FB photo helps reunite mother with son after 15 yrs

A California mother and her teenage son have been reunited after 15 years apart, all thanks to an old family photograph posted to Facebook, report Daily Mail Online.

Before this week, Hope Holland hadn't seen her son Jonathan since he was 3 years old, when his father kidnapped him and fled to Mexico.

But Hope kept the faith and never stopped searching for Jonathan, who just happened to be looking for her, too.

While Hope spent years working with child services and private investigators to try and track down 18-year-old Jonathan, it was a Facebook search that ultimately led to their reunion.

Last year, back in Mexico, Jonathan posted an old photo of him and his mother to the site in hopes that she or his older brother might find it.

And find it they did, this past January. 'I'm happy he wanted to know me,' Hope told NBC Bay Area.

After a tearful reunion, and several hours speaking with border officials in Tijuana, the American-born teen and his mom flew back to Campbell, California to spend some much needed quality time together.

But things weren't always so joyful for Hope, who says she became suicidal after years of fruitless searching for Jonathan.

Before they parted: Jonathan was in search of his mother, and posted family photos to Facebook to help find them

'I had no reason to believe I was finding my son. Ever since I found him, my whole world, my whole outlook and direction changed,' said Holland.

Jonathan was taken by his father, with whom Hope shared custody, in 2000.

'His dad was going on vacation and had permission to take him. It was a normal day. I didn't think he was not coming back,' Hope told ABC 7.

Now a rising high school senior, Jonathan plans to return to Mexico to complete school 

He doesn't remember anything about the abduction, but says he'll return to California after he graduates and hopes being back with his mom and brother Jacob will help jog his memory.