What Happens After...

Lorah was always told she was loved and prayed for but never felt like she was allowed to feel any of the emotions associated with her adoption trauma. Her search and reunion left her feeling less than satisfied but she has used her experience as a catalyst to help others and promote healing. She posts as The Adopted Chameleon on several social media platforms and creates safe spaces for adoptees to share their feelings.

Lorah Gerald - Kundalini yoga, online yoga, Wellness, Adoptee

Homepage - Untangling Our Roots

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: JUM82BLOVGG2ATNU

Laura was adopted from the Easterhouse Agency in Chicago. The adoptions that took place through Easterhouse were often very transactional. At one time, Laura and her husband considered adoption but it was very expensive and something about that didn't seem right. After meeting her birth families and considering what her mother may have gone through, her opinions on adoption have changed.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: YIYZYZ145U6R1VRA

Curt didn't really consider that adoption may have affected his life. In connecting with other adoptees, he realizes it most likely did. Doing a DNA test has brought him closer to his true heritage but also brought some situations that require a lot of effort and more compassion than he knew he had.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: HRU1V9CPSKOP8J10

Julie found both of her birth families pretty recently by using DNA testing. She had searched in the past but didn't come up with much. She is now in the beginning stages of forming relationships and bonds with her birth parents as well as half brothers and sisters.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: MGMVQZK0FIYKCJ9U

Heather was adopted at 2 years old and always wondered what her adoption story was. At 21, she reunited with her birth mother but the relationship became fractured when she asked about her birth father. After many years, she was able to build solid relationships with members of her maternal family and find her birth father. She now has two more families in addition to her adopted family. Throughout her reunions, Heather found solace in researching her birth families and building their family trees.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: HFSXD3LTP2YUDZFY

Kendra grew up as an only child with an adoptive mother who had the ultimate sibling relationship- she was a twin. She didn't speak about being adopted and never shared the dream of meeting her birth family. So, when she found them, no one in her life understood how much it meant to her.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: IT29QHFUDR8MOYVB

Heather was given up for adoption at 18 months old and always wondered what the details were surrounding her adoption. She got into contact with her birth mother as a teenager and she filled in some of the blanks but she would learn even more after getting in touch with her birth father. Although she grew up with brothers, they were much older and she felt like an only child. Heather was really excited to find a half brother who was also given up for adoption. They have a strong connection and are enjoying getting to know each other.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progressLicense code: 0QBOV90SPFQ0WVRS

Marie was a late discovery adoptee who found out she was adopted completely by chance. She kept meeting her birth families a secret from her adoptive parents for a time until she gained a better understanding of what it meant for her. She is now able to accept that you can be more than one thing and that's okay.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progressLicense code: OIQCCVMHDYDNYFMR

Danielle was always curious about her biological family but didn't want to hurt her adoptive family so she waited to look for them. Although her birth mother had also passed, she was surprised to find her half-siblings knew of her and were prepared for her to find them. Danielle is enjoying getting to know them better and feels comfort that she came from good people.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progressLicense code: UEFZJKVREZLVCC5B

Bear was always curious about the biological sister he knew about but didn’t think much about who else was out there. He has found acceptance and love but also suffered loss after his adoption reunion.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dan-phillipson/making-progress

License code: CDF1DD0PVIT059MN