“We were strangers,” Ha Nguyen says of Isabella Solimene. The twin sisters were born in Vietnam to a single mother who couldn’t take care of them, but it’s shortly after their birth that their stories diverge.
Both girls were eventually adopted—but under very different circumstances. The orphanage that Ha and Isabella’s biological mother took them to wouldn’t accept Ha because of her health issues, and so this twin sister ended up being adopted by her Aunt Ro, her mother’s sister. Ha grew up an only child in a one-bedroom house in a rural village, raised on milk from the family cow, breathing in the fresh air of the countryside, and having free run of the green fields surrounding her home. She describes it as “a beautiful childhood.”
Isabella, on the other hand, was adopted at the age of three by an American couple who would raise her over 9,000 miles away in the state of Illinois. Keely and Mick Solimene also adopted Isabella’s best friend at the orphanage, a girl the same age who they named Olivia. Isabella and Olivia grew up with four other brothers and sisters, the Solimenes’ biological children, in a loud and loving household. Their typical American childhood in Chicago was also a happy one.
Separate Existences
And so neither Ha nor Isabella felt that they needed anything else. And although they both knew of the other’s existence, neither girl tried to locate the other. They were busy living their own lives in their own, close-knit families.
But someone else thought it was absolutely vital for the girls to know each other, and that person was Keely Solimene. Keely says it was a feeling of deep connection to Vietnam that pushed her to look for Isabella’s twin sister. “I knew that while the girls were too young at the time to understand the feelings I had, I always knew they would mature into young women that would share the same feelings.”
So in 2011, Isabella flew to Cam Ranh to meet her 13-year-old twin for the first time. Ha, in rural Vietnam, got into a vehicle for the first time in her life to be driven to the city. Exhausted and car sick, she burst into tears when she saw Isabella. “We hugged, but it was awkward,” Isabella remembers.
Not Love at First Sight
Twin reunions are known for being emotional events where the two parties feel instant connection—but that wasn’t the case for Isabella and Ha. An ocean of cultural differences separated them, not to mention the language barrier. Everything they said to each other had to pass through an interpreter. It made conversation slow and tedious.
“We did not bond on that trip,” acknowledges Isabella. Ha agrees.
After Isabella went back to Chicago, Keely made sure that the girls kept in touch via a weekly Skype session, at which there was also an interpreter. These sessions went about as well as their in-person meeting: forced time together that neither girl wanted. But Keely didn’t give up. Ha was family, and Keely knew that the girls would grow to appreciate that connection.
Slowly, they did. Isabella and Ha started to use Google Translate to send each other text messages. Without an interpreter as a go-between, conversation was easier, more natural. They could share more things. The sisters started to form a bond. The next year, when Isabella flew back to Vietnam to see her sister a second time, the reunion was more joyful. The two girls were friends.
When Ha was given the opportunity to live with the Solimenes and finish her high school years in Chicago, Isabella was both delighted and nervous. Would Ha fit in with her already large family? Would there be any jealousy between Ha (her twin sister) and Olivia (her adopted sister)?
She needn’t have worried. “To my surprise,” Isabella said, “when Ha came in, it was like she was completing a puzzle. We didn’t have to find a spot for her. It was like she was always supposed to be here.”
Twin Sisters, Best Friends
While Ha and Isabella’s twin bond might not have been instantaneous when they met each other for the first time at the age of 13, it has since had ample time to grow. After completing high school, the girls went to college together. And while Ha remains close to her family in Vietnam, she has now found her other half.
“We have a strong emotional understanding of each other that I don’t have with my other brothers and sisters,” Isabella said of their twin bond. “It’s just this feeling of sameness. She’ll understand what I’m feeling without me having to say a word.”
Keely Solimene can now feel justified in her efforts to bring the twin sisters together. Their reunion—and the time to nurture and solidify their unique bond—was a true gift given by someone who truly loves them.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.