[vivybaby]

Yes, you are right...or I should say were.
I was born in 1975 at Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK.
Until about the early 80's, there was also a seperate home for unwed mothers, but it was sort of across the parking lot from the hospital.
The adoption agency is now a seperate agency from the hospital - not sure when they seperated, but I know that in 1975, they were still merged.
This agency was also know as the House of Redeeming Love.

I don't quite understand why they said that your records had been destroyed...did you talk with someone in medical records at the hospital?
I got my medical records of my birth in 1999 when I learned of my own pregnancy. They even have a certain person that takes care copying those "sealed" records. It only took about 10 days to get a copy, but it was a little difficult to get ahold of that person.

Like I said, the actual adoption agency is seperate from the hospital and now has their own office in a suite in a tall building downtown oklahoma city.

Unfortunately, the home for the unwed mothers was demolished around 1996. They had been leasing out the building to a drug rehab center, but needed the space for more parking. I was fortunate enough to have toured the building shortly before I turned 18 - think it was around April of 1993. Was a little sad - mostly looked like a nursing home with a bigger cafeteria/kitchen and several small classrooms. The moms would not leave the premises (not sure if this was a rule, or if it was by choice), so they would have their classes in the home, also had support groups in home. The counselor that gave me the tour said that the moms hardly ever had any visitors while staying there (also not sure if this was by choice or not).

The people in the adoption agency are pretty nice, but not too much can be done to find birthparents since Oklahoma did not have any laws governing adoptees' rights until 1996. When I toured the place, I was told that even if a judge demanded that the seal be broken in order for me to find a donor for a kidney, that they would not have to follow the order and that they would NOT follow the order. Not sure if laws passed in 1996 have any grandfather clause, but don't think so.

I know the agency has a new deal where they will try to contact your birthparents to see if they want to meet you, but you must pay $500 for the "investigation" whether or not they find anything, and will only give you the info if BOTH the birthparents agree to meet you. But supposedly they can get more updated medical info.

Anyways...hope some of this info helps...if you need the phone numbers, addresses, or anything else, feel free to ask!!

Susan