[Dickons]

I thought it was really well done how she told the story of finding out about her half-sister she never knew about for 56 years. Hope others got to watch the show or can view it on the internet.

Amazing on the resemblance with her other sister, mannerisms, coincidences.

Amazing on the realization Oprah had on her mother still living in 1963 the era of shame, something I have read about many times.

Not amazing on the fact that the adoptee would protect her family.

That her mother had gone back to the hospital and told had daughter had left and assumed she was adopted, but that did not occur until she was 7. Can you imagine the heartache she must feel now knowing her daughter was in many different foster homes, the anger that would bring?

And something else I have read and seen here - not just the adoptee wants to know but the successive generations too.

D

[St3v3n]

I was actually just coming on here to post about that, but you beat me to it! I didn't see the show, but I saw a story about it on cnn.com.

I really hope my bmother sees this and get some hope from the fact that she's not the only one who kept this secret from her raised kids, but that it's not a major catastrophe (in most cases, anyway) when the secret is revealed. I don't feel like I can send her the link, though, because that would probably feel like a slap in the face coming from me.

[Dickons]

Steven,

Perhaps you can view it on the internet - it was well done.

Oprah made a point at the end of the show to tell her mother that millions of other mothers in the US also placed their baby and that today there was no shame in it.

Hopefully your mother watches it...

D

[millie58]

didn't watch it but read about the reunion. It's very sad that there was such shame about being pregnant and not married.

[Dickons]

Millie - completely different era...everyone says that Roe v Wade was the reason for the nose dive of adoptable babies but in reality - it was the end of that era of shame that started to evolve into the society today - note that even today in specific religions the shame/sin still remains for the female - while as usual the male is absolved...

D

[zxczxcasdasd]

And I haven't watched Oprah in years! But I watched today, for this.

It was really well done, especially the part about letting the shame go.

It was heartbreaking and touching especially, to see Pat's daughters so deeply affected by this new aunt who so remarkably resembles the best sides of their mother. As if they get the bittersweet gift of a reminder of all the beauty and joy of Pat and what she might have been without the drugs.

I wonder what the ratings for this episode will be.

I think Patricia seems like a truly lovely person. I am very happy for all of them.

[Dickons]

I said to hubby - I bet todays show will be the highest rated show of 25th season.

D

[me-n-u]

OWN is launching "Searching For..." a documentary series.

Searching For... ??? OWN TV

[amc66]

I'm so glad I watched it. One of the things that really struck me actually came when Chrishonda was struggling to find words to describe what it was like to find out her mother and aunt had another sister. I also struggle for words beyond the expected superlatives when asked what it's like to find out I have a sister. Oprah's phrase of it being a "Beloved moment" really sums up the feelings for which there are not words.

I also really identified with the concept of their reunion being a "God moment." I feel the same way about my reunion with my sister. I truly feel that God brought us together at the right time in our lives.

All in all it was an excellent show. I wish them all well.

[shadow riderer]

I didn't get to watch it yet. I'm glad to hear Oprah talked about the shame. My Bmom, and bfam, are Oprah fans. Oh, how I hope they all watched it. Maybe Oprah can get through to my Bmom.

My Bsis was the biggest blessing I got out of reuniting with Bmom. Like someone else said, it was perfect timing. We have leaned on each other so many times. Our relationship is special, and completely different from all other relationships in our lives. I can't imagine life without my lil sis as a part of it.

[zxczxcasdasd]

Shadow, there was a moment where she faced the camera directly to say to her mother to "let it (the shame) go" and if I remember correctly, addressed it to other women in the same situation. I was wondering what other women watching, in Oprah's mom's situation, thought of, and at, that moment. Easier said than done, I think. Oprah herself is just coming to feel that exposure of her very personal story might have been good for her in the long run. At the time, and for many years, it just felt like a very painful betrayal.

I do hope this story helps some people and some families dealing with this. It's not easy. Oprah herself said she now understands how much "sorting out" there is to do after the "reunion show"-- that it is only the beginning of facing many things and figuring out many things.

[millie58]

So true!! Especially about guys not being held accountable. I tell my boys all the time, "you get a girl pregnant, your life as you know it will end".

Maybe with this show, mothers won't feel the shame as much as in the past.

Originally Posted by Dickons

Millie - completely different era...everyone says that Roe v Wade was the reason for the nose dive of adoptable babies but in reality - it was the end of that era of shame that started to evolve into the society today - note that even today in specific religions the shame/sin still remains for the female - while as usual the male is absolved...

D

[legal]

I did not get to watch it and have only seen the replays. I never knew Oprah lost 2 siblings to death either. I hope Oprah faces her own grief about her child that died because she seems very disconnected on that to me.

[Tiger48]

I did watch Oprah's reveal of her long lost sister and it gave me more hope to someday find my sibling(s). I was born on March 4, 1948 in Albany NY and finally got information from the state of NY stating that my father had been married 3 times (my mother was the third) and had another child from his second marriage. I had always been told that my parents were getting divorced and my father did not want to give me up but my mother did, so my father had kept me in foster care until I was released for adoption when I was about 1 1/2 years old. I still do not have any names or know whether my sibling was a boy or a girl. Since my parents may both be dead due to old age, I am hoping that somehow I will find my sibling someday and this story has definitely given me hope.

[Dickons]

Tigger - have you signed up on the NY state registry (understand it has very few actual matches) - it might be worth a shot.

Have you asked a free search angel for help?

Kind regards,
Dickons