KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A set of twins who hadn't seen each other since they were a year old were reunited on their birthday at Kansas City International Airport.

The reunion Wednesday was 45 years in the making, KCTV in Kansas City reported.

Kevin Kuykendall waited anxiously for his sister, Lindi Deal, at Terminal C.

When they finally met, a hug ended decades of anticipation.

The twins were born in Kansas City and were separated at 18 months, when they were adopted by different families.

Deal lives in Louisiana, and Kuykendall lives in Effingham, Kan.

Deal, without knowing she was a twin, dreamed about having one. Though reluctant, her mother finally told her about Kuykendall.

They had been trying to find each other since they were 10 years old, the television station reported.

They finally connected and talked on the phone for the first time in December.

"Before we hung up, he told me he loved me, and it got me choked up," Deal said.

She gave her brother a special birthday gift: necklaces that they'll each wear.

Kuykendall's adoptive mother would have adopted both twins, but Deal had already been spoken for. Her adoptive mother was told that Kuykendall had special needs and chose not to adopt him, too.

After adopting Kuykendall, his adoptive mother went on to have three other children.