When the Red Cross learned that Pavel had surviving relatives, the adoption was not approved and Pavel was taken to his uncle Eugen Ketely. In order to clearly identify Pavel as his nephew, his uncle took him to his parents' home in Prague, which Pavel immediately recognized. Pavel Hoffmann describes living with his uncle as very difficult, as they were both traumatized by their experiences in the concentration camp.

Pavel lived with his uncle until he emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1948 with his new wife and their biological child.