[DaniellePerron]

With a recent health concern, and the fact that I am a 27 year old about ready to start having children of my own. I have been thinking a lot about my biological family/history. This lead me to this website! My father was born in 1957 in Biddeford Maine, his adoption was handled by St. Andre Home in Biddeford. My Grandparents (adoptive) are wonderful people and I love them with all my heart, I just can not help but wonder where we came from, family history. My Father started a search 10+ years ago and it appears that his parents names are on file at St. Andre's, however can not be released to us. My sister has down syndrome and was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was a baby (since been in remission for 15+ years) her illness is what prompted my fathers search. St. Andre's contacted his birthmother she was not interested in a reunion and was not sure where his birthfather may be or how to contact him to let him know that we were looking for him. So all I have to go off of now is a very vague adoptee's background information which describes both parents physical description and personality and gives some very brief medical information on mother only. My Father was a only child with his adoptive parents (my grandfather passed away in 03', so all we have left is my wonderful Grandmother) it is a empty feeling to know that I could have so much more family walking around out there, uncles aunts and cousins that I could be passing in the street and not even know it (I live in Massachusetts and often travel to Maine still) Is there any hope for me? I would never want to hurt my grandmother and letting her know that I was wanting to find out my real roots, she is and always will be the grandmother in my life and heart. I am not sure where to go next, or if the information can even be sought after by the daughter of the adoptee while the adoptee is still living (I think my dad may have been hurt by his birth mothers rejection in 1997 and I am not sure he wishes to continue this search himself, this is why I am wanting to do this on my own) Any idea's on where to start or if it is even my place to be searching for this, will doors just be shut in my face, because I am not the adoptee myself? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
-Danielle

[nugget]

It's always worth a try.
Go under "general search and reunion". Look and post your dads information under the state he was born as well as the year.
I'm an adoptee and my birth mother was an adoptee as well. She passed away and I'm trying to get her adoption records. Even with her death, I don't have rights to her records so I'm looking for loopholes. But that's in Illinois, try to google Mass. with adoption records and see if it tells you the laws for there.
Best of luck to you and your dad.
Wendy

[DaniellePerron]

Thank you for your help Wendy, best of luck to you too!

[soulsearch]

Hi I am in the same situation as you are. My father was also adopted and passed away in 2002 of lung cancer. He was never interested in finding his birthfamily. I managed to get some information on my own. I was able to get non-identifying info, and found out that my Dad had 7 half brothers and sisters. My adoptive grandparents have both passed away and there is no one to turn to for any information. I have tried different routes but because I am not the adoptee I haven't got very far. I live in Ontario and the laws here are terrible. Hope you have better luck than me! Never give up, I haven't!

[DaniellePerron]

Soulsearch,
I am sorry to hear that you have not gotten very far with your search? I am having a hard time finding a stating point, I think I may just try to contact the orphanage that handled the adoption, but I just have this feeling that every door I try to open is going to be shut in my face, because I am the daughter of the adoptee. I guess I should just let me father know about my desire to track down information on our biological family and use his influence while I am fortunate enough to still have him around to help. I just do not want to make him feel like he has to search for them if he has not desire to do so at this point. Good luck with your search and thank you for your response, it is nice to know I am not the only grand daughter looking
Take care
-Danielle

[misspiwackit]

You stated that your father did a searh over 10 years ago and the adoption agency contacted the birthmother. Ten years later the birthmother might be in a different place in her life. Maybe she would be ready for some contact. I would suggest your father ask the agency to once again contact her and ask for contact or better medial history including info on the birthfather. I am not what would have happen if my son and I would have found each other in 1994 instead of 2004, my family was in major transition. I would have welcomed contact but not sure if I would have been able to continue in a relationship, as they are very delicate and complicated and need alot of attention.

The worst that could happen is he would be told no once again.