CHER CALDWELL - POST ADOPTION SPECIALIST

If you do search, your goal should be for the truth. You must be willing to face whatever you might find out, even if it's the death of your birthchild or birthparent. The information you learn may be painful; however, peace of mind mostlikely will come with the pain. If you search for your birthchild or birthparent only to find that he or she won't take your calls, answer your letters, or send a photograph, at least you tried. Others before you have found that the process still helped them set aside their fantasies and accept their current life situation with a more positive attitude.
While you may want to take other people's feelings into consideration when deciding to search, your own feelings are also important. One route to take, short of an all-out search, is to register with voluntary registries for birth parents and adult adoptees.
Most people take for granted the fact that they have access to their genetic and medical information. For those who were adopted, however, it is very difficult to obtain updated medical information unless birth parents have updated their file.
Nonetheless, adoptees thinking about searching hear many voices. One voice tells them not to open Pandora's box"they may be devastated by what they find. Perhaps they will experience rejection or find a birth parent who needs emotional or financial support they are not prepared to give. What about the rights of the birthmother who may have carved out a life for herself and does not want the intrusion? Adoptees must also consider their adoptive parents and the grief that a search may bring them. Adoptive parents may feel unloved, unappreciated, and hurt by their child's need to find his or her "real" parents.
Cher is here to give support with Adoption Issues. She is also here if you are looking for experienced Triad Members to help assist you in your search, whether it be Advice, Support, Search Information, or Looking for Hope.