Interview With Adult Adoptee Male/61

Puzzled Piece
Adult Adoptee Interview

Age: 61

Gender: Male


1. What age were you when you were adopted?

15 months


2. In what State were you adopted?

Illinois/Indiana


3. Was your adoption open or closed?

Open


4. How old were you when you were first informed about your adoption?

6


5. Have you considered searching for anyone from your birth family?

Already Have


6. Did you inform your adoptive parents of your plans to search?

All 4 Are Deceased


7. Were your adoptive parents supportive in your search?

Yes


8. Have you actually started your search –

Have Done That & Continue to search my birth family tree


9. Do you know any member of your birth family? -

Yes


10. Were you adopted with a sibling? (If yes, male or female sibling?) –

No – But I have a female sibling that was adopted


The following questions were asked to get a better understanding of some hereditary conditions that may have been avoided if the adoptee had access to their medical history

Autoimmune Diseases - yes
Cancer - no
Diabetes - yes
Hair Loss - no
Heart Health - no
Lung Health - yes
Menopause - no
Mental Health - no
Multiple Sclerosis - no
Reproductive Health - no
Sarcoidosis - no


In your own words how do you feel about being adopted?

My parents (Mom & Dad) were both infamous heroin dealers and users on the West and South sides of Chicago from the 1940’s until the 1970’s – My mother had me at age 16 and I don’t know how old my father was – I do know that they both loved me even though they could not take care of me - because I’m told I had a lot of health issues – They didn’t want me to go into the system – so they had a big family meeting and my great uncle and aunt stepped up and agreed to adopt me at age 15 months - as long as my folks signed over full rights to me – They agreed and they all went to court and it was done in a friendly manner – When I was six years old and in the first grade, they sat me down and explained the whole situation to me and answered all my questions – They took me from Chicago , to Gary, Indiana - where I grew up – as I got older and healthier – they allowed me to spend more and more time with my birth mom at my grandfather’s house in Chicago – Even to this day I’m thankful and grateful to them for that opportunity – because of that – I am the person I am today – able to love, and be loved – My birth father died when I was 7 and my mother when I was 21 – the last thing she said to me was; “ Son, I have always loved You “ – I never talked to her or saw her alive again – she died while we were on our way back to Gary.