This episode of the Voices of The Willows podcast features Carolyn Noble Vagourdes, an adoptee from The Willows Maternity Sanitarium, along with her daughter, Lisa Toner, and her granddaughter, Melanie Gordon. Together, they discuss their recent journey to uncover Carolyn’s biological history.

Carolyn grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and was always aware she was adopted. Although she knew she was born at The Willows in Kansas City, Missouri, early attempts to find information about her biological family were unsuccessful because the records were sealed under Missouri law.

The search was reignited after Melanie read one of KelLee Parr’s books about The Willows that contained updated information regarding the shifting legal landscape for accessing adoption records.

Melanie reached out to a Willows alumni group on Facebook. Within two hours, a member provided Carolyn’s birth name: Ardes Hastings. Lisa, an attorney, managed the complex process of requesting the original birth certificate. Melanie spent considerable time researching family trees on Ancestry.com to identify Carolyn's birth mother, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Miller.

Melanie located an obituary for Betty’s brother and, through persistent outreach on a business website, connected with a cousin who facilitated contact with Carolyn’s half-brother, Gordon.

Gordon, who was unaware he had a sister, has since established a warm relationship with Carolyn and her family.

Carolyn and her family emphasize that it is never too late to begin a search and encourage others to be "bold and curious.” While they have not pursued information regarding Carolyn’s biological father, the family expresses deep satisfaction with the relationships they have built and the healing this discovery has brought to Carolyn’s life.

Listen to “A Team Effort,” Episode 6 of “Voices of The Willows” to learn more about Carolyn’s journey.

For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.