Dominique's Story

My name is Dominique, and I was adopted at 4 days old in a closed adoption. My adoptive parents took me straight home from the hospital.

Starting from about 6 months old until the middle of kindergarten, we traveled around the southern United States because of my dad’s job. We settled in the Bay Area (CA), where I finished kindergarten and continued my schooling.

I always had a sense of knowing that I was adopted. I don’t remember being told, but whenever people asked me when I knew, I always say 7 years old.

I went to live out of state from the ages of 18-22 and had my first child, and returned home when he was about two years old. It was around that time that I started asking questions about my adoption. My dad was the only one who would answer them.

I found out that I potentially had siblings in 1991 or so, well before the internet became a thing. Fast forward to 2004, when I had my third child and had access to the internet, I became aware of the International Soundex Reunion Registry and what they did. In a nutshell, they connect people searching for their family members.

I put my information on the registry, and about 6 months later, I received a call that there was a match. I was given the names of my biological parents and my two siblings. Unfortunately, too much time had passed, and both of my biological parents had died.

I eventually made connections with my older brother and younger sister, both of whom I have met and keep in touch with.

My story is not complete because I need to know how my adopted dad (now passed) knew that I had siblings. I know there is more to my adoption story than them simply walking out of the hospital with me when I was only 4 days old.

I’m still searching for answers.