David and Sean Goldman Reunited – Finally!

After five long years, David Goldman has finally been reunited with his son Sean, just in time for Christmas.

Read the letter of thanks David Goldman wrote and watch a touching video on MSNBC.

Many of you may recall that six months ago we all celebrated a legal ruling that should have led to this reunion. On June 1st, a Brazilian judge ordered that Sean Goldman be returned to his father in New Jersey in 48 hours. Yet the wealthy and politically powerful Brazilian family holding Sean appealed the ruling, and David’s custody battle continued.

David and Sean arrived in Florida yesterday at 6pm ET, and CNN International reports the reunited family will spend the holiday together in Disney World.

The Obama administration and David’s Congressional representatives have been fully behind David Goldman’s efforts to bring his son home, and even Brazilian public sentiment recently turned in David’s favor. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has been in Brazil with David since the House recessed on December 18th. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) held up a trade bill that stood to greatly benefit Brazil until Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Sean had to be returned to comply with international law.

Watch Rep. Smith speak after David and Sean’s reunion:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pressured Brazil to return Sean, and issued a press statement yesterday expressing her warm wishes for David and Sean and appreciation for Brazil’s cooperation “in upholding its obligations under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.” Five years isn’t my definition of “cooperation,” but then again, I’m not a diplomat, just an activist mom

Some background: On June 16, 2004, Bruna Goldman and her parents took her son Sean from their home in New Jersey, United States to her native Brazil for what was supposed to be a vacation, only later to inform her husband David Goldman that their marriage was over and she was keeping Sean with her in Brazil. This act violated the Hague Treaty on International Child Abduction, signed by many countries including the United States and Brazil, making Sean a victim of international child abduction. And thus began David’s nightmare.

In August 2008, Bruna died tragically and left Sean in custody of her new husband Joao Paulo Lins e Silva, a lawyer and member of a prominent family in Brazil, who then filed to replace David’s name on Sean’s birth certificate with his own.

Since 2004 David Goldman has fought a desperate and expensive legal battle for custody of his son. But David’s friends and people around the world rallied to his side, forming the Bring Sean Home Foundation. Earlier this year the full U.S. Congress passed two resolutions supporting Sean Goldman’s return to his father. Close to 60,000 people signed the petition urging Sean Goldman’s return. And over 61,000 people have joined the campaign’s Facebook group.

Read more: brazil, child abduction, human rights, success story

Photo of David and Sean Goldman before Sean's abduction in 2004 courtesy of the Bring Sean Home campaign.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ellinor S.

1:29PM PDT on Apr 28, 2010

Thank you

send a green star

Wilson A.

12:27PM PST on Jan 17, 2010

Hi, David and Sean!

I'm brazilian man.
My congratulations for your vitory!!!!
The Justice always wins
You, David is the real father of Sean.
You have all the rights to care of your son, and be happy together him.
Now, we brazilian people got understand this case and all their details.

My Congratulations for you!

The Trust wins again.

Only real fathers can love their sons.

Great!

Tomoko H.

10:53AM PST on Jan 11, 2010

Somebody is going to make a movie about this case. You could bet money in Las Vegas on that.

Past Member .

6:26AM PST on Jan 10, 2010

I watched a small bit of the television-show concerning Sean's return to 'home', and one bit struck me as "what it was all about"... the part where the kid was playing outdoors and hollered to his Father "Dad, come here...come here, Dad". *That* and the ability of Dad to actually be able to do so (come here to Sean, so to speak)...well, it made me pause a moment and think that 'Yeah, its all good now'...and what was so hard about seeing *that* as the reason for all the hubbub (sp?) over the last couple years (?!?!?!).

Welcome home, young man! Back to being a kid while you still can :-)

Drnkn L.

7:16PM PST on Jan 8, 2010

David i hope you set presidence in the U.S. because what you went thru was a travesty and it happens here in the good ol USA everyday. Except the child isn't being kept on foreign soil.
it is six years in the fight to obtain what is the legal right of Sean to be among his biological father and Sean's grand parents.
"CONGRADULATIONS" Sean for not giving up and David "CONGRADULATIONS" on your patience on your victory and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Sean and may your bond as father and son grow and be inseparable, with strong love and convictions.
Drnkn Lncln

Cristen L.

2:36PM PST on Jan 8, 2010

wonderful news!

Alicia N.

12:11PM PST on Jan 8, 2010

That's so good, family is always first. Congratulations guys !!!!!

carole h.

4:28PM PST on Jan 7, 2010

FAMILY REUNIONS ARE GREAT!

Edgar Z.

9:06AM PST on Jan 7, 2010

Sorry but I do not agree, at least for now with the Brazilian
family visit.
I think they were the guilty of everything that happened.
The maternal grandparents of Sean are the co-authors of
his kidnapping.
Perhaps from here some time... If that is convenient for Sean,
after all, he is the most innocent of everything that happened.
I think Sean should be adapted for new life near his father,
of where he never should have left.
Of the way as David demonstrated his love by Sean, I believe that that will not be difficult.
With much faith and patience, initial difficulties will be easily won.
Moreover, this Brazilian family is too possessive. See the facts.
Perhaps, at the moment can be liberated photos and videos
for the Brazilian family, or even, communication by the MSN,
but visit now... not.
The best for Sean and David.

Jane S.

9:26PM PST on Jan 6, 2010

Namaste' Maggie B.

I, too, would have the same concerns. As I'm sure David does. I think it would be safe to say the visits would be supervised by him IN THE USA.

This would be done in what is best for Sean's emotional health. He is 5 years old and it is a critical time when children are learning is the world safe and secure for me.

In that light I would be also set up Internet Video time for Sean and his Brazilian Family.

I think we can all agree we want the best outcome for an emotionally healthy and happy 5 tear old child.

IN JOY,
Jakus