In the Huffington Post, Courtney Hardy recalled accidentally finding out she was adopted as a teenager. As a young adult, she used official sources and Facebook to track down her birth parents and other biological relatives.
Hardy’s journey to find family took her to San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix, Ireland and England. Luckily, she got a warm welcome from everyone she met along the way. It’s an interesting story that apparently had a happy ending for the adoptive and biological families and especially for Hardy.
“Meeting my relatives has given me perspective on how profoundly lucky I am to have such wonderful and supportive parents, as well as an extended birth family in my life,” Hardy wrote in the Huffington Post. “In a way, through getting to know them, I feel like I’ve finally gotten to know myself.”
A growing number of adults who were adopted are using Facebook to find family members who share their DNA, according to the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, which conducted a comprehensive study on the Internet’s profound impact on adoption. The Adoption Institute believes the laws that make it difficult for people to access important information about adoption, including statutes that prevent adopted people from obtaining their original birth certificates, should be repealed.
According to the Adoption Institute, the Internet obviates the rationale for the laws, which was to keep the affected parties from learning about and finding each other. Makes sense to me.
I love your posting here. And I’m glad you were able to find your birth family. Enjoy your new extended family!
Hi Susan. I like stories with happy endings, too. Thanks for reading my blog. Lynne
Reblogged this on Adoption Search and Reunion and commented:
Great story with a happy ending. Enjoy!
Wonderful … thank you for sharing! In 2012 I found my Birth Family and it has lead to great relationships with a sister, Aunts, an Uncle. I found a Brother and two other sisters as well. Both Birth Parents are deceased, but to see the pictures and hear the stories are amazing! What a wonderful opportunity and blessing it is to find those we are rooted in … God Bless you and your entire family!
Thanks, Susan, for re-blogging the post. It is nice to know these reunions can go smoothly and even have happy endings! Lynne
Adoptees take their chances when they embark on the search for biological relatives. I’m glad things worked out in this case! Thanks for reblogging this on your blog, Susan!