Amy's Story

I was born at Crittenton Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, USA, the largest Florence Crittenton hospital in the USA at the time. There was a wing for the women in trouble where they lived until their baby was born. She was 21 years old. I was placed in my adoptive home at 3 weeks old, closed adoption. My adoptive mom had RH negative blood. Very much loved and wanted. A great childhood. Never felt out of place in this family, I was part of it.

At 18, I requested the non-identifying information. Ten years passed. Got in contact (and paid) with Sandra Musser Foundation and was provided birth mother’s name. Wrote a few letters, she was not happy, as she was promised anonymity. I got married and had a child over the years. Then, at work one day, a man was transferred from where my birth mother lived. I mentioned her name to him. He played with her son growing up. Crazy stuff. Found him online in a different country, that did not end well either.

More years passed, my adoptive mom passed away (dad passed many years prior), Ancestry became available. I tried to figure out birth father on my own. Did not contact anyone. A few years passed and within 24 hours I received two emails. One was someone asking who I was? And the other was asking if I knew anything about his mom’s adoption. I have an older half sister. Daddy gave away two babies, we have a relationship. The person who asked who I was gave me my birth father’s name. I said there’s another too.

He broke the ice for us, we got separate one-time meetings with our shared father and his wife (whom he never told). They have 3 kids and made us promise we’d never go to their kids. He passed away last September. My birth mother is still alive, but wants nothing to do with me. I try to put myself in her shoes, the guilt and shame she must have felt. I feel sad for her now. It’s been a long journey and I don’t believe it is over yet.