Hi-
I'm a certified Independent Search Consultant here in CA and help reunite adoptees/birth parents. I'm also an adoptee who has found both sides of my birth family and know how hard it can be to even know where to start! Also, I don’t charge for my assistance.
I am able to locate your sister's birth name for by you using a numbered CA birth index (located on microfiche), as the numbers on her amended birth certificate are the exact same numbers as what was assigned to her original birth certificate. This index not only lists ALL names (adoptive and birth), but also the birth cert numbers associated with each birth. This allows me to cross reference between names and numbers to locate correct birth/adoptive names.
Do you know if the birth mother kept her for any amount of time? This would affect if I can locate her adoptive name on the regular index, or if I need to search the delayed index.
Let me know if I can help you with your search in any way, and please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Lori Ewert-Sanders
ithakasearch@sbcglobal.net