[adoptionblessings]

Would love to read more stories/testimonies by adoptees and birth parents sharing their adoption search and reunion journeys!
Jody Moreen, facilitator of Adoptees, Birth Parents & Adoptive Parents Together Support Group, Naperville, IL, Chicagoland suburbs

[MrsDanite]

This was really encouraging to read. Our situation is very different because there's not an adoption involved, but the 10 year old son of my husband has not been allowed, by his mother, to have any contact with his dad in 9 years, and doesn't know anything about him. Now the boy is in foster care and my husband was located & contacted, and he and the social worker are taking steps toward reunification. I hope that everything works out as well as it did for your family.

MrsD

[MrsDanite]

I am kind of talking to myself here, but it's the easiest way to add to the thread. This week my husband and I drove 17 hours (and the same distance back) so that he could meet his son for the first time in 9 years. The boy was recently given a letter that his dad wrote to him, reintroducing himself and describing me and our other children. They have talked on the phone a couple of times just recently. Arrangements had been made for my husband to join his son and the boy's mother first, and then my husband and I and his son joined the boy's grandmother (who he lives with right now) and his younger half-brother for dinner. I stayed at a nearby restaurant while father & son first met, but I'm told that it went well.

Our dinner was so much fun. Both boys were very relaxed and laughing and joking around. My husband had photos of our other children to show on his iPod. We all talked and swapped stories and just got acquainted. It felt much like the two family reunions we attended this summer, even though most of us had never met before this week and the others hadn't met for so many years. There is still a lot to do for this boy and his dad to truly form a relationship, but things are off to an excellent start, and I am so very grateful.

MrsD

[AdopteesPartner]

Hi, this is my first post here, and I just wanted to share my little story. Well, it's not really MY story, it's the story of my new-to-be-partner in life, His name is Guy Kim Platt Jr, he was born September 8th 1960 and went through foster homes until he was adopted in 1967 and was renamed from his birth name Scott Abston Johnson.
For some strange reason - on his birth certificate his adoptive parents' names were put on it, and the original doesn't seem to be anywhere to be found. For years he has searched, hired professionals, to no avail. I guess I am writing here for some help and support on how to do this, I really want to help him find his biological family. Utah law is very strict when it comes to adoptions back in the 60's and we have gone through all the legal steps we can and have only been turned away
Any help what so ever would be wonderful and I would be eternally grateful

Vik

[adoptionblessings]

Hi from Jody, reunited adoptee. The best suggestion is to find some local adoption triad support groups in Utah and hopefully find one in your area. Put "Utah Adoption group" in a search engine or call your local county offices and see if they know of any local adoption groups. Each state has different laws and meeting with others who have successfully navigated adoption search can guide you. They often know the ropes and can save you time and energy. Its important to hook up with a local or active online forum, for adoption search for birth family can be very emotional and it helps to get support from others who have walked this journey.There are many books on search and reunion - check Amazon for titles and then check your local library. Libraries can get many titles on loan if they do not have them for usually free lending instate and a small fee for out of state borrowing. You are great to help your friend and support him in his journey. It is a growing and healing journey for many adoptees who embark on search and reunion- and finding answers- even when challenging, gives one peace to know the truth. And often adoptees do find birth family and navigate relationships with birth parents, siblings or other birth family members. Blessings as you search and support your friend! Jody

[adoptionblessings]

Hi from Jody, reunited adoptee. The best suggestion is to find some local adoption triad support groups in Utah and hopefully find one in your area. Put "Utah Adoption group" in a search engine or call your local county offices and see if they know of any local adoption groups. Each state has different laws and meeting with others who have successfully navigated adoption search can guide you. They often know the ropes and can save you time and energy. Its important to hook up with a local or active online forum, for adoption search for birth family can be very emotional and it helps to get support from others who have walked this journey.There are many books on search and reunion - check Amazon for titles and then check your local library. Libraries can get many titles on loan if they do not have them for usually free lending instate and a small fee for out of state borrowing. You are great to help your friend and support him in his journey. It is a growing and healing journey for many adoptees who embark on search and reunion- and finding answers- even when challenging, gives one peace to know the truth. And often adoptees do find birth family and navigate relationships with birth parents, siblings or other birth family members. Blessings as you search and support your friend! Jody