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
Sandria Washington asks the question: How did I go from writing my first short story in crayon to living inside the biggest plot twist of my life (and trust me, God has written me into some BIG ones these first 40 years of life)? She knew from an early age that books, words and … Read more
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
This episode is lovingly dedicated to Jane. Lorraine Dusky is an award-winning journalist, editor and author who prefers to write stories that will make a difference. Her controversial memoir, BIRTHMARK, published in 1979, was the first from a mother to write about the grief of giving up a child to adoption. Lorraine soon became a … Read more
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
Constance Nicole Frierson grew up on the Southside of Chicago after spending the first 5 years of her life in Mobile, Alabama with her grandmother. She was born into a legacy of secrets and has fought to heal her heart and be an agent of truth, change, and art for her children, grandchildren, and community. … Read more
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
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
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
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