221 – Chile’s Children of Silence

John, from Bowling Green, Kentucky grew up in Houston, Texas questioning why he looked different from his parents. When he asked about himself as a baby, his parents broke down. His adoption from Chile happened during a tumultuous time when their government supported the adoption of its own children, but the source of John separation … Read more

220 – Everybody Was Hiding The Black Piece

Bethany, from Gaithersburg, Maryland could see differences in herself and her white family, but her parents explained to those differences away and she believed what she was told. Unexpectedly, Bethany’s birth mother found her, but the woman was not prepared to discuss her past nor reveal the truth about Bethany’s true heredity. Fortunately DNA testing … Read more

219 – I Was Really Happy They Were Together

Tracy, from Ottawa, Canada lived in a unique situation with a mother who was the disciplinarian in their home. When Tracy found her birth family, she was shocked to see how much she resembled her sister among other huge family surprises. After reunion, Tracy’s adoptive mother was not able to accept what she perceived as … Read more

218 – I Could See Myself In Everyone

Mike, from Modesto, California, is a self-proclaimed introvert who was raised by a family of extroverted performers. With his adopted brothers, help Mike located his birth family, was well received on his paternal side, but was blocked out by a wall of defense by his birth mother. Thankfully Mike approached the reunion process with no … Read more

148. Sara J. Streeter: “My Sister’s Octopus”

Sara J. Streeter (Hea Sook Han) is a transracially adopted Korean-American, writer, and biological mother. Discover more of her work at her website sarajstreeter.com. Adopted daughter. Biological daughter. Youngest of six Korean sisters. Only half sister to three American sisters. She writes both creative nonfiction and fiction about grief, adoption, motherhood, and race, and hopes … Read more

217 – Do I Just Let It Go?

Barbara who called me from Grand Rapids, Michigan, grew up an emotional child adopted by two refugees of war. When she found her birth mother, Barbara felt an immediate connection, struggled to get answers about her birth father, and uncovered lies about her origin story after the woman passed away. DNA helped Barbara locate her … Read more

147. Susan Kiyo Ito: “I Would Meet You Anywhere”

Susan Ito began reading at the age of three, and writing stories at the age six. She co-edited the literary anthology A Ghost At Heart’s Edge: Stories & Poems of Adoption. Her work has appeared in The Writer, Growing Up Asian American, Choice, Hip Mama, Literary Mama, Catapult, Hyphen,The Bellevue Literary Review, and elsewhere. She is a MacDowell colony Fellow, and … Read more