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Thanks to the collaborative efforts by the American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Region and PinnacleHealth, Victoria, (pictured here), a refugee from Liberia, was able to connect with her family after years of having lost contact. Victoria's last name is being withheld for security purposes.

(Dan Tobin/The American Red Cross)

She had not spoken to her children in three years; she had not seen them in 12 years.

Victoria had left her war-torn home in Liberia in 2004 to embark on a new life. Until recently, she had no idea if her children - her family - were still alive.

Hers is the story of a refugee who flees a war-torn homeland to seek the safety of a new, foreign home, struggling to establish a new life amid language and cultural barriers - and the tugging at the heart of her homesickness for her family.

Victoria settled in Harrisburg and now her story rings of hope after social workers with PinnacleHealth and the American Red Cross connected the 47-year-old mother with her family.

The American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Region on Monday published Victoria's story, and gave PennLive permission to retell that story. For security purposes, Victoria asked that her last name be withheld.

Three years ago, Victoria started working with Cori Drenning, a PinnacleHealth social working at an outpatient health clinic in her community.

Liberia, a country in West Africa, has largely been rocked by two civil wars that have left the nation deeply divided. Thousands of refugees have resettled in the United States. By 2014, the country became one among several other West African nations (Guinea and Sierra Leone) to have been knocked back down by the Ebola virus.

FILE - In this Aug. 19, 2014 file photo, people do business at the Waterside local market in the center of Monrovia, Liberia. Just as their economies had begun to recover from the man-made horror of coups and civil war, the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been knocked back down by the Ebola virus. (AP Photo/Abbas Dulleh, File)

"There were rebels fighting in my little city of Pleebo," Victoria told The American Red Cross. "We became refugees as a result of the violence."

Victoria left Pleebo, along with her three children, two sisters, and two brothers. Her husband had passed away.

Three years ago, still struggling with English, she found herself alone after her Liberian boyfriend walked out on her.

Dolatoski set about to reconnect her with her family. A friend directed him to the local chapter of the American Red Cross - and its Restoring Family Links Program, a joint effort of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The program reunites people who have become separated due to wars, man-made disasters or migration.

For months, representatives from the Red Cross in the U.S. and Liberia collaborated to find Victoria's family.

In May 2016 word came through the Red Cross network that contact had been made. The family was located in a very remote area of the country, which was a 90-minute drive followed by a 60-minute walk to the nearest communication center. No cell service was available, so all communication would be done via handwritten messages.

"I saw the pictures and letters and was very happy," Victoria told The Red Cross. "It had been three years since I spoke to my children and 12 years since I'd seen them. I was so happy."

Victoria's family was located in a very remote area of the country. No cell phone service was available; all communication would be done via handwritten messages.

"I sent them a letter," Victoria said. "I want to see them. I miss them so much."

Jeri Sims, Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Regional CEO, said Victoria's story underscores the value of collaborative efforts between organizations.

"PinnacleHealth has been a strong partner with the Red Cross, providing financial support for our Home Fire Preparedness Campaign and supplying volunteers for our home fire install events," Sims said. "Victoria's story highlights a new chapter of collaboration between our organizations. Working together, there's no end to what we can accomplish."

In 2015, Restoring Family Links distributed more than 100,000 messages and facilitated close to 500,000 phone calls between relatives in countries throughout the world. The program reunited some 1,000 children with their families.