Klamath Falls, Ore. – Dr. Stacey Addison’s Mom lives in Klamath Falls – NBC5 caught up with a very tired, but very happy Bernadette Kero Tuesday morning.
Stacey’s Mom Bernadette Kero says she’s known for several days that her daughter would be getting back her passport…
“We knew Friday, but the State Department said not to say anything until she actually left, and was on the plane – which was good with me, I just wanted to see her on that plane.”
Kero got a call from her daughter just before takeoff…
“She sounded very good. Was very happy to be on her way.”
An embassy staffer called Kero a short time later…’
“He called me the minute it took off, and he said, ‘the plane has taken off, she’s in the air, and she’s on her way’.”
Kero says while she would have preferred to have her daughter home sooner, the timing was good. Kero almost traveled to East Timor to be with Stacey…
“If nothing happened by the first week of March, I was just going to go – and then it happened, so I’m glad I held off.”
Kero says her daughter spent last night in Singapore…
“And from there, she’ll go to Taiwan, Vancouver, Portland.”
Kero plans to be in Portland Wednesday and meet her daughter at the airport.
“Can’t wait for that.” Notes Kero. “Just give her a big hug and tell her I love her. Just so glad it’s over.”
Kero’s phone has been ringing non-stop. One call came in from the State Department during our interview.
In addition to legislative help, Kero says the media has also played a role in her daughter’s release…
“Oh, a lot! I think social media, and the media – if it weren’t for that, people wouldn’t have known about it.”
And she’s grateful for the help…and happy that her daughter Stacey is on her way home.’
Kero wasn’t sure of her daughter’s immediate plans, though she said it’s likely Stacey will spend a few days in Portland, catching up with friends.
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