signing my rights away to my son."
Randy shared the story of the reunion on Twitter, and hopes it will help to inspire others.
He said: "Much to my shame, it took me a while to get on the straight and narrow with the drinking and drugs but I became sick and tired of being sick and tired.
"I used to live my life in fear of the future and regret of my past.
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"Now I've learned to live it one day at a time in the present moment, and the only person I'm trying to be better than today is the person I was yesterday.
"I've been rebuilding my life and looking after my health, going to recovery meetings, helping others in a similar position.
"I don't have any other kids and I've always wanted children which makes this so special.
"I've been overwhelmed by all the responses on Twitter. I hope my story gives someone else hope."
Featured Image Credit: Caters
Topics: Daily Ladness, Inspirational, Drugs, US