Elaine

Adopted shortly after birth, I grew up in a very loving home. I was always loved by my parents and was never treated any different because I was adopted.

I had your basic childhood: attended school, church, summer vacations, get-togethers with relatives … and, when I was 15 or 16, my parents told me I was adopted; at the time, I didn’t fully understand it, nor did I question where I came from.

Shortly after graduating high school, I got married and moved from South Florida to Central Florida. Though my marriage ended a few years later, I soon remarried, also gaining two stepsons; I loved them as if they were my own. My husband and I later had another child, completing our family.

Since then, I’ve often wondered where I came from … if my biological parents were still alive, if I had any siblings. Sometimes I even looked at people and wondered if we were related. Though I requested search information from CHS a few times, I never followed through, as I didn’t want to hurt my adoptive parents, even though my adoptive mom told me she would help me find my biological parents if I ever wanted to.

Over the past decade, my husband has passed away, as have both of my adoptive parents. Things were pretty rough, and I really began thinking about my biological parents. At first it was mostly medical – I wanted to know my medical background not only for me but also for my daughter.

After losing both my parents, I requested a search for possible reunification with my biological family.

Less than a year after I made the request, I was reunited with my biological mother! We have lived in the same county for more than 10 years; I could hardly compose myself when I talked to her on the phone and found out where she lived. I also learned I have three sisters, one brother and several relatives.

When I met my mom, I also met two sisters, two nephews and one brother-in-law; I’ve since also met my brother, my other sister, my sister-in-law, two more nephews and a niece.

My mother shared with me a bit about my birth; she had me at a very young age amidst difficult circumstances, and she was very grateful to hear I wanted a reunification.

I was lucky my “turning up” was welcomed because of the circumstances surrounding my birth; however, I know it could have been different. Since I didn’t know why I was placed for adoption, I didn’t know what to expect -- all I knew about my parents was in a two-page letter outlining a vague medical history. I mentally prepared myself for a possible rejection, and it took several times before I finally went through with the search.

In many cases, including my own, adoption is the best choice for everyone involved, and I feel fortunate that I had the chance to grow up in such a loving family. And I feel especially fortunate to have also found the “missing piece” to form a relationship with my biological family.