Friday, September 15, 2006

The Adoption Show; Listen and Learn

I did my stint on this wonderful Internet radio show a few weeks ago as a guest. I cannot say enough good things about the wonderful job they are doing to enlighten and educate. Please give a listen.


THE ADOPTION SHOW
Voices Ending the Myth...Sunday September 17, 20068:30 PM (EST)onwww.theadoptionshow.com

FINDING A GRAVE

Guests:

DENISE MARCONI LEITCH
Denise is a native of Philadelphia, PA. In 1969 she became pregnant,she was only 17 years old. Denise's mother insisted her child be putup for adoption. She was sent to St. Vincent's Home for Unwed Mothers,where on December 23, 1969, she gave birth to a baby boy. Although shewas told that she would never see her son again Denise left "the home"sure that one day they would be reunited. After 33 years she went insearch of her son. She found him on May 30, 2003; ironically that daywas the 15 th anniversary of her son, Michael's, funeral. He waskilled in a freak accident on May 26, 1988, he was only 18 years old.Denise was devastated by this news. In a quest to heal and to findothers like herself she started an on-line support group for those whohave been separated from a biological family member by adoption,searched and found a grave. She calls the group FOUND AND LOSTSUPPORT, which can be found in Yahoo! Groups under the Mourning andLoss category.

SUZANNE HURT
Suzanne Hurt lives in California, where she is a journalist covering adventure, travel and nature.She was born in San Francisco on June 18, 1963. Her17-year-old mother named her Colleen Hennon and gaveher up eight days later. She was adopted at twomonths, her name was changed and her real identity waslegally hidden from her. Her adoptive parents movedthe family to the Midwest; Suzanne grew up outsideChicago.At age 24 in Chicago, Suzanne began searching for hermother. Suzanne had no support. She put her searchaside when she learned her mother hadn't come lookingfor her.Suzanne moved back to the West Coast December 1994 andresumed searching. She returned to California in 1999and was devastated to find her mother had nevercontacted the adoption agency to find her.In January, 42-year-old Suzanne learned her mother'sname. On Mother's Day, Suzanne found her mother listedon a cemetery website. Kathy Petersen died June 21,1994, after a long battle with Hodgkins' lymphoma. Shewas 48.To this day, Suzanne and millions of other adoptees donot have a legal right to information aboutthemselves. The laws, practices and attitudes thatkept Suzanne separated from her real family and herown identity remain in place.

VISIT WITH GUESTS AFTER THE SHOWINTHE ADOPTION SHOW CHAT ROOM!

log in at 9:30 PM (EST)WWW.THEADOPTIONSHOWCOM

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was born St Vincents home for unwed mothers,Mar 15,1945.Was recently made aware at 61 yrs old.Looking for any records from home which has since closed,given my Mothers name Julia Hoptak,pottsville,Pa. Father unknown.Mother now allzimere patient....Father possibly John Barket,died 1993...Would appreciate any knowledge of ST.Vincents home.Thank you

Anonymous said...

funny, i was born at st vincent's 2/13/45. we must have been there the same time