Folsom Woman Reunited With Box Of Memories Nearly Two Decades Later

FOLSOM (CBS13) — A box of memories lost in an international move is on its way back to its owner nearly two decades later, thanks to the power of social media.

Trudy Scott thought the box of photos were long gone 17 years ago. Little did she know, a woman near San Diego kept them safe this whole time.

Scott and her husband moved to the United States from South Africa in 1993, with nothing but two suitcases each.

"Saved up, bought an old Chevy camper van and traveled around the U.S. rock climbing. It was absolutely fantastic," she said.

Scott asked her brother to bring more of her things when he moved to the United States in 1998, but a box full of photos never made it.

The moving company instead gave the box to Jeanette Smith, who also was coming to California from South Africa in 1998.

All this time, Smith knew the box belonged to Trudy Hatfield, Trudy's maiden name. When she couldn't find her, Smith reached out to our sister station in San Diego.

Scott, a well-known nutritionist and author received emails from fans who saw the story within an hour.

"It's very special. it's amazing that someone could hold onto a box for 17 years, especially when you've moved so many times," she said.

It turns out the anchor in San Diego, Barbara Lee Edwards, saw the story and knew a Hatfield from South Africa. That was Crombie Hatfield, Trudy's brother.

"So some way or another, I was gonna find out about it," Scott said.

But it's the human kindness in all of this that amazes her the most.

"The people that have seen the shows and they've heard the story, they just say 'Oh i've just got this faith in humanity again,'" she said.