Two Austrian women who were accidentally switched at birth in a hospital in Graz have met each other for the first time—35 years later.
According to Austrian media, Doris Grünwald and Jessica Baumgartner were both born prematurely in October 1990 at the LKH-Uniklinikum in Graz. In a tragic mix-up, the newborns were given to the wrong families and raised apart, unaware of the error.
The truth began to unravel in 2012, when Doris Grünwald, then an adult, discovered her blood type didn’t match that of her parents, Evelin and Josef Grünwald, after a routine blood donation. This discovery triggered a legal and emotional battle that drew national attention.
Despite public interest—including coverage by Austrian broadcaster ORF in 2016—efforts to locate the other family were initially unsuccessful.
Years later, Jessica Baumgartner, raised by Herbert and Monika Derler just a short distance away, faced her own surprise. While pregnant, she was told by doctors that her blood type was incompatible with that of her parents. Her doctor then mentioned the unresolved case of the switched babies in Graz.
Curious and determined to uncover the truth, Jessica reached out to Doris via Facebook. The two women eventually connected and arranged to meet, bringing closure to a decades-long mystery.
The emotional reunion highlights both the fragility and resilience of family bonds—and has reignited conversations in Austria about hospital protocols and safeguards for newborns.
