Months later I was told the boys were adopted by a minister and his wife somewhere in Northern California. After a few years I had another daughter, and when she was five years old I remarried and had 3 additional children. I always remembered Alex, Josh, and Tyler. Once they were old enough to understand it, I told my children about their 3 brothers. I yearned to meet them one day. I hoped they were happy and healthy. When my other four children were grown and out of the house, I dedicated myself to finding them. I have been especially focused on finding them for the past three years.

I did a lot of work on my own but wasn't getting anywhere. I saw the Locator, wrote into the website, and sent an email. That was about a year and a half ago. It wasn't until September of 2011 that I was contacted by SQA. The call came out of the blue, but I was excited to learn that SQA could help me locate my sons. Linda and Susan took their time talking to me and I knew I could trust them.

After I first spoke with Susan, it wasn't very long before I spoke with the boys. Susan found them within a matter of weeks. She called and asked permission to contact them, and to give them my contact information. This was the end of September. She talked with my youngest, Tyler. Unfortunately Tyler wasn't ready to be reunited with me, but he called Alex, who called me the next day.

Our first conversation was so emotional. There was a lot of "oh my God I can't believe this." Tyler had been searching for me for about 40 years. It was emotional and exciting and it was fun. We talked for hours that first weekend. I told him stories from my life and he loved learning about me and how Irish he is. Those were unforgettable, wonderful days.

It hasn't all been perfect. One heartbreaking thing I learned is when I insisted the boys be adopted together, I actually caused them to remain in foster care longer than they might have otherwise. I hadn't considered it would be hard to find someone to adopt three boys together. He told me stories about his life in foster care, and my heart ached to know what they went through. I thought I was doing the best thing for them to keep them together, but then I found out it actually hurt them. I agonized about whether I had done the right thing or not.

Unfortunately Josh and Tyler aren't ready to meet me. My main contact has been with Alex. I understand that because Josh and Tyler were a lot younger, so they wouldn't remember me and their dad. But Alex does. So they know that Alex and I are in contact and talk all the time. But I've also told Alex to make sure they know there's no pressure. It's absolutely up to them. I am willing to give them time to adjust to the idea of meeting me, and I can even accept they might not want to at all. But in my heart I know it will happen one day.

My advice to those searching for their own loved ones is to be patient. I know when you are looking for someone you've lost, you're anything but patient. You run into so many roadblocks and it makes it even harder. But persevere! Don't be afraid to ask for help, but don't be too pushy. You have to respect their wishes and trust that someday, when they're ready, they'll come to you.

Also, learn to appreciate the little gestures. Last month, Alex sent me a Christmas card. It was the most touching card I've ever received, number one because I got to see his handwriting for the first time. And number two I was able to touch something he touched. I know it seems like such a small thing, but to me it meant more than I can put into words. I wrote him a letter and sent it off the other day, just so he can have the same experience of seeing my handwriting and touching something I touched. Every day we email back and forth, and we always talk Friday or Saturday. Our goal is to meet face to face by Valentine's day, and I am so looking forward to hugging my baby boy again. I'm so grateful to SQA for making our reunion possible, and I'm grateful to Alex for having such an open heart and letting me be a part of his life. I only hope that in time, I'll be able to have the same relationship with Tyler and Josh.

(Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Debbie, a SQA client.)


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My mother was pregnant with my half-brother Josh in 1983. She was in jail at the time, and getting ready to serve a long sentence. I was raised by my grandparents. They wanted Josh too, but she was spiteful and chose to give him up for adoption instead. I'll never forget when he was born, in the same month as my birthday.

I remember going to the hospital and standing on my tiptoes to watch him through the nursery window. My grandparents explained that he was going to go live with another family for a while, something that made no sense to me. My grandpa got me a cabbage patch doll and I named him Josh and carried him around all the time. Growing up I always knew I had a brother. My grandparents were always honest with me for the most part. My mom got out 6-8 years after Josh was born but we never had a good relationship. Like many teenagers, I got in a bunch of trouble in my teens. When I got a little older, like in 2000, I realized part of my problem was confusion and frustration over not knowing my brother, so I decided to find him.

I used a search company that looked reputable on the surface. I spent a bunch of money but the search went nowhere, like a dead end road. I was angry and felt cheated, and swore I'd never be taken advantage of again. Finding Josh stayed on my mind, but the records are sealed. My mom would never help me, or she was so messed up on drugs that she wasn't able to. The situation seemed hopeless.

Then about a year ago I watched Troy the Locator and it was real emotional for me. The stories hit home. My wife told me, "Why don't you write them?" I said "I'm not a person who wants to air my problems on TV," But her suggestion stayed with me, so I decided write in. The show got cancelled, but within a few weeks I was contacted by Linda at Search Quest America. She told me all about the services and I feel bad about it now, but I was real skeptical at first. I was rude and demanded to talk to Linda's boss, and squabbled a lot about the wording in the contract. I really ran them through the mill, worrying about the money transaction and stuff. It's just after being scammed by that other company and going through that heartache I needed to be careful.

Again, my wife pushed me down the right path. She said, "Jimmie I feel this is true. This is good. You should do it." I took her advice, sent in the money and the contract, and sure enough, within 24 hours my case was solved.

Right away, Susan gave me Josh's full name. I went on Facebook, and found a man by the right name and friended him. Susan said 9 times out of 10 the sibling will be in the same city as you are. So I found Josh on Facebook and friended him even though he looked nothing like me. He accepted me, so I went in and looked at his pictures. I saw a picture of his oldest daughter, who is the spitting image of my daughter. He's tall and skinny, I'm not. But if you look at our daughters there's no denying we're related.

Next, I sent him an email on Facebook. Basically I said hey my name's Jimmy. I'm 35 and I'm looking for my half-brother named Josh, born on this date at this hospital.... I basically said hey I'm not looking for anything, I have a good job and great family. I just want to find my brother and let him know I'm here if he needs me. I sent the message.

Nothing happened for another 24 hours. I waited on Facebook till I saw the little green dot showing he was online. I tried to be casual. I just said "hey Josh did you get that email?" he said "no man, what did it say?" I copied and pasted the message and sent it through instant message.

"Dude, I'm it" was all he said.
"What do you mean you're it?" I asked.
"Call me!" So I did.

We had an instant connection. Josh has been in the army for ten years, has a family and a wife. I called him at about 10 o'clock our time, 1 am their time. We literally talked for 4 hours. I was real emotional because I had been searching for him. I was up, down, crying, happy sad, just everything. He explained to me "I knew I was adopted. My parents were wonderful. My mom is a teacher. My dad is a carpenter.
They are good people who did lots of community service throughout their
life. I was raised well." I was so happy to hear he'd had a good life.

One thing that shocked me about his story is that he grew up right here in Modesto. He lived within a quarter mile of the high school I went to. His neighborhood was only 5-6 miles away from mine, and we know several of the same people. He's cousins with a family I used to always go camping with. It's just crazy we never crossed paths. After high school he served in the army and went overseas. He's a real hero. It was almost too good to be true.

I was really apprehensive. I kept saying "are you SURE you're the right person?" He kept reassuring me and he had all the same information I had, birth date, etc. I was totally honest with him about everything, especially about our family. I didn't want to sugarcoat anything and then down the line have him feel mislead. I wanted to reassure him that he was wanted by his grandparents, and it was our mother who was vindictive and prevented him from staying with us.

We still haven't met face to face. He's in North Carolina, I'm in California. My Christmas present was that we got to Skype each other for the first time. It's been a roller coaster. He was going to come back to California this week, but unfortunately he got his papers to go back to Afghanistan. He's got to be on call till they decide what they're going to do. It also turns out his family always knew where I was growing up and kind of steered Josh away from me to protect him from my mother. On the one hand it really hurts to know we could have always known each other. On the other hand I'm glad he had a family that loved him enough to protect him. At this point we're just trying to look forward. So far so good! We talk every couple weeks and things are going great.

My advice to others is to always be honest about who you are and who your family is. I don't think it's fair to paint your family one way and then have them find out the dark secrets down the line. You could lose them a second time. For me it worked out great to just be honest up front about everything.

Also, don't give up! If you don't succeed right now, don't give up. Always keep them in your mind and if you love them, don't give up. Also make sure you are proactive and work with your researcher. And finally, go with Search Quest America! Like I said, I worked with other companies who ripped me off, but SQA was an honest, conscientious company and they really took care of me. Ask around and do your research and stay away from companies who thrive off your emotions.

Over all I'm just so grateful to have found Josh and know he's happy and healthy and had a good life. I'm willing to give him all the time he needs to warm up to us, and over all the future is looking real good for us. Thanks so much to Linda, Susan, and everyone else at SQA who make this all possible. You guys rock!

(Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Jimmie, a SQA Client.)



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My birth mother's name was Melinda Catelano. Doesn't she just sound beautiful? That's the first thing I thought when I learned her name for the first time. She was in her thirties and working as a secretary for my birth father. He was married and I was conceived through an extra-marital affair. My birth certificate says Melinda was living at home with her mother. It was 1958 and I was born at St. Elizabeth's hospital in San Francisco, California. I was placed for adoption through a prominent adoption agency in the area.

I had a wonderful upbringing and love my family very much. However I began developing health problems as a young adult, and first contacted the adoption agency to inquire about my birth family when I was 20 and in college. I was told all the information was sealed and they could not help me. I returned a dozen times over the years, and always got the same answer. I've never been a quitter, so I quietly started gathering information from my adoption records and other public records. I learned that my birthmother was actually from Omaha, Nebraska, and only came to California to give birth.

That led me to believe she would have gone back to Nebraska following my birth. I also learned that she had several siblings, and I began searching for families with the right last name and number of siblings in Nebraska. I started with public census records, but it was an overwhelming task and I soon grew disheartened. Years have passed. I'm now in my fifties and feel no closer to solving this case than when I was twenty years old. Each time I contact the adoption agency, I get the same line about how the records are sealed to protect my birth mother's privacy and I should just leave it alone. Yet I know the clock is ticking and if my birth mother is still alive, time is absolutely of the essence.

That's why I decided to get help from SQA. My experience working with them has been extremely positive. My case was officially started in May of 2010, and it was solved in June of the same year. My researcher kept me apprised of each stage of the search. She was also very understanding and gentle when she called to tell me that my birth mother passed away several years ago, but she had the contact information for my birth mother's two brothers and two sisters, who were excited to meet me and get to know me.

The joy of our reunion was tempered by devastating news, however. My niece Elizabeth had actually filed a consent for relinquishment form with the adoption agency. The purpose of this release was for the adoption agency to give me my birth mother's information in the event that I called to request it. I am devastated that although I visited and called the adoption agency dozens of times over the years, no one released the information to me. Had they done so, I would have been able to meet my birth mother in person rather than simply hearing stories about her second hand.

I know there are hundreds of adoptees out there who would be grateful for the opportunity to meet their birth family. However, I am filled with sorrow at the opportunity lost, and anger at the adoption agency who stood in my way and prevented me from meeting my birth mother. I'm angry that we live in a world where as an adoptee, I do not have the right to full disclosure to know where I come from, especially since this information can impact me so greatly on and emotional, spiritual, and physical level. Now that I have been reunited with my birth family, I've obtained priceless medical records that may be the missing puzzle piece that helps my doctors determine the cause of the medical issues I'm having. I only wish my story had a happier ending and I had been able to meet my birth mother just once. I would have wrapped my arms around her, told her how much I love her, and thanked her for giving me a wonderful life. What might it have meant to her to have these answers before she died?

I don't have all the answers. I don't know when my bitterness and anger will go away. But I am grateful the case is finally solved and I am grateful that SQA helped me get the answers I so desperately needed, once and for all.

written by Mica Burton on behalf of Mary, a Search Quest America client.


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I have one older brother and sister. My father divorced my mother when I was two. When I was four, my mother became pregnant (father unknown). She decided to give the child up for adoption. My father helped her with the adoption process and I THINK his name may be on the adoption papers. Prior to my mother's death last year we talked about the baby boy she put up for adoption. She told me that she did it through a private adoption agency "Long Beach Adoption Agency" and she believed he was adopted by the "Kennedy" family. I often think of my half-brother. My mother did remarry and I also have a younger half-sister, Laura. I would like to locate him very much.

I was very pleased with my search over all. Who knew that after a lifetime of searching, I would receive such good news so quickly. My researcher located my brother, John's current contact information. She also found out he is currently married and has two children. She obtained his sister's contact information, and even made the first phone call to break the ice. It turns out he actually did not grow up knowing he was adopted. In fact, he just learned the truth when the investigator called him for the first time. That is a horrible way to learn you are adopted, and I've tried to be very understanding and give him the space he needs to talk to his family and get everything sorted out.

After the shock wore off, I noticed the family was been very warm and inviting to me. They opened up their home and although they don't have much to offer in this poor economy, I've been impressed by the way they take care of one another. It has been so refreshing to see how much we look alike. My brother and I both have a humongous, prominent nose. Our eyebrows are almost the same and we have the same shaped toes (tall in the big toe, then a perfect diagonal down to the pinky toe.)

These all seem like such minor details, but it can be very interesting and it sure feels like we are learning new things about each other every time we talk. I guess in many ways, our reunion is your run-of-the mill story. But to me it's the most important story I have ever told because it's my story. We are on a pathway to getting to know each other and I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to do it in this life. I hear all these other stories about biological parents or even siblings who pass away, leaving their biological family members without any chance of ever meeting them and getting their questions answered. It feels so good to be moving in the right direction.

I don't have many friends who have long lost loved ones, so I'm sending this story out into the great divide of internet readers. I want everyone to know how good it feels to meet your family member for the first time, and see connections take root and continue to grow. If you're holding back and worrying about all the what-ifs, just DO IT! Start your search and see where it takes you. I couldn't end my story without saying a HUGE thank you to SQA. Sincerely from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Karen.

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That's why I contacted SQA. I had to find my little brother and sister. They're twins, and we were separated when I was fifteen and they were 4 years old. I haven't seen them in over forty years. Let's just say my childhood was hell. Our mother was an alcoholic and I believe she also had mental issues. She couldn't hold down any kind of real job, so she made money at odd jobs here and there. We lived in Los Angeles and I was just a 15-year-old punk kid, but she expected me to be the man of the house and the woman too. She was always angry that the house wasn't clean, laundry wasn't done, and my little brother and sister hadn't been bathed. I remember many occasions when she would pass out cold on the couch with a bottle in her hand and a lit cigarette. My worst fear was that she'd light herself on fire and I wouldn't be able to put her out. Soon, I learned I had more to fear than my mom's self-destruction.

One day, a neighbor called the Department of Children and Families and reported what was going on. They had already visited our house on several occasions, and when the neighbor reported men coming in and out of the house at all hours of the day and night, and drug deals going down on our front porch, it was the last straw for DCF. I'll never forget the day they came to take Caleb and AnnaMaria away. They were just babies. I felt betrayed by the world. I was caught between wanting to protect them and knowing it was better that they be raised by another family, but also wanting to be loyal to my mother and keep our family together. I never really thought about what was best for me.

I used to visit Caleb and AnnaMaria every weekend and bring them toys and candy. I always promised I would see them soon, and would never let them say the words "goodbye." We made up our own secret handshakes and I after every visit, I left by saying "See you later alligator." It was a promise I couldn't keep.

After a year of weekly visits, I showed up on Saturday and rang the bell. The foster dad opened the door, and immediately I knew something was wrong. He told me to go away and never come back. Caleb and AnnaMaria had both been adopted by another family and I was would never be allowed to visit them again. He wouldn't even tell me where they lived or anything about their adoptive parents. It was a devastating blow. I couldn't keep my promises, and I felt like a bigger failure than our mother, because they trusted me and relied on me. I worried they were scared and thought I had abandoned them. It was an open wound that festered for years until I threw myself into school and a career, determined to make something out of myself and prove I was more a man than my father ever was. With hard work and determination, I got everything I ever wanted out of life. No trial I've gone through since has ever compared to the trauma of losing Caleb and AnnaMaria. I've been able to put it out of my mind for months at a time, but the anger, hopelessness, and desperation inevitably return.

Now that I'm in my fifties, I'm all out of excuses. With the support of my wife, we decided to hire a professional and find them once and for all. Our first contact to SQA was on July 20, 2010. I was told the search could take up to six months, and in the end it may not be solvable. I was also warned that Caleb and AnnaMaria may not know they were adopted, and may have no memory of me at all. They could also be totally unwilling to be reunited with me, which was a possibility I forced myself to accept.

I was shocked, and I mean SHOCKED when I received a phone call from my researcher eleven days later. She said, "I found AnnaMaria! Her new name is Melanie, and she can't wait to speak with you." Not only did AnnaMaria know she was adopted and that she had an older brother, she even remembered my visits to her foster home and had been praying for years that I would contact her. She called me that same night and we had the tearful reunion I'd barely allowed myself to hope for.

This joyful reunion was sobered by the news that Caleb had passed away. Shortly after being placed with their adoptive family, Caleb got bronchial pneumonia and after only a few days in the hospital, his lungs gave out and he passed away. He was only five years old.

Here I had imagined Caleb and AnnaMaria growing up together with a mom and a dad who loved them. When I struggled with my own choking feelings of loneliness and despair, I took comfort knowing that at least they had each other. When I learned that Caleb had died, I was devastated not only because I lost a brother, but because Melanie lost TWO brothers. Yet I was also overjoyed that at last, we found each other and could begin reclaiming the years we lost.

Our first conversation was over a year ago now. Since then, I've discovered just how much we have in common. We love the same music, the same foods, and whenever we're together my wife tells me we have some of the same mannerisms, like we both cross the same leg and tug our ears absentmindedly whenever we're nervous. Every time we get off the phone we end our conversation not by saying "goodbye," but with the old "See you later, Alligator" from our childhood. I still get choked up when I hear her say it.

I can't describe what a relief it has been to set aside all my fears and anxieties from the past and just concentrate on moving forward. We've been getting together on holidays and we talk to each other at least once a week. It really feels like my journey has come full circle and I can forgive my parents for their failures and release myself from some of the guilt I've harbored over the years. I feel like a new man in many ways and I'm just so grateful for SQA. I couldn't have done it without you guys and I'm forever in your debt.

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Garrett, a Search Quest America Client.


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I never got a chance to meet my daddy because he left before I was born. Whenever I used to ask about him my mama would always say, "Lakeisha, forget about that man. He ain't never done nothin' for you anyway." Except I can't just forget about my dad. He's half of who I am. Every time I look in the mirror I see half of my identity and it's a face I don't even recognize. Who was this man Walker Newton, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Was he a good man, a fighting man, a spiritual man? Is he a man I want to claim as my flesh and blood, or in the end will I wish I had left well enough alone? Do I have any brothers or sisters out there somewhere? And most of all, who do I look like?

When I heard about all these perfect Reunion Stories I always thought my reunion would turn out that way too. Except it didn't. Not at all. Search Quest America found my father, Walker. My researcher also found lots of information about his criminal record, which I hadn't been expecting. It turns out he was arrested in 2008 for 3rd degree larceny. He was convicted and sentence to three years of probation. Personally, I was not happy to learn my dad has a criminal record. It made me pause and wonder if I wanted to be reunited with him at all, but in the end family is family so I decided to go ahead and contact him.

Ironically, his mug shot was a key piece of information in the case. My researcher got the mug shot and showed it to my mother to confirm that we had found the right man. Then, she contacted the probation officer for Walker's current phone number and address.

Can you believe when my researcher contacted him, Walker claimed he never even knew my mother and refused to accept the possibility that I might be his daughter? I was outraged. I was so angry that he would deny my patronage, especially when we look so much alike. I decided either he was lying about not knowing my mom or he honestly can't remember, and if that's true I'm not sure he's a person I want in my life anyway.

After the initial shock and disappointment wore off, I decided to ask Walker if he would take a DNA test. He agreed. We sent away our samples to a DNA laboratory out of state and low and behold, the results came back positive. I felt like I belonged on the Jerry Springer show and imagined my dad's reaction when he opened the envelope and read, "Walker, you ARE the father." Would he be happy, sad, angry, frustrated, or feel duped somehow? I find it insulting that he would not openly invite me to be a member of his life. It's not like I wanted anything from him. Now I feel validated now that my patronage is proven with no more doubts.

The DNA test was over six months ago. Walker warmed up a little bit to me, but never to the level I hoped for. We're still working on our relationship and I'm just hoping we'll get closer as we get to know each other. The best part of this whole search and reunion is finding out I have three half-siblings. We friended each other on Facebook and talk almost constantly. I know Walker might never warm up to me and be the dad I've always needed. But I'm an adult now and I can appreciate the most valuable thing I've gained out of this whole situation is my new best friends, my siblings.

I just want to give another quick shout out to SQA. You guys really made it happen and I'm grateful I took the leap of faith, saved my money, and invested in the company that was able to get results. I'll keep you posted as things continue to unfold, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic that things are going to work out just fine. Thanks again for everything!

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of LaKeisha, a Search Quest America client.

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My mom was always very tight-lipped about my father growing up. I know they met when he was stationed in Germany with the army, around 1980 and 1981. She told me he's probably from Alabama, but that's where the information ends. She has always insisted that he doesn't know about me, and that's the only reason he doesn't call. I wonder if she just says that because she thinks I'm not strong enough to handle the truth. But I am strong enough. If he knows about me and is just avoiding the responsibilities of parenthood, well I'm hoping he will embrace the responsibilities of grandfather hood instead.

When I saved the money and hired SQA to find my birth father, my mom finally got the message that I'm serious about this search. When my researcher called her to get more information, she finally shared some important information. In fact, my father's full name is Warren Davis, and he was from Evergreen, Alabama. He was discharged from the army in the Spring of 1981, and she believes he is about her age, in his early fifties today. He was between 5'7" and 5'8" and had a caramel complexion. He was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany when they fell in love and she said goodbye to him without ever telling him she was pregnant. I guess that was one fact that stayed true. But with the other information, like his full name and home town, my investigator found my father within 30 days of the start of the search.

She learned that he has been married to a woman named Lorraine for 25 years, and they were married only a year after I was born. He appears to have at least 3 sons, one of whom is also married and owns the house right next door to his dad. With these details I started to put together the picture of who my father is. He's patriotic, hard-working, a loving father, and faithful to his wife to stay married for over 20 years. When my researched asked if I wanted her to contact him, I paused to think on it for 24 hours.

If I was an established man living in my home town, married for 20 years and with grown children, would I want someone to call me out of the blue? I was worried that this approach might be a little too forward. Instead, I decided to write him a letter. I gathered the only photographs of him I had... a picture of he and my mom out dancing at a restaurant in Germany. I also included pictures of me growing up, a photo of my mom today, and most importantly a picture of my son. I knew that this might be the only letter I ever sent and he may not decide to contact me, so I wanted it to be perfect. I included all of my contact information, including my cell number, house number, my husband's contact information, and my address. I'll never forget the prayer I said when I put that thick envelope in the mail. I was an insomniac for days, up all night just wondering if he had gotten the letter yet and whether he was happy or sad to receive it.

At 8:00 on a Wednesday night, my phone finally rang with an unknown number. I braced myself, took a deep breath, and answered the phone. "Hi Daphne, this is Warren, you're father. I guess it's about time I picked up the phone, eh?" was the first thing he said to me. His voice was more gravelly than I expected, but it was absolutely filled with love. That first call we shared many tears and talked for hours. He sent me a plan ticket to visit the next weekend, and my husband and I flew down from Maryland to Alabama. His whole family welcomed us with open arms. I met all my little brothers, who look just like me, but masculine. I took about a thousand photos, especially of my son with his grandpa. Since we first talked about a year ago, we've kept in touch every week. We'll be spending Thanksgiving together this year and when we go around the table and tell what we're thankful for, I already know what I'll say. I'm thankful I finally picked up the phone and called SQA, who gave me the priceless gift of meeting my father for the first time.

Thank you SQA!

Written by Mica burton on behalf of Daphne, a Search Quest America client.


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When I was twenty five I convinced my dad to hire a private investigator to locate my birth family. Our whole family waited on pins and needles for months, but the PI didn't get very far. I tried a lot of services for adoptees, but no one really seemed to care about me, just the money.

My adopted mother Joan was always jealous and too forthcoming with information, she has since passed on. Here is information that I have been told mostly by my adopted father Robert. I was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on November 19, 1967 at 11:27pm. My birth mother held me and almost did not let me go. Dad told me later in life that I look just like she did. She was about 22-23. Her name was Norma and Dad met her when she came into his medical clinic. She opened up and told my dad that she was giving up her baby for adoption, and my dad told her he and his wife were trying to adopt. Before long the arrangements were made.

Norma worked for the Clerk of the Courts and head of the Credit Bureau here in Phoenix and even helped Dad get rid of some bad debt. She lived with her parents, I think, somewhere near Good Samaritan around Glendale Road. My Dad says she told him that my biological father was going to ASU for an Engineer degree and had a high IQ. Guys will say anything, right? LOL

My dad was there in the room when I was born. Although he wasn't my biological father, my birth mother put his name on my original birth certificate. She told him she and her fianc', were planning to move back east after I was born. At least when I was born, she wasn't planning to put my half-brother up for adoption too. I'm proud of her for that.

Well that is all I know, but I realize that is a lot more than others know. I believe in miracles. My favorite book is On Being Adopted. It has pulled me through a lot of feelings I have had through life and validated them. I have several reasons for wanting to find my birth mother. One of the most pressing reasons is that I want my complete medical history. It is scary not knowing my risk factors. If I were to find my birth mother and our reunion blossomed into a full-fledged friendship and relationship, it would be a dream come true for me. I am especially interested in getting to know my half-brother.

It has always been a dream to know blood relatives on this earth as I have no children. I have felt alone and abandoned at times. I would love to know my heritage as I have no idea where I come from. My Dad provided a very good life for me. He actually he divorced my adopted mother when I was 7 because she harmed me. He remarried a woman when I was 8 and she has 4 children, so I went from an only child to 4 siblings I really didn't get along with. In many ways I'm still searching for my place in this world, and that was my most compelling reason for searching for my birth family.

I'm sorry to say that although my case has been solved, it hasn't exactly given me the new family and opportunities I hoped it would.

My researcher solved my case in less than a month. She spoke with my half-brother, Kendrick, first. He said he always knew he had a sister out there somewhere! He even thought my name was Tammy because our mom always kept a special doll with the same name. He even put out an ad in the personals searching for me over 15 years ago, but could never get his mom to give any more information about whether I actually existed and what the circumstances were behind my birth. Our first conversation went very well. We were both excited to get to know each other and Kendrick promised to talk to our mom and soften the blow before I contacted her myself.

When I didn't hear from him more than a week later, I started to worry. I knew something was wrong when he wouldn't return my phone calls or emails. My mind sorted through a hundred different possible explanations before I received his letter in the mail. He wrote: "Tammy, I'm very sorry but my mother is not your birth mother, and I am not your half-brother. I was mistaken in my belief that I had a sister. My mom is 100% positive that she has never had any other children, so we are not related. Good luck to you."

I was totally shocked when I read these words. I felt betrayed. We had such a positive first phone call, and then he got cold feet and slammed the proverbial door right in my face. I cried for days. It was worse than if I had never found my birth family at all. I agonized over what to do now. I couldn't imagine coming so far just to fall short of meeting my birth mother.

First I double checked with my investigator and confirmed beyond the shadow of a doubt that this was the correct family. Then, I counseled with my dad, husband, and best friends about what to do next. I decided to write my birth mother a letter. I provided detailed information about me, including photographs of my children and myself throughout my life. I wrote the letter as if it would be my final communication with the family. I told her how much I love her, even though we've never met. I told her how grateful I am that she gave me a wonderful home and reassured her I had a great life. I told her if she wasn't able to reunite with me, I wouldn't hold it against her, but I needed her to know these things in case I never got to say them to her in person. When I put that package in the mail I heard it clunk in the bottom of the mailbox and I breathed a sigh of relief. I released all my anxieties and angst and made the decision to move on with my life.

That was over a year ago and I still have not heard back from my birth family. I pray that one day I will, but in the meantime I'm just living my life and learning to be happy with all the blessings I DO have, instead of focusing on the dream that didn't quite turn out the way I hoped.

Even if I had known the way this would turn out, I would not change a single thing about my search. Although the experience was painful at times and disappointing over all, at least I'm not still pining for what might have been or dreaming about a picture-perfect TV reunion someday. And over all I truly am more grateful for the wonderful family I have. I wouldn't trade them for the world, although I'm reserving a place in my heart for my birth family. I hope they come around some day but I can finally say even if they don't, I'll be ok. Better than ok, actually, because nothing could be worse than wondering "What if?" To other adoptees in my situation, I warn you to be prepared for the best and worst possible scenarios. But don't let your fear of a negative outcome stop you from searching in the first place. It's better to have answers and know the truth, one way or another.

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Tammy, a Search Quest America Client.

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All the info I have I got from my mother in law back in 1998. Since then my in-laws have both passed on. My husband is almost fifty and I would love to find Reagan for him. I don't think Reagan even knows he is adopted because if he did, he would have no problem finding us, at least if he has his original birth certificate. His birth mother still has the same name as at the time of the adoption, and since it's a fairly uncommon name in the United States, it should be easy to locate her if Reagan is trying.

When we first called SQA, our computer was old and not working correctly. We were living in Oregon. Our computer was old and we were both working, so it wasn't like we had a ton of time to devote to the search. Even if we did have time, we would never even know where to start. But our researcher was a real professional. It didn't take long at all for him to find Reagan.

Except of course, his name isn't Reagan anymore. It's Steven now. It turns out Steven was born in March of 1961 in Fontana, California. But he found out he was adopted in 1996 when he was 35 years old. When our researcher first contacted Steven, he did it through Facebook of all things. He sent Steven a message saying that his birth mother was trying to find him.

Steven replied back: "Interesting...Is my birth mother still alive? And her name would be Candace? My sister's name is also Candace. My mother and father who raised me never told me I was adopted till about 1996. Only my father who raised me told me this. My mother never told me. She passed away in 2003. I think I have a sister named Debora who is 2 years younger than me. I know absolutely nothing about my birth mother or my biological father. Please enlighten me further.

I've always wanted to find my birthmother, once I was told by my father that I was adopted. I didn't have enough information to conduct an investigation and my mother's daughter, my sister, who is 15 years older than me swore to my mother to never tell me. So to this day the secret rests calmly with my sister. The only way I found out any info that I described is by searching in my mother's drawers for evidence. I found a few letters from my birthmother named Candace. They were dated 1963-64. They were living in Arizona then. That's all I know... I saw a picture of Debora when she must have been about 6 or 7 years old sitting on a white pale in the yard.

This is very exciting to reunite with biological family members. There is so much to learn and so many questions to ask...How many brothers and sisters do I have with the same mother and father? OK...I'm going to give my personal E-mail address to you, to give to any family member who wants it."

As you can see from this first message, Steven is a very open, caring individual and he was very curious about his biological family. Our investigator sent Steven more information about the family, and he replied with the following:

"WOW...!!! I am trying to digest all that info you just sent to me. What a life changing event... I knew that my sister would not cooperate. I think she swore an oath to my mother to never tell me about the adoption. My father finally told me the truth in 1996. He and my mother Valerie had divorced back in 75. I found him living in Northern Santa Barbara, CA in around 1991. He then moved to Astoria Oregon in 94. Sadly he passed away in 1997. He was buried in his home town in Illinois. My mother died on June 2003. She was only 79. She is buried in Riverside, CA. My sister lives in Bullhead City AZ. I have a niece and nephew who live in Riverside still. My nephew lives in my childhood home that I grew up in.

I'm not quite ready to make a phone call yet...This is such a discovery that I need time to digest this. Right now, I would be more comfortable with E-mails to share information. I thought that my biological family had just written me off as a lost family member. I never thought they would try and find me. Do you know what an impact this has on a person?? This takes you all the way back to day 1 of your life. The truth of who I am and who my biological family members are is a person's main root of life. Could you give my personal E-mail address to my uncle, aunt, and even my birth mother if she wants it? I would like to E-mail them and start a family dialog with them. The 541 area code is in Oregon somewhere. I'd like to hear how Candace and my mother became acquainted to talk about adopting me to her. And what was the deal with my biological father?

The reason my name was changed to was that I was going to grade school with "Blackburn", which is my Mother's last name. But my dad living in the home was had a different name... So as I grew older and started asking questions about my last name... Valerie had an attorney change it because Valerie told me that Harlan was my real father. And I believed her so I was glad to have my last name.

So around 1976 my name was changed from then on. Are any of my relatives on Facebook?

My Father, Harlan Baumgartner, told me that my birthmother has blond hair? I have golden fine blond hair and greyish blue eyes. It would be very interesting to find out what color hair and eye color my parents have. I am 6'1" tall. My normal weight is supposed to be about 205 lbs. I don't weight 205 anymore... Interesting that I still have 90% of my hair and have not had a real problem with losing any hair. Probably going way too far for you to answer as it would be better answered by Candace.

I just read your latest reply...How old is Candace? When is her Birthday? You know it was a total fluke that I ever even got on Facebook in the first place. My Sister Candace and all of my "known" family members were "Facebooking" and Candace said... come on join the group with us. I finally said OK after about 1 year of saying No... Now look what happens... My birthmother finds me here on Facebook."

Our reunion has been a dream come true. It seems like every day we are answering more questions and Steven is just so excited to get to know the family. Thank you so much to SQA for all your hard work. We couldn't have done all this without you. We'll keep you posted and up to date as our story continues to unfold. God Bless you!

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Candace, a Search Quest America client.


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Clara never told me about the circumstances behind my birth, but growing up I knew there was something different about me. In the privacy of our home she was always cold to me and I desperately sought to understand why. As a young child I convinced myself it was my fault and set out on a quest to be more perfect, hoping against hope that I would earn her love.

Clara and Samuel separated when I was 9 or 10, but I did not learn about my true heritage until I was 18 years old. I wanted to go to Hawaii and my mom couldn't give me a birth certificate to apply for a passport. This was 1975. She didn't know what to do, so she family meeting and told us the story of how I became a part of the family. She romanticized it of course, but I was old enough to know that my father had been unfaithful over the years. It wasn't hard to put two and two together to realize I was a product of one of his affairs. You can't imagine the pain I felt when I finally understood why I was always treated differently than my siblings. In that moment I understood that no matter how much I tried to be perfect, I would never be able to compensate for the cruelties my mother endured, and to her I was a symbol of my father's infidelity and a living, breathing reminder of her own inadequacies.

I didn't know she had a copy of my original birth certificate until after she died in 1982. In 1983, my dad died also and I went through my mom's papers and found the certificate, along with a note from my biological father and a formula book from the hospital. It took years before I realized he must have loved me a little or at least enough to seek out a home for me. And my mom certainly did the best she could, considering the circumstances.

No matter how much I try to put this heartache behind me, I can't seem to move on. I am a grown woman, even a grandmother myself. But I can't seem to muster any sense of self-worth until I understand why my own mother gave me away without even bothering with the paperwork of a legitimate adoption. I have decided that the only way I will be able to move on once and for all and stop punishing myself for my father's sins is if I find my birth mother and learn the other side of the story.

I am not sure I will be welcomed into the family. At the very least I'd like to know my medical history for the sake of my children. Whatever happens, I know my life was not in vain. I'm here for a reason and I give God all the glory because when man failed me, He kept me through it all.

Here is what I have been told about the circumstances of my birth. My birth mother's name was Mary Blake. She had to have a hysterectomy from complications of my birth, so I am assuming she did not have other biological children. Mary met my father through a mutual friend. She came to him at work when I was three weeks old and essentially dumped me on his lap. My uncle worked with him and witnessed the scene that took place. My father refused to take me, screaming at Mary and shoving the baby carrier back into her arms as I screamed between them. He shouted that his mother was too old to care for me, and what was he supposed to do? Take me home to his wife?

I believe she may have been married at the time. She was twenty-four; he was forty-one. She had three other children at the time. I also know she was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was born in Trinidad. The hospital I was born in was called the Italian Hospital in New York; I believe it was in the Bronx or Manhattan. At the end of the day, I just need to know who I really am. Why wasn't I wanted? How could my birth mother give me away? Did her husband find out about the affair and force her to give me up?

When I first contacted SQA and initiated my search, I kept it a secret. Although my husband and children know the basic facts of my birth and upbringing, I didn't want to burden them with the deep pain I have been harboring all these years. I didn't want anyone to talk me out of it or tell me I was crazy. When my researcher Julie Jones called one Sunday evening, I was sitting down to dinner with my husband, and my daughter and grandson who were visiting for the day. When I saw that it was Julie calling, I stepped away from the table for privacy. She said, "Denise, I found your birth mother, Mary. She's alive and lives in the Bronx. You also have a brother Kevin and a sister Leeza. They want to talk to you. Can you write this down?"

When I put my hand over my mouth and started sobbing, everything went dead silent in the room and everyone thought something terrible had happened. They stared at me blankly as I babbled "she found my Mother! I have to call her!" They knew my adoptive mother had been dead for years. When the whole story came out they were very supportive. My husband held my hand when I called my mother for the first time.

I'm still taking it all in!! My eldest daughter and son traveled with me to meet my mother at her home. We talked, looked at pictures and it was nice. I have talked with my sister in Texas and though we've never met we have a lot in common. The conversation flowed so smoothly. It was great to find out they knew about me all along and tried to find me several times under my birth name. We are talking about getting together for a Thanksgiving gathering.

It's hard to put my feelings into words but I can say this: I feel like a new woman. A huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders and I am finally able to put the past behind me and just be grateful for the wonderful life I have been given and the people in it who love me and support me no matter what. I am so glad I mustered the nerve to search for my birth mother and that I found the courage to let go of the past and step into a whole new future. I'm embracing it!

Written by Mica Burton on Search Quest America Client Denise's behalf.

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I was born in April of 1954 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. My birth mother's name was Dorothy Stuart, and I was always told she was forced to give me up "because of circumstances beyond her control." I was also told Dorothy had at least 3 older children when I was born. I have no ill feelings toward my birth mother. I understand she made the best decision she could at the time, and I imagine she must have wondered about me all these years as I have wondered about her. I long to connect with her, let her know that I turned out all right, and heal whatever wounds she must be carrying. I am 55 years old, so I imagine she is in her late 70s or early 80s. I just desperately hope I'm not too late.

Growing up I fantasized about chance meetings at the grocery store or accidentally dating a brother or cousin. As an adult I yearned to look into my children's faces and be able to say with some authority, "you look just like your grandma." As I got older I felt a more urgent need for medical information. As each year passed I became more aware of the fragility of life and I prayed that I would find my birth mother before she leaves this world. I'm old enough now to know that friends come and go, but family stays forever. I would love to meet my siblings and know what it's like to share that special bond. I just feel lost without them, and without knowing about my ancestors and where I come from.

Despite my need for answers, I was wary to pay for another search. My husband was very supportive every step of the way. I did my research with the Better Business Bureau and read several reviews and testimonials online before I decided to start my search with SQA in June of 2010.

By April of 2011, the case was officially solved. Julie spoke with my sister Linda first, and she confirmed there had been rumors floating around about me in the family for years. The oldest sibling, Linda, remembered moving in with her grandmother for a few months while our mother went away. She also remembered that she was pregnant when she left, but did not have a baby with her when she returned. She always knew the baby would find them someday, and she was ready to embrace me with open arms when I showed up on their doorstep.
Unfortunately, my birth mother Dorothy died two years ago. I am so upset and disappointed that I missed meeting my mother by only 2 years! I wish I had found SQA and been able to put all the pieces together sooner, but I suppose it wasn't meant to be. I am thrilled to learn I have 3 siblings I will have the privilege to meet. Only 2 months after my birth, Dorothy was married to her second husband. For years, the family has speculated that this man was the father of the baby that was given up for adoption---me. So it may turn out that although these 3 children were only Dorothy's step-children, they may be my half-siblings. Of the 6 total, 1 has already died, but the other 5 have been very welcoming. I already feel like a member of the family.

Within the first month after our reunion, my siblings and I constantly speculated about my birth father's identity. We also wanted to confirm that I was indeed the child Dorothy had given up for adoption, so we purchased a DNA test and sent away for the results. Meanwhile, I reached out to each of my siblings by phone and email. Every day I rushed home to find new messages from family members on the answering machine. When the DNA results came back, they confirmed that I AM Dorothy's daughter, but my birth father was NOT her second husband. I may never know the identity of my birth father.

On April 14, 2011, I met my 3 siblings in person and it was absolutely great. It was a very special day for me because it was also my birthday. I can't remember a better birthday in my life!!! At first it was a little awkward as no one really knew what to say to get things started, but within just a few minutes they began to open up, then when Patricia got there it seemed just like it was a group of siblings that had decided to meet for the afternoon. It just felt right, if you know what I mean.

I will admit I had one brother who was more reserved regarding the reunion. I expect it will just take time for everyone to warm up to me. There have also been a few surprises along the way. Sharon, the youngest of the three children from Dorothy's first marriage, married a young man from my home town! My brother played baseball with him for three summers and remembered him. One of my best friends dated him before he met my biological sister! Strange coincidences like these keep coming up and I am so grateful to feel like a part of this big extended family. In addition to my siblings, I have 39 nieces and nephews. I am really dreading Christmas!!!!!

In the last several months, I have been sharing my story with anyone who will listen. I feel so blessed to be reunited with my birth family and I know there are probably others out there who will be inspired by my story. We are so grateful for SQA's honest, conscientious service that would do anything to help you. You'll never know what your hard work has done for us. If you ever need something from here in Oklahoma please let us know. We could never thank you enough.

Written by Mica Burton on Search Quest America Client Cathy's behalf.

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My adoptive parents were 40 years old when I was adopted. Needless to say there was quite a generation gap between us. My adoptive mom had Alzheimer's the last 10 years she was alive and my father had cancer for most of that time too. I took care of them and taught school full time as well. They died 5 weeks apart in 1999. I am searching for anything to fill this deep hole inside that has always been in me. I was legally adopted in 2000 by a very dear friend who had no children and was divorced. She basically had no family either and we decided to become each other's family. It has meant a lot to me but that empty space inside is still there.

I know that my birth parents were both from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have a copy of my amended birth certificate. I know the name of the law firm that handled the adoption and the name of the pediatrician who delivered me. When it comes to more important information, however, I draw a blank. I have no other adoptive siblings to share this burden, no medical information from my biological family, no anything. I don't even know my ethnic background. As I begin this search for my birth family, recognize that there are many possible outcomes to my search. I know there's a chance my birth parents might also be deceased, or they may not want to embrace me as part of their family. However, I refuse to let my fear of the unknown rob me of the potential happiness I may find at the end of this rainbow.

Fast forward two years and four months. My researchers Marilyn and Julie worked diligently on my case for nearly a year. Finally, they found the one family in Tulsa, Oklahoma with my birth mother's last name. She was 44 at the time of my birth and already had 3 older children. She died in March of 2003 in Lubbock, Texas. She was a homemaker and dedicated her life to raising her children. Her survivors included a son, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. When Julie first contacted my brother, he was shocked to learn his mother gave a daughter up for adoption. She never told a soul about me. I was born shortly following her divorce from our father, and that the strained emotional and financial situation contributed to her decision to give me up for adoption.

Although I did not have an opportunity to meet my birth mother or birth father before their deaths, I was blessed to be put in contact with my siblings and members of my extended birth family. What a journey have I been on since that day!

My brother and I spoke on the phone several times trying to set a date when we all could get together. Finally, in April, the four siblings got a chance to meet. I drove from Texas, my oldest sister and her husband flew into New Orleans and rented a car, then drove to Mississippi and picked up my brother and his wife. We all converged on the Hampton Inn in Searcy, Arkansas where our other sister and her husband live. My sister was too ill to make the trip to Mississippi so we came to her. Her son in law rented the entire second floor suites including the hospitality suite, the Governor's suite and the Presidential suite for all of us. He paid for everything and wouldn't allow me to pay for anything.

My siblings embraced me as if they had known me my entire life! The sister that was so ill and I met first before the others arrived. When she walked in the room I felt like I was viewing myself in 17 years. We looked just alike. She walked up to me, patted my cheek and echoed my own thoughts when she said "it's me! She looks just like me!" Everyone in the room was in tears except the two of us. All we could do was hug each other and laugh. When the others arrived we all were greeting one another in the hospitality room.
My brother in law asked my oldest sister and my brother if they could tell by looking at me who my father was. Everyone said at the same time that they could. They are pretty sure my father was one of my birth mother's best friends who work on the pipelines. His name was Ray Fickle. I have a picture of him and I do look like a combination of he and my mother. It is unreal. They both were 1/4 Cherokee Indian and all of the kids have the high Native American cheekbones and other features. We all tan quickly and have a bit of a red tinge in our coloring even though we have different fathers.

My sister who was in poor health passed away one month after our meeting. I didn't get to go to the funeral but did talk on the phone a lot before her death. My niece told me she talked about me non-stop the day she died. She kept saying how much it meant to her that we met. She also told my niece that I would be taking her place in my niece's life. I have too. We have become very close. I am flying up to visit them in September. Thank you for your persistence in your search for my family. It could not have turned out any better than this. My life is complete and I'm finally whole.

Sincerest thanks,

Mary
(Search Quest America Client)

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Well like I said recently he started having some serious medical problems. Having a full family medical history could be the missing piece of the puzzle to help his doctor's figure out what's wrong with him. I feel so powerless on those late-night trips to the ER. I can hold his hand, rub his back, and comfort him, but I am powerless to give him what he really needs: answers. Every time I have suggested searching for his birth mother, he always says "I just couldn't hurt my mom like that." He is a very loving, loyal son and that's part of the reason I love him so much.

I was so relieved when one day Chad's mom came to the hospital one day with his adoption file. She said, "I think it's about time you find out where you come from, don't you?" We were both shocked, but so excited at this new turn of events. The files revealed that Chad was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas on March 5, 1979. His birth mother's name was Tina Schnick Wilson. Armed with this information we went online and started searching adoption registries. For hours we pored over birth mothers who had placed babies for adoption in Arkansas in 1979. Finally, we hit pay dirt! On one registry we found a woman describing Chad to a T. Her name was Tina, and the birth date and city even matched the adoption file we had. She even posted a short story of her adoption on Birthmothers Exploited.

The hardest part was figuring out who to call to see if it was a match or not. We contacted Search Quest America and talked to Susan Friel-Williams. With her connections she was able to access the registry and confirmed that we had indeed found Chad's birth mother! Even better, Tina always made sure her contact information was up to date, so Susan was able to call the number listed and not only was it in service, but Tina answered on the first attempt!
I am so grateful because it seems like this reunion was just meant to be. I believe there is God who gives us mini-miracles.

Why else would Chad's mom decide to give us the information that day? How did we just happen to find the right investigator who is also the voluntary administrator of the reunion registry we were looking at when she just happened to be available? Who helped Tina to have the courage to put her information out there in hopes that someday we would find her? Thank God for mini-miracles.

SQA, we would like to thank you for your quick response and help finding my husband's birth mother. We have been in contact with her today. They both are happy to finally find each other. Now we have the medical information Chad's doctors need to help him get healthy. We also learned that he has 2 brothers, sister and nieces/nephews. Thank you so much for making this possible. We appreciate you and all you do to help others to find that missing link they are looking for. God bless and have a wonderful day!

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Search Quest America Client Jamie and Chad.


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When I was about 9 years old, my siblings and I were removed from our home and put into foster care. At first we were together, but within days we were separated. I was personally in over 12 foster cares before I turned 18. Some were good and some were worse than I had ever experienced at home with my parents. I tried to keep in touch with my siblings the best I could, but somehow I lost track of them. When we all turned 18, I looked my siblings up and one by one we reconnected, except Ricky. I haven't seen him in at least 20 years now, and I have to know what happened to him. It was once rumored that he was adopted by a family named Reid, but when I contacted the courts they told me he was never adopted.

I have no official documents about him. I know he was born on August 18th, but I don't know what year. I believe he would be 29 or 30 years old today, and may be living in California. I am 26 years old now and I feel blessed to have a wonderful husband in the military and three beautiful children. I want to find Ricky to let him know that as long as I'm alive, he's not alone. I love him and I want him to be in my life, no matter what.

From day one, my husband was opposed to my search. He didn't want to spend the money and get ripped off, and he was nervous because Ricky may have turned out as a dangerous guy or is part of a gang. If so, he doesn't want that influence around our children. At the end of the day, I am worried that if Ricky tried to find me he might not be able to because I've changed my name three times: twice in foster care, then in marriage.

Julie did a great job putting me at ease right away. I appreciated how confident she was that she would be able to solve the case. That really put my mind at ease and helped me focus on the positive. Less than 4 weeks after she started the case, I received a phone call saying, "Jessica! Grab a pen and piece of paper. Write this down......it's your brother's phone number!" He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Tracee and two children.

While bawling my head off, I somehow managed to write down Ricky's number. As soon as I composed myself, I dialed it and heard the voice I love and remember say warmly "Jessy, is this you?" From there, the rest is history. Now that we've found each over again, I won't ever let him out of my sight. It felt great to tell him how grateful I am that he worked so hard to take care of me and keep me safe. I reminded him of our game slaying dragons and told him I had just slain the fiercest one of all by finding him. Thanks SQA for all your help and for reuniting me with my big brother. You can be honorary dragon slayers too, if you want!

Written by Mica Burton on Search Quest America Client Jessica Nicole's behalf.

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She came from a very strict Vietnamese family who refused to help her. They were Vietnamese immigrants and were working very long hours just to get by. They rented the home they lived in and they felt it was too small to keep an infant. Thinking they were helping her learn independence, they kicked her out of their home with a 9-month old baby---me.

Jennifer struggled along for another month. She was hungry, I was hungry. We literally had nothing. A relative in Hawaii sent for her, so she packed up her few things and left the mainland for good. There, she made the impossible decision to give me up for adoption. She had been holding, feeding, comforting, and playing with me for almost a year, yet she found the strength to put me up for adoption and give me a chance at a normal life.

My mom always told me growing up that my birth mother loved me and wanted me SO much. In fact, she intended to keep in touch with me by sending letters and visiting whenever she could. But after these visits, my adoptive mom says I was would go into a tantrum for days. Refused to eat and I screamed and cried for hours, feeling abandoned all over again. Jennifer knew how difficult it was for me, so one day she simply stopped visiting. I still have the letters she wrote to me as a baby. I've tried sending letters to these addresses, hoping beyond hope that one might get forwarded to her current address. Most of them were returned. I wonder now if she may have gone back to Vietnam.
The one thing I know for sure is that I can't find her on my own. I contacted SQA and it was such a relief when Julie took the case off my hands and went to work like a true professional. She started the case on July 28, 2011 and it was solved by August 25, 2011, not even a month later!

Julie called her first to confirm her identity and ask if she wanted to be in touch with me. Jennifer was very, very happy to be found. She lives in Fountain Valley, California. It was surreal to find out her birth date, April 27th, and know that day used to be normal for me, but it will be special from now on.

Only 2 weeks after talking on the phone for the first time, my birth mother returned to Hawaii for the first time since my adoption. She brought my younger brother Andrew to meet me and the rest of my family. It's been a surreal experience for both of us! She still pictures me as the ten-month old baby she said goodbye too. It was a healing experience to meet me as an adult in the same town she said goodbye to me as an infant. It feels like we've come full circle.

I wanted to thank you again for finding her. It has been a big relief for both of us to know we are loved and thought about often. I think she feels at peace knowing I understand why she chose to put me up for adoption, and I love her as much as she loves me.

Written by Mica Burton on Teresa's behalf.


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Megan is an amazing person in and out. I have always told her that I would help her anytime she wanted to look. She is 25 years old and the time is now. She needs to find her birth parents, or birth family for medical, emotional reasons.

We were told her mother's name (Deanna) by a close friend that worked in Martin County Court house, but this needs to be verified. Both parents were college students when she was born. Her dad had reddish hair and a beard. There was no history of cancer known at the time of birth. Stephen Fraser was the attorney (Somner & Fraser) and David Harper was the Judge. It was finalized in November 1984. She was born in Martin Memorial Hospital, in Stuart, Florida, Martin County. Megan and I moved to NC in 1990. Currently, Megan is a PHD student at Duke, NC.

I started Megan's search for her on July 6, 2010. By July 28, 2010, the case was solved! Suddenly I was face to face with a reality that always seemed more like an eventuality. Megan was nervously optimistic when Julie called us with Deanna's birth information. We took about an hour to compose ourselves, and then picked up the phone. Deanna was so excited to hear from us! She told us right away that she is totally open to getting to know Meagan and wants her to be a part of her life. However, she has to do a little damage control because she never told her family about the pregnancy or adoption.

Now, Deanna lives in Gainesville, Georgia. She and Megan look almost identical, and have many of the same mannerisms. They talk on Facebook almost constantly and they both enjoy writing and Art. Sometimes when I'm with them it's like they speak their own language. I won't deny that at times I feel a twinge of sadness, wondering if I have ever made Megan as happy as she looks with Deanna.

Then, the other day she came over to my house bright and early and surprised me with Starbucks coffee. Instead of calling me advanced, she sneaked in with her key and came up to my room. She kicked off her shoes and crawled into my bed just like she used to when she was little. As she hugged me she said, "You'll always be my mommy. What would I do without you?" I don't think she understands how much I needed to hear that. I am truly so happy for both of them and what matters most is that Megan looks like herself again. The light is back in her eyes and I really think she looks in the mirror now and sees a whole person with a past, present, and awesome future. I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. Thanks SQA for making it all possible.

Written by Mica Burton on Miriam's behalf.

(Client ID#279331)


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I was in dis-belief. I was remarried to my wife Yaya and had 3 small children. I didn't know what to. Foolishly, I told her I was glad she was fine, but she should move on with her life; she was better off not meeting me. I could hear the hurt in her voice before she hung up, and I have regretted hurting her every day since that phone call 11 years ago. This was the biggest mistake of my life. I honestly wasn't trying to reject her. I just remembered everything that happened when I was married to her mother and I felt I was not worthy to be a part of her life.

Now I'm ready to have a relationship with Carlota. I'm hoping she will give me a second chance to be the father she deserves. My children are almost grown now and since that day, we have included her in our nightly prayers and have looked for her on many websites over the years but no luck. Her mother's name is Yolanda Barejo and her grandmother's name was Romelia. They may still live in Los Angeles. I believe Yolanda married a man in the military after we divorced.

With my wife's encouragement, I contacted SQA and initiated a search to find Carlota. My researcher was Julie Jones and she located Carlota in only 7 days!! Julie first contacted Carlota by sending her a message on Facebook asking her to contact me directly. Days passed with no response. Julie emailed me Carlota's current address, phone number, and email address, along with her date of birth. She gave me a link to her Facebook page and I couldn't believe my eyes! Her profile picture shows a smiling, confident young woman. She's beautiful! She looks happy. I wondered what I missed out on and wished I had not rejected her when she first contacted me. As each day closed, I prayed that she would contact me and forgive me.

My wife contacted Julie to see what we should do. We agreed our next step would be to send a letter to her home address, but we would wait one more week for Carlotta to contact us or not. Three days later, Julie forwarded me this email:

"Yes, I am Carlota, and yes, Jose is my father. The thing is, the last time we spoke, which was about 11 years ago, he turned my world upside down. I have moved on. I have built a family and don't feel a need for putting myself through that again. So I appreciate the fact that he feels remorse for what he did, but the rejection is not something I can get over just that easily. Please forward my information to my half-siblings and I would gladly reunite with them. However, please ask Jose to respect my choice."

Now I know personally the pain a person feels when they are rejected by their own blood. I am ashamed that I "turned her life upside down," and I will respect her wishes. I just want her to know that even if I never have a chance to get to know Carlota, I will always consider her my daughter and I will always love her. Although I feel much sorrow at her choice, I understand it and respect her choice as a grown woman. I hope that she will come to change her mind with time, as I did.

In the meantime her brother and sisters have been communicating back and forth with her. We are taking it slow and hoping to guild from here. I cannot express how grateful we are for this opportunity that has been given to our family. I want to tell my story so if anyone who is reading this is every contacted out of the blue by a long lost child, they understand the damage that can be done in the blink of an eye. Make the decision now to open your heart and your arms no matter what. Otherwise you may lose the opportunity down the line. I am glad I reached out to Carlota, however, because I hope now she at least knows I love her and I want to be a part of her life. Thank you SQA!

Written by Mica Burton on Jose's behalf.
(Client ID# 291600)


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Julie Jones worked wonders! First, she found the immigration record for Erica's family. They entered the US on 9/7/1955 from Bremerhaven, Germany. The head of household was William Ahrens, Sr. with his wife Elizabeth Ahrens. Their children were Erika, Helga, and William Ahrens Jr. Their intended address was 241-11 85th Avenue, Queens Village, Long Island, NY.

This was the missing puzzle piece I had been lacking all along. Now that we knew the names of her parents and siblings, we could track the family through the years and locate Erika's current whereabouts. The fact that we had an address also provided another checking point to narrow down the list of possibilities of Erika's that were born in 1941 and 1942.

First, Julie located William Ahren , who graduated from Dobbs Ferry High School. Julie sent him an email and left him a voicemail. He responded 7 days later. He said Erika "Rikki" Ahrens has been living in Europe for the past 36 years or so, and to his knowledge she never have a baby up for adoption. However, he agreed to contact Erika and forward my information to her.

Meanwhile, Julie she contacted Helga Ahren. She responded very guardedly, just as William had. The family had been talking about nothing else during the weeks following Julie's initial contact to William. He did call Erika in Europe to ask of there was any validity to this claim. Her response was "I don't want to talk about this and I don't want anyone calling me to talk about this..."

Julie didn't give up. She continued to write emails and leave voicemails for Helga and William. Then, she received this email response:

"Hi Julie, after consulting with more relatives from my family who were there in 1967, the likelihood of my sister giving birth at that time is nil. Someone who knew my sister might have used her information.

As you can appreciate, I will proceed with caution, as I've discovered a number of scams on the internet. I'd like more information from you. I would like to give this issue a bit of rest at the moment. Perhaps next weekend we can be in touch. Thank you, Helga."

Skepticism and fear of fraud are two very common responses from members of a birth family. This is especially true when a birth mother gave birth in secret and members of the family simply didn't know about the adoption. In today's day and age when internet fraud is so prevalent, it is important to be cautious with one's associates. Understanding their concerns, Julie responded:

"Hello Helga, I wanted to send you an e-mail from the firm's e-mail server so you have additional background on our company. Rest assured that this is not an Internet scam. I work for SQA and am representing my client, who was given up for adoption by a woman named Erika Hedi Ahrens in June of 1967. I believe my client is your biological niece.

A question I have is do you know what blood type Erika is? The paperwork we have from the hospital indicates the mother's blood type. Also, you had mentioned that you wondered if any of Erika's friends had possibly used her identity. If this is a possibility, do you know which friend it may have been?

As of now, all of the information we have from the hospital, court and historical records of New York point to your sister. As I'm sure you can understand, I need to follow up every possible lead until I am satisfied that I have exercised due diligence on behalf of my client, Pam, and have exhausted all leads and avenues.

I look forward to talking to you this weekend. Working together, I am confident we can answer all of your questions. Take care, Julie Jones"

I have never been one to sit by on the sidelines while others fight my battles. I asked Julie for Helga's address, which was only a few hours from my home. On a Sunday morning, I got in my car and drove to Helga's house with my husband. I parked across the street and just stared up the driveway to the front door. Could I really just knock on the door and demand to be heard? Somehow my feet did the walking, my fist rapped loudly on the door, and my mind went completely blank when Helga opened the door. She was a tall, strong blond woman with angular features, eerily similar to my own. We stood staring at each other silently until she saw the truth written on my face. She opened the screen door and said, "Well, come in then."

While we made ourselves comfortable in the sitting room, Helga went to the other room and returned with a picture of Erika, Helga, and William in their forties. The resemblance between Erika and I was striking! Helga sank down in an arm chair across from us and began to tell us about Erika, who adamantly refused to talk about me, but had never directly denied giving a child up for adoption. She is not one to get her feathers ruffled, but on this subject she was out of control, threatening to hire a lawyer against me. This overreaction, combined with our resemblance, convinced Helga that I was indeed a member of the family. We talked that day for an hour and made plans to meet with Uncle William the next week. We made arrangements for a DNA test; though we were both satisfied the connection was there.

Months later the DNA results came back, confirming that Erika IS my birth mother. In the 2 years since my reunion, we still have not spoken. I can only assume the circumstances behind my birth must be negative ones. I may have been the product of rape, or infidelity during marriage. My half-sister was born exactly one year before me and shares my birth mother's married name, so I believe I was the product of an affair. I may never know who my birth father is.

I have no regrets. The best part of my reunion was learning that I have a half-sister named Livia, who lives in Vancouver, Washington. We aren't best friends yet, but we're getting to know each other. Most importantly, I'm so grateful Aunt Helga didn't let skepticism or fear of internet fraud stand in her way. I'm glad she opened her door and welcomed me inside. I hope someday I'll make it past the sitting room and into the heart of the home and my birth mother's heart too.

Written by Mica Burton on Pam's behalf.

(Client ID# 234654)


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Fast forward 10 years to 1998. I'm 28, married and expecting my third baby. Late at night as I toss around in bed trying to find a comfortable position, I start to wonder about the woman who gave birth to me. I am filled with curiosity, excitement, and an overwhelming love for my children. I wonder...What did my birth mother feel in the months preceding my birth? Was she single or divorced? Was she in love with my birth father? Was she forced to give me up for adoption? Is she still alive? Do I have any brothers or sisters? Does she look like me? Does she miss me? At this stage in my life these questions were very personal ones I only share with my husband. Whenever we travel, I pick up a phone book and flip to "Peck" and "Beck." My heart rate quickens when I find a name and address in a new city I've never visited. Is she Linda, Barbara, Jean, Beverly? But at the end of the day, I still feel deeply loyal to my parents and even as an adult I am too afraid of disappointing them to seriously search for my birth family.

Now, it's October of 2008. I'm 38 years old and raising pre-teens and teenagers who all have personalities and lives of their own. My questions have become more like demands. I want to know where I come from. I want to tell my birth mother that I am ok, that I have a good life. I want tell her "Thank you!" for making the hard decision to give me up. I want to tell her I'm ok and introduce her to her grandchildren. I want to know if I have siblings and who I look like. I understand the importance of medical history and wonder if I'm at risk for any diseases. I've done internet search after internet search and tried to find my birth family on my own, with no luck. I don't know where else to look.

My best girlfriend Betty saw an adoption reunion on TV and called me up with the phone number of a professional search company called Search Question America. We talked for hours and I finally made the decision to take a leap of faith and once and for all, answer my questions.

My researcher, Susan Friel-Williams, was a miracle worker! I submitted all the information I had, including my amended birth certificate. She helped me request non-identifying information from the adoption agency and register for the ISSR Reunion Registry.

Meanwhile, Susan searched for all the people who died with the last name Peck in California. She also found several marriage records of women with the maiden name of Peck around the time of my birth. Then, she took each pair of names (husband and wife) and cross-referenced the CA birth records to see if any Peck babies were born around the time of my birth. This left us with 24 women who could potentially be my birth mother. Out next step was to find the specific dates of birth to narrow down the list of possibilities.

Through a process of elimination, Susan found my birth mother, Stella Beck, born in 1952 in Hutchinson County, Texas to Marion Peck and Stella Dunn. We were able to compare information from the Non-ID, (like the fact that my maternal grandfather died in Texas in 1957). Now that we had the right person, it was just a matter of following the paper trail to locate her current address and phone number!

My birth mother is alive and well. She lives in Cal Nev Ari, Nevada and has a current phone number. Susan contacted her first to confirm her identity and ask whether she would be open to being reunited with me. She was shocked that I was calling out of the blue, but she said she had always hoped I would show up one day, and she couldn't wait to get to know me. With my best friend, husband, and children gathered around one Monday evening, I put the phone on speaker and dialed my birth mother for the first time. It was a tearful, joyous reunion. A few months later, Stella flew out to our home in Nampa, Idaho to meet us for the first time. We had a big barbeque outside on the lawn to celebrate our reunion. We could not be happier to be reunited after all this time. It really does feel like I won the lottery!

I wanted to thank Susan and everyone at SQA for making it happen. So I sent Susan a birthday card with a lottery ticket inside. I was hoping she'd win the jackpot so I could repay her for blessing me in my life in such a dramatic way. In the end she won two bucks, and I won two hearts knit together as one.

Written by Mica Burton on Linda's behalf

(Client ID# 221137)


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Yet at the same time, I thought if my mom had wanted me to search, she would have told me about my adoption sooner. I felt that if I searched for my birth family I would be betraying her somehow. Then, a few months ago I was talking to my closest and dearest friend who is extremely psychic. She told me that my mom said to her, "its fine. Go ahead and look. I want you to." From that point onward I knew I had her blessing, so I found SQA this past June.

My birth family was found in just two weeks. I was quite surprised. I thought it was going to take a lot longer. Though I had excellent information which I think helped. Linda and Julie were both so understanding, kind, and sincerely interested in helping me find my birth family. They were absolutely phenomenal and I would 100% recommend them to anyone.

Not only do I have a sister, I also have 2 brothers! My sister's name is Linda and it took us about a minute and a half to break down crying together that first phone call. We have become best friends. I've talked to Linda every day since we both found out. If it's not phone calls its quick emails or texts, 99% of the time on the phone. We are really starting to bond now and it's a very exciting time. My husband and I are going out to Philadelphia to see the whole family in August. I'm very excited.

From how well everything worked out, you would think that the family had known about me all along. Actually, no one had ANY idea that my birth mother had had a baby before Linda. They were all in total shock when Julie called them out of the blue. It turns out that Linda has also always wanted a sister. She may not have had one before but she definitely has one now! We have some things in common, but we're still learning a lot about each other. There is a resemblance between us. I spoke to one of my brothers, John, and he is just the sweetest guy and he said he was going to be there the weekend we are going there, and I'm thrilled to death, I can't wait to meet him. I have nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. They can't wait to meet me and I am just so thrilled that they have welcomed me with open arms.

Looking back, I wish I had searched sooner! I was afraid to be rejected, and that was part of the reason I put it off for so long. But this turned out so well! Within 48 hours I had dozens of friend requests on Facebook.

We're never going to know the circumstances behind my adoption, however. My birth mother passed away a few years ago, and she never told a soul about me. I am just grateful for this wonderful new family. I'm also thankful to my husband, who has been 110% supportive this entire time. He had tears in his eyes when I found out I was adopted, and again when I got the call that my case was solved.

If there's anyone out there who's a little nervous about searching for their birth parents, I say go ahead and do it! It's a wonderful thing to find out you have an entire other family out there. It has really brought me full circle and answered many of my questions about myself. I don't have any regrets, and I could not ask for a better experience, or a more honest, hard-working, caring company! Thanks a million for everything!

Written by Mica Burton on Donna's behalf.

Client ID#289774


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Being abandoned makes you feel like trash, unwanted, unworthy, and ignored. Since I was just a baby, I often wondered if I cried too much, or ate too much, or if somehow I was the straw that broke the camel's back. A part of my life has a huge gaping hole in it. I won't be able to move on until I know why she abandoned us. Why didn't she come back? This is something I need to do to satisfy my conscience.

After she left, my older siblings tried to take care of us. Whenever neighbors asked where our mom was, they always said she had gone to the grocery store and would be right back, or she was inside taking a nap. After a few days the food ran out and we hadn't changed our clothes, so a neighbor called the Department of Children and Families. We were placed in an orphanage for over a year, until finally a relative on my dad's side came looking for us and eventually adopted us.

All we know about our mother is that her name was Sandra Good-Allred. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When she left us we lived in Los Banos, California. It was 1964, and she was supposedly married to my dad in Reno, Nevada the year before I was born. He split right before she did, so it's not like he's around to answer all our questions. It's rumored that my mom's father owned Bush Canneries in Oklahoma City at one time, and she had two brothers.

With this information, my brother, sister, and I researched different companies, and finally decided that Search Quest America was our best bet. I called and submitted our information in August of last year. I worked with Julie and she found my birth family on September 10th. First, Julie found out her real name was Sandra Dashiell. Then, she located her still in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but found that she died in June of 1996. What happened between 1964 and 1996? She was married to a man by the name of Wesley in 1966 in Fresno. This was just two years after she left us. From this marriage, my half-sister Kellie was born in 1969. Kellie lives in Yukon, Oklahoma.

When Julie first contacted my sister, we expected Kellie to be dumfounded, maybe even skeptical about us. In fact, Kellie shouted with excitement and screamed "My sister finally found me!" It turns out that she always knew she had a brother and two sisters she had never met. She even knew our names were Dougie, Lori, and Tina. She said the family talked about us often and have looked for us many times over the years. From her tears and excitement, it was clear we were never forgotten and we were never a dirty little secret, as I had imagined. To my surprise, Kellie is one of five half-siblings we will have the opportunity to get to know. I called Kellie back right away and it has been such an emotional, heartwarming experience to learn that I have always been loved and wanted, and that our being taken away was the single event in our mother's life that she has lived every day trying to make up for.

In 1964, after my birth, my mother suffered from postpartum depression, a diagnosis that was never official, as studies of postpartum depression came much later. She was overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, being overwhelmed, socially withdrawn, and anxious. Although I will never have the chance to speak with her one on one and hear the why's from her, my siblings tell me that she was truly suffering and felt she was a danger to us. She wasn't thinking clearly at the time, and when she came back to find us, we had already been removed and she was not able to get through all the red tape to get us back. Although I can't excuse her for her actions or her absence, I can accept that she was suffering and irrational at the time, and did not intend to abandon us forever. I also truly believe that she looked for us, and based on how she told our siblings about us, I believe she loved us and hoped to be reunited with us someday.

This knowledge has changed my perspective 180 degrees. Understanding why she left helps me lay all my doubts and fears to rest and try to move forward with my life. I am grateful that I have so many siblings to get to know, and that the rest of our family has also welcomed us home. This has been a journey of discovery for me, and I want to thank everyone who had a hand in making it possible. This might not be a perfect story, but it's my story.

Written by Mica Burton on Tina's behalf.

Client ID#277294


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I have tried to get my adoption records from the state but they won't let me know anything about my birth parents. I have the non-ID papers, which say my birth mother was born in Red Oak, IA on 6-26-1933. She was of German descent, and was 5 ft. 4 inches tall. Their name is blacked out so I can't read it. I don't know if my family is looking for me like I am looking for them. I will understand that it's possible there might not be any information available for me. It just means that it was the good Lord's will if was not meant to be.
After a 25-year search, I was very surprised when my SQA researcher, Robert Martindale, found my birth parents in less than a month! Somehow he found out my birth mother's name was Donna. She passed away on June 6, 1992 in her home in Midvale, North Dakota. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

My birth father's name is Marion Leslie Fiscus. He and my birth mother were married a few months before I was born in 1952. They were divorced in 1954. On the divorce papers, it shows that they had two children, Cheryl and Merlin. Donna was married and divorced a few times in her life. One of her children is named Marcia.

Marcia was the first person Robert contacted who returned his phone call. She confirmed that Donna was her mother and that she had been married and divorced like it says in the records. She also confirmed that she had a sister named Cheryl, and that they would be interested in meeting me.

The day they called me I was out in the back yard pulling weeds out of my flower garden. I hear the phone ring inside and hustled to get it before the caller hung up. When Robert told me he had solved the case and my sisters would be calling me shortly, I felt the irrational need to straighten my clothes and fix my hair. Even though they couldn't see me through the phone, I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted them to like me, and I was really curious about their lives and what they could tell me about our parents.
I am so blessed to be in touch with my sisters. I thank God for pointing me in the direction of SQA. I know now that this reunion is His will and I am just grateful for all the blessings he gives me every day. I pray he will bless each one of you, and anyone who is in search of their birth family, as I was. I know from experience it is well worth the wait and the wondering, and if it's meant to be it will all work out.

Thank you, Cher Schuchhardt

Client ID#272561

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She was 21 when I was born, and she and my father lived in Snyder, Texas. She and my father were married in July of 1970, and later divorced. Stella, my maternal aunt, still lives in Snyder. A few years ago she told me my mom was remarried to a man named Humphrey or Humphries. I am told she had a son named Gregory, who would be 28 years old today. When I think about the brother I have never met, I have mixed feelings. On one hand I want to meet him someday and get to know him. But on the other hand it hurts me to think that my mom moved on, made a new family, and forgot all about us. I'm terrified to make contact with her because I don't know if I can handle it if she rejects me.

My researcher, Julie, was great to work with. She walked me through the whole process and listened to me rant and rave and all of my "what if's." Julie's first step was to research all Texas births and find out my mother's exact date of birth. Unfortunately that was a dead end, and it appeared that I did not have the correct spelling of my mother's name. Next, Julie found Stella, still living in Snyder, Texas.

When Julie got a hold of Stella, she learned that Eva has been MIA since the early 1990's. She was married to a man named Carl Mosley or Mobley, whose mother died and left them a house in Nebraska. Stella was pretty sure they moved to Nebraska with her son, Gregorio. From Stella, Julie also learned the names of my maternal grandparents, Gregorio Ramirez and Eulalia Contreras. She also learned that I have several aunts and uncles. Their names are Natividad, Mario, Eulidia, Maria, Gregorio, Erlinda, Gilbert, and Robert.

With this information, Julie found good news and bad news. She found the marriage record between Eva and Carl. She also found their son (my brother) Gregory, with his current phone number. When Julie spoke with Greg, she learned that his parents were divorced when he was 16 years old, 12 years ago. Unexpectedly, he also revealed that about 8 years ago, she started having serious mental issues, and was committed to Genoa Community Hospital in Genoa, Nebraska. She has been there ever since. Greg was excited to learn about me and my siblings, and we talked over the phone the same day. No matter what happened, it was worth searching just to meet Gregory.

However, it was very unsettling to learn that my mother has been in a mental hospital. I wondered, will she even remember me? Would it harm her mental state for me to contact her? And, what if her mental illness is hereditary?

When Julie contacted the hospital, they of course did not release any information about Eva or even confirm that she was a patient. However they did put us in contact with a social worker, who visited Eva and asked if she knew who I was and if she wanted to talk to me. She did. The next day I had her phone number, and I called to speak with her. It was a gentle, loving conversation. I didn't get to ask any of the hard questions I had prepared, but somehow it didn't seem necessary. I knew where she was, and learned she was alive. I don't know how to describe it, but it brings me a lot of peace to know that she wasn't capable of finding me. Somehow, that's better than thinking she didn't look for me because she didn't want to, or because she didn't love me. I fact, when we talked for the first time there was such love and joy in her voice that I know she must have had a reason to leave us, and I could hear the regret in her voice and the relief of being found. I remind myself that there are at least two sides to every story. Now that I have found her I am finally able to set aside all of my questions and just love her, because she's my mother.

Written by Mica Burton on Ericka's behalf.

Client ID#271043


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After he was born, I remember asking, "Mommy, where's the baby? I want to see the baby." She told us another family wanted a baby because they couldn't have children of their own. She reassured us they were going to take care of him.

Mom died in 1990 from Breast cancer. She never forgot about the baby she gave up; she always wanted to find him. Through a friend of a friend, she learned that the baby's adoptive parents also adopted a little girl three years later. All together there were 3 boys and 1 girl in the family. We also knew they lived in one of the wealthiest areas in California. When I started the search, I knew he might be a totally different person than who we are, but my brother and I wanted to find him to finally get answers to our questions and fill the hole in our family.

I contacted SQA a few months ago, and my researcher, Julie, was very efficient to work with! One minute I was leaving her a message to call me back with an update, and ten minutes later she called to tell me she had found Michael in less than a week. When she first called Michael, he said he knew he was adopted, and all the information he had about his birth family matched the information we had gathered. He took for a few days to absorb everything before he finally called me back, and I was literally waiting by the phone the entire time.

I've read all kinds of stories and seen reunions on TV where the people share this really emotional embrace and say "what took you so long?" In a way I am disappointed that our reunion wasn't like that. In the beginning it was really hard because he has a really great, fulfilled life. I didn't feel like he needed me. He was already happy. He was pleased that I was looking for him and found him, but he didn't have that need like I did. He was the one that was given up and didn't remember the trauma of it. My brother and I were the ones who always felt like we lost something. We're are the ones who watched our mother go into the hospital and comes home without the baby.

Today, Michael's very involved with his kids. He has a ton of acquaintances but not really any friends that he goes and hangs out with. His wife works and has a very prestigious job. She doesn't really have any girlfriends that she goes out with. Their kids are their whole lives. For me, my friends are my life. For them, their kids and each other---that's their life.

I had to wait until he was ready and not push him. We talked on the phone back in December, but he only felt comfortable to meet us in person this past April. We packed up the car and took a five-hour drive to meet this person who was our brother but also a stranger to us. Our first meeting was very calm and cool. His wife told me a couple of stories about how they met. His oldest daughter told me a couple of stories about growing up with him as a dad, and I started to see him more clearly. So it was all good. He's a great human being. That's my entire mother ever really wanted for him, to have more opportunities than she could give her own children. She would be pleased that he turned out as a good human being with an open heart.

My life has definitely changed since we started the search last year. Our relationship hasn't turned out to be the warm, friendly, "it seems like we were never separated" kind of relationship I dreamed about, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been either. I have learned an important lesson through this whole experience, though. Family is about accepting and loving people as they are, without trying to change them to turn them into the person you want them to be. I believe our relationship will continue to get stronger over time, and I'm willing to give him the space he needs and let him come to us when he's ready. It won't be easy, but he's worth it.

Written by Mica Burton on Michelle's behalf.

Client ID#265922


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My mother's name is Ruth Mary Knight or Padgett. Her birth place was Bennington, Vermont and she was 28 when I was born. She already had several children and couldn't care for another baby. My birth father was a war veteran and did not want a baby, so he left. My birth name was Ruth Padgett. I have some health issues and when the question is asked "is it in your family?" and all I can say is "I don't know" it's very unsettling.

I finally got up the nerve to search for my birth mother last July. I talked to my husband about it, and we saved for months until we had enough money. Even though logically I knew the search could take months or years, emotionally I was impatient. From day to day I hoped for the best, then convinced myself the worst case scenario was going to happen. I was a basket case most days. I emailed my researcher, Julie, constantly with worries and concerns. There's a chance she might have put my case on the top of her priority list just so she could get back to working in peace and quiet.
The case was officially solved on September 1st. sadly, my mother passed away on February 2, 2000. I'll admit this was devastating news for me. I sat there silently stunned while Julie rattled off important facts about her life.
Her name was Ruth Maris Knights. She was born June 29, 1935 at Putnam Memorial Hospital in Bennington, Vermont. My grandmother was Annis Adeline and my grandfather was Kenneth Wood Knights, and both of them were also born in Vermont. She was white. She graduated high school.

She was 64 years old when she died in Onslow, North Carolina. For whatever reason, she was autopsied. She was cremated at Jones Funeral Home. Her husband, David, has her ashes. She left behind 3 sons, whose names are Michael, David, and Mark. She also had 1 daughter, whose name was Deborah. You know the carnival game where you take sharp darts and toss them to pop colorful balloons? As I heard each of these facts I felt like darts were being tossed at me. Some bounced off, others popped. The first hopeful news was that I have three brothers. This was the first blood family I had ever known about, and they were still alive. Then I started to realize that they could show me pictures and tell me stories about what life was like growing up with her. Certainly, it wouldn't be as good as meeting her in person, but it wasn't a dead end.

But why was I given up for adoption? Why did she keep three sons and another daughter, but give me up? My mother's husband was able to answer that question. He said he was married to Ruth when I was conceived, but they were technically separated. She got into a relationship with another man and wanted to hide her pregnancy from him, so she moved to Gloversville, New York. He said he never knew if I was a boy or a girl, but that she chose to give me up for adoption so that she could get back together with the father of her other children. Their marriage was off and on through the years, but he loved her. David was not interested in getting to know me personally, but he was helpful in providing the contact information for my siblings. He promised to call them together and tell them about me first, and told me to expect their calls within a few days.

That left me with a few days to process all of this information and figure out how I felt about it. To be honest, I was crushed to learn that Ruth died. I would have loved to hear her version of events and find out how everything really happened. Plus, it sounded like my siblings had a rough childhood and adolescence. Would they understand my need to find them, and would they be open to a reunion with me? When they called, my fears were all put to rest. I talked to each of them individually, and without fail they were open, loving, and warm. They never knew about me, but took the news in stride, better than I ever hoped they would.

Now we keep in touch every week or so. We met in person a few months ago, and although we might never be best friends, it feels great to look into faces that look like mine, and hear stories about our mother. My search might not have turned out as I dreamed it would, and I won't lie and say it turned out better. But I will say I now have the answers to my questions, and I find a sense of relief in that. Ruth, wherever you are, I hope you know that even though I never got to meet you, I hope we get to meet someday on the other side. I wish you would have kept me, but I can understand why you made the choice to give me up. I'll always love you.

Written by Mica Burton on Susan's behalf.

Client ID# 264718


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He found out that day that the couple who raised him was not his real parents. One day, his mom was home alone when a neighbor frantically ran down the hall and knocked on the door. She begged his mom to care for him for a few days "until she got back on her feet." She had a new baby, a girl named Cicelia or Cece, and she said she was going to visit a friend who might give her a job. She didn't come back that day, or that week, or even that month. After three months had passed, she still had not returned. His parents moved to a different state for work, and rather than give Paul up for foster care, they simply made a fresh start with him as their "son." They changed his name illegally, and he was never actually adopted. He never had a birth certificate, but somehow they were able to get him a social security number under his new name.

This revelation was quite a shock for Paul. Ever since that day, he has been searching for his birth family. He is 56 now, and has had very little luck in locating clues that will lead him to his birth family. Shortly after his father died, Paul's mother was diagnosed with cancer. Since he was raised as an only child, he was really stressed out trying to take care of her while working to raise our family. When she passed away a few months later, Paul felt like he had no one left, and needed to reach out to his real family now more than ever.

He wanted to know why his biological mother never came back for him, and what the real story is behind his being given up. His story is unique because it's not a regular adoption case like all the others. He actually does not remember anything about his mother or his little sister. We didn't have much information when we started the search. We just knew his mother's name was Delores Frye and she was a single parent living in Manhattan, New York with him and his little sister. His sister's name was Cicelia or Cece, but we don't know the spelling for sure. His mom also remembered that Delores was born and raised in NY, and she was about 20-22 at the time. Now that Paul is reaching retirement age, he needs his birth certificate so he can apply for social security. He isn't even sure that he has been celebrating his real birthday all these years.

We have gotten all the Delores Fryes off the internet and made phone call after phone call but have had no luck. We are hoping she is still alive or at least to meet his little sister. We have tried everything and cannot locate her. After Paul's mom died, we felt even more urgency to solve this mystery before Paul lost the opportunity to know his birth family.

We contacted SQA and our case was assigned to Laura Bartling. It took about 2 months for Laura to locate Paul's family. Celena is living in New York, and Delores is living in Queens. When Laura first contacted Celena, she was overjoyed! She had always known she had an older brother out there somewhere, and the family was hoping that one day Paul would find them. Within a week of our first phone call, Paul's whole family drove to New York to meet us. They welcomed us with open arms and Paul feels so blessed to have found them. The other day he told me, "It feels like I've been given a second family, and every day I spend with them I feel like the luckiest guy on earth."

This family is so excited to be connected after all these years. Delores was especially emotional when she met Paul for the first time. She told him the story of how she returned for him just days after her neighbor moved and took him with her. She sobbed for days when she found their apartment gone. When she talked to the super, he didn't have a forwarding address, she hadn't left a note, and for years Dolores has been punishing herself for not coming back just a week sooner. Through the years, she made sure that Celena knew about him, and that members of the family never forgot about him. Now that Paul is back in the family, he feels like they have left an open seat at the table for him all this time, and we are just so grateful that his reunion has worked out so well. Thank you SQA and especially Laura for all of your help! We honestly couldn't have done it without you!

Written by Mica Burton on Pam's behalf.

Client ID#248467


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She claimed to have had a relationship with my father before he met my mom, and wanted to offer the family an opportunity to be a part of her son's life. I was flabbergasted to find this letter, and wracked my memory to see if my grandmother or father had ever given any indication that I had a half brother somewhere. Unfortunately, my father has Alzheimer's disease and can seldom remember who I am when I visit him, so I knew I would not be able to get any information from him. I wished my grandmother had told me more about this mysterious Dollie before she died. I also wished that I could find my half brother and get to know him. My father's health was worsening, and I knew if I didn't act soon, my brother would never have the opportunity to meet his father.

My siblings and I got together and decided to hire SQA to locate our half brother. We knew that his mother, Dollie, would be 74 years old, and that she went to school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in the early 50's. My father's name is Franklyn Booth, and we still have the letter from Dollie. We also know that Dollie had a sister named Marge or Margie who was a hairdresser and had a shop connected to her house. She had 4 or 5 kids and was divorced sometime in the 50's.

Because the events of this search occurred over 50 years ago, my researcher, Julie Jones, turned to the historical documents for clues. She contacted one of my father's oldest friends, who remembered knowing Dollie and who thought her salon was located on Spitler or Brawdy Streets in what was then the Midwest City. She talked to the downtown Oklahoma Library regarding old city directories and they referred me to the Oklahoma Historical Society. In the 1954 City Directory, she confirmed that there was a salon located at 29th and Spitler.

Julie walked me through the process to request the 1954 and 1955 Midwest City directory and a copy of the beauty shops page and the reference by address pages in the back for the 29th and Spitler and Brawdy Streets. I followed her instructions, and the documents were faxed directly to Julie. I remember that a major ice and snow storm had just passed over us, when I received a letter from the Historical Society stating that city directories were not available for Midwest City. Phone directories did not start until the 70's, and the OK Department of Libraries, University of Oklahoma Library, and even the rose state University Library did not collect these records until the 90's. It seemed like a dead end.

Meanwhile, Julie had been weeding through the list of people by the name of Lesley Dean nationwide. She contacted several men by that name who was not the right person. Then finally, she struck pay dirt. She found one Lesley Dean whose father's name was indeed Franklyn Booth. His mother's name was Dollie and she would be 74 years old today. Julie confirmed that Lesley's mother Dollie had even gone to school in Oklahoma City in the early 50's. Case closed? Not for Julie.

Before she contacted Lesley, she wanted to be 100% positive that this was the correct family. She called me and asked me a question I hadn't even considered, "Does the envelope from your grandmother's personal effects have a return address?" I pulled it out and was surprised that I had not noticed it before. The address said "English Ave. Ext, Columbia, S.C., c/o Lee's Trailer Court."It was post dated October 7, 1955 from Columbia, South Carolina. Luckily, the South Carolina City Directory is available. Julie requested the 1955/1956 English Ave. City Directory. From the directory, Julie learned the names of the owners of the trailer park, who might still have records of their tenants. She contacted the nephew of one of the owners, who reported that his uncle was in poor health and would not remember anything about the past, and that the records from the trailer park have been destroyed. He promised to call back if he could locate any additional information. This appeared to be another dead end, but Julie decided to take the direct route.

She sent Lesley and email on Facebook. She wrote: "My name is Julie Jones and I'm an investigator with Search Quest America. I have a client who is trying to locate her brother. All we know is that he was born in approximately the spring of 1955 to a woman who went by the name of "Dollie." Janet's, my client, father was Franklyn Booth. After her father passed away she found a letter written to her grandmother (Franklyn's mother) from Dollie with a photo of the baby, Lesley Dean. So, I am on a quest to find all Lesley Dean's born within the right time frame. You are the only one I can find with ties to Oklahoma City. The photo (attached) was taken in Columbia, SC in 1955. If you could please let me know if this may be you, I'd greatly appreciate it."
While she waited for Les to respond, Julie also located an obituary for his mom, Buie Donna "Dollie." Dollie had owned and operated an antiques and collectibles show in Oklahoma City for many years. She had 3 sons and 3 daughters, and passed away in June of 1998. When Les responded, he said there was a distinct possibility that the baby picture was his. In response, he emailed a picture of himself, and asked me if he bore any resemblance to my dad. When I got the photo, there was no doubt in my mind that we had found my half-brother. The resemblance is unmistakable. Julie gave me his contact information and we arranged to meet at a restaurant last night.

It was absolutely wonderful!! We met at a restaurant. My sisters & I waited inside the front door until we saw him get out of his pickup truck and then we ran to him. We stayed in the restaurant & visited for hours!! This picture, from left to right: me (Janet), Les, younger sister Cheryl, older sister Teri. Our brother, Mike, was out of town and not able to get back in time. But we will have dinner with all of us and our spouses next week.

I just want to thank you again for all your hard work and perseverance!! It really, really is a dream come true!!

Written by Mica Burton on Janet's behalf.
(Client 226030)


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My mother, an American named Terry Lynn, fell in love with my dad, who had recently emigrated from Mexico. They were married in the late seventies. However, cultural differences, financial stress, and my father's questionable acquaintances caused problems in their marriage. My father always felt he was above the law, and his cultural and family background led him to believe his word was law in our home. Being an American woman, my mother was too outspoken and independent for his tastes. They frequently argued; my mother turned to her family in Nebraska for support, and occasionally for refuge.

But that July while my mother was away, my father finally set in motion a plan he hatched months prior. He plotted with family members in Mexico for them to raise the four of us kids for a few years, maybe indefinitely. He packed our bags, loaded us in the car, and told us we were going on vacation to Disney Land in California. Instead, he drove us all the way to Mexico and dropped us off with our Tia (aunt), Isabel. After we crossed the Mexican border, he told us the "truth" that our Mother had left us for good this time. He said she didn't want us anymore, and she was going to go get herself an American family. We cried for hours crammed in the back of that dusty Nissan, and he made sure we really believed we had been "abandonados (abandoned)."

He only stayed in Mexico for long enough to eat a meal, and get a few hours of sleep. Then he turned around and went back to Sioux City, Iowa. I have imagined a hundred scenarios for what probably happened when he went home without us. I imagine my mother was horrified, furious, devastated, or scared. My father didn't return for years. Because I was so young, I hardly remembered him, but quickly adjusted to my new life in Mexico. My only male role models were my uncles. When I was a teenager, I learned that my father had been sent to prison in the United States for kidnapping. I do not know how long he served exactly, but throughout his imprisonment, he never revealed our whereabouts. My mother, being American, lacked the language skills to come after us, and she had never met my father's family, so she wouldn't have known where to look anyway.

My siblings and I really believed we had been abandoned for several years. Then, when my older brother had a huge argument with our father when we were teenagers, the truth came out and my paradigm shifted so that I understood my mother was a victim just like the rest of us.

Now, as an adult, I have a wife and 3 beautiful children of my own. I would like for their grandmother to be in their lives since she lost the opportunity to be in mine. My life would literally be over if they were taken away from me, and I would never stop looking for them. Every day, I pray for a miracle. I pray I will talk to the right relative and get the missing puzzle piece. I have run all the scenarios over in my mind, and I have struggled to accept things I cannot change. Yet, I'm tired of feeling like I wake up to a brick wall every day. I want to just get answers once and for all so I can move on and focus on living the life of an adult, instead of being stuck in the nightmare of my childhood.

I don't have very much information. I've tried asking our family members and our father for information, but they are a united front and refuse to help us. I have my birth certificate with her full name. I know she would be about 51 years old, and she was also born in Nebraska and lived in Iowa. She was married to my dad in the early 70s, and divorced in 1985 or 1986, most likely in Sioux City.

With this information, my researcher Julie and I made progress. Julie discovered that she was born on September 24, 1958. She also found her maiden name, social security number, and a previous address in Omaha, Nebraska. Next, she found an obituary for my aunt Rocha, which gave the names of other living relatives. Current contact information for my mom wasn't available, so Julie got on Facebook and contacted another relative, asking for my mom's current phone number.

Luckily, Angela emailed back right away asking for proof of my identity. Julie emailed her a copy of my birth certificate, an overview of what I remember from 1985, and a picture of me. She also sent the message to my mom's sister, Lisa and her husband, Aaron.

My aunt Lisa emailed Julie back the same day with my mother's current phone number. Julie reached mom's boyfriend first, but he was really excited and promised to have her call back as soon as possible.

That afternoon, my mom called Julie back. She was overjoyed to hear from me, and said she has waited for this day since the day we were taken. In fact, she has kept the name Contreras all these years so we would be able to find her more easily. Julie sent her my contact information and our family pictures, so that when she called me later that night, all she could do was cry softly while I told her about her grandchildren and what she has missed during the last 18 years. We made plans to meet in person for the first time next month, and we have been in constant contact ever since.

I still have mixed emotions. I love my family members on my father's side and I feel loyal to them because I share their name, and they raised us with love and laughter. Yet, I feel that if they had asked more questions, or put in a greater effort, they could have ended this search a long time ago. I have to ask myself what my father may have told them to convince them it was in our best interests to stay hidden.

Either way, I am so happy to finally have my mom in my life again. SQA has not only fulfilled my dreams, but also those of my 3 siblings, and my children. I hope your company is successful so that you will be able to reunite many more families in the future and bless their lives as you have blessed mine.

Sincerely,
Joseph Contreras
(Client ID# 264261)


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When my mother met her birth father, he gave her a photo of he and Nancy shortly before my mom was born. Thankfully, we also have the original adoption records, which were made official in February of 1964. The birth mother's name was Nancy Armonds, and the birth father was Frank Randazzo. Nancy was born in May of 1942, and was 22 when my mom was born in Cook County, Illinois. She was married at the time, but had recently finalized her divorce.
Kristen and Julie were the two researchers I worked with during the search. Kristin worked with a woman named Susan to narrow down my birth mother's maiden name, "Scott." It turns out there was only one "Nancy" who was divorced in Illinois in the right time frame. The woman's age on the divorce papers coincides with her age when the baby was born. However, the man she was divorced from was not Frank Randazzo, so it seems there was an extramarital affair prior to the divorce. Also, the woman's married name was not "Armonds" but "Ammons."

The next step was to search for obituaries for members of Nancy's family. Although there were many people with the same last name that have died over the years, few lived in Cook County Illinois, and even fewer were listed with any family members named Nancy. When the facts seemed to fit together correctly, Julie found current phone numbers for Nancy or members of the deceased's surviving family to ask if there had ever been married to a man by the last name Ammons, or whether she had given a baby up for adoption. One after another, these Nancy's were ruled out.

Meanwhile, I requested a complete copy of the record of the divorce of Nancy and William Ammons, and checked to see if my mom's birth father had ever been divorced. This confirmed the Ammons were divorced March 27, 1963, and Nancy's middle initial was J. they lived in Lake, Illinois at the time. Unfortunately, Nancy's ex-husband William died in 1977, so there was no way to get more information about Nancy from him. Also, the divorce record verified Nancy's birth date, which was another important puzzle piece, and helped Julie narrow down the list of Nancy's.

She also searched high schools in Cook County for anyone named Nancy Scott who graduated from high school in about 1960. She hit the jackpot when she found Nancy in Chicago's Senn High School yearbook from the class of 1960. At last, we had our first photograph of my mom's birth mother. That also meant Nancy definitely lived in that area of Chicago in 1960, so Julie searched the Chicago Directory for that year for families with the last name "Scott." She found one Joseph Scott with a daughter named Nancy. I could feel that we were getting closer, but the birth dates didn't quite seem to line up correctly.
Finally, Julie located the right Nancy. Her married last name is Lewis and she lives in Johnsburg, Illinois. One interesting fact that caught us by surprise is that Nancy was adopted herself. Julie found an adoption notice in the newspaper on the day of Nancy's birth. She verified that Nancy Lewis did graduate from Senn High School, and she was married and divorced from William Ammons. In the following years she married and divorced two other men as well. With her third husband, she had two daughters, Janet and Deborah. Nancy's father was Joseph Skudlarski, who changed his name to Joseph Scott in 1944. Nancy's mother was Sophia Bura, and her parents were from Warsaw, Poland. Joseph died in 1976, and Sophia lived until 2005.

The first person in the family Julie spoke with was my aunt, Janet. Janet she confirmed that her mom graduated from Senn High School and that her real date of birth is May 3, 1942. It shows up as May 3, 1940 because when she was younger, her mother was ill and her father needed her to drive her mother to doctor appointments. Because she was not old enough to drive, her father took her in to get her license and lied about her age in order to obtain it.
While Julie was on the phone with Janet, she sent her the photo I have of Nancy and Frank and Janet confirmed that it was, in fact, her mother. She nor her sister were ever about my mother's adoption, but she said Nancy is a "very private person" who has just recently started answering questions as Janet has recently began genealogy research. Janet knew that her mother was married to William Ammons and that they divorced before her parents married.

I was hoping for a very warm, emotional reunion. Instead, I got a cautious one. Janet indicated that she would speak to Deborah and then her mother, Nancy. She thought that she would be the one talking to her since she lives so close and Deborah is in Wisconsin. She promised to call Julie back in a few days; she wanted to process all of the information and speak to Deborah, too.
When Julie gave me all this information, I had mixed emotions. On the one hand I was very relieved and excited that the case was solved. On the other hand, I was cautious. I wondered what it meant that Nancy is "a very private person." Would she be open to a reunion with my mom and her family? What if she wasn't? Would it be better to tell my mom that she couldn't be found, or fess up and admit I found her, but she didn't want anything to do with us? Also, a few days isn't too much to ask, but with my mother's health condition I was petrified that I would get a phone call in the middle of the night and be faced with the tragedy that they missed each other by "just a few days."
I ended up going to visit my mom that night and telling her everything. We leaned on each other and hoped for the best. Eleven days later, Janet called me. She confessed that Nancy had not taken the news well, and was not interested in meeting my mom right now. This was devastating news, but was softened by the fact that both Janet and Deborah have open hearts and minds and are excited to get to know our family and blend us with their own. We have talked on the phone several times, and I am confident things are going to work out just fine. Now all I feel is a profound sense of relief that I was able to give my mom the answers she needed before it was too late. I hope to live every day following my mom's example. She has accepted this whole situation with grace and understanding, and with the knowledge that she can choose whether to respond with love or judgment. She is willing to give her birth mother as much time as she needs, and she always says no matter what happens, it is better to know the whole truth.

Written by Mica Burton on Terese's behalf.
Client ID# 245302


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2/23/10: I have not seen my mom since I was 4 year old, after my parents' divorce. She tried to contact me through my dad and grandparents who are all deceased now. They refused to allow contact between her and her children. I remember her as being very loving; she was a stay at home mom. I was told she was mentally ill, but I do not remember her being so. I am now 30, and I have been searching for her since I was 16. I have always had an empty feeling since she left, and I even had an eating disorder until I was 12. When she was taken out of my life, I felt abandoned.

I really did not have much of a relationship with my dad. When I was 19 he told me "Don't be surprised if she shows up on your door step one day," but that is all the information he gave me. It is so hard answering questions from my children about why I don't have a mom. I have 3 kids, my oldest daughter has lots of medical problems, some undiagnosed. I badly need our family health history so I can get her the care she needs. I also have hereditary health problems myself. My sister and I both need a mom in our lives. I want to find her before she passes away if she has not already.

Her name is Chung Sik Cho Davis. I was told she was born on February 2nd, but I don't know what year. My parents were married outside of Seoul, Korea, and I have the address in Korea where they lived at the time, and their first address when they moved to the States. My birth certificate from 1979 says she was 24 when I was born, but my Dad always said she lied about her age. She has a sister in the United States who also married a military man. I have her social security number, but there is a man in VA who is currently using it, which seems very suspicious to me. I am told she has an aunt and cousin in the States.

With this information, SQA opened a case in search of Chung Cho. Julie Jones was the investigator that worked hand in hand with Jennifer every step of the way. Julie helped Jennifer request additional documents that might reveal more information about her mother.

3/24/10: I sent off paperwork to get marriage and divorce documents from Virginia vital statistics. I talked to friend that we had lived with when I was very young, before my parents' divorce. She said my mom's sister and her husband lived in California, and that her husband promised my dad a good job there, so we moved. I think that was 1980 or 1981. We were there for no more than 2 years and moved back to my grandmother's house in Harrisonburg, Va.

While we were in California, I had an "accident" at home and spent a good bit of time in the San Bernardino Burn Center. Those records might be available, and might have information about my parents. My sister is having a lot of medical problems, she's going downhill fast and doctors have not been able to diagnose her yet. We really need to know medical records on my mom. If there are any other records you recommend I get, please advise and I will start the process. Thanks, Jennifer

Meanwhile, Julie searched for Chung's sister, who supposedly married a military man and moved to the United States. She discovered that they divorced several years ago, and the military man (Mitchell) remarried to a woman named June Jones, then died a few years later. Julie contacted June to ask her questions about Mitchell's ex-wife, Chung's cousin.

June provided her name, Sun Yong Cho. She remembered Mitchell talking about Chung and the girls. After the divorce, Sun was not allowed to have any contact with her daughter, Karen. This was an eerily similar story to what Jennifer remembers about her mother, Chung. June told Julie she didn't remember anything else, and had no idea where Sun was.

However, later, when Jennifer called her personally, June said that after Sun left Mitchell, she hooked up with Mitchell's brother, Dave Jones, and later she left him for a man named Bob Baugh and went to Texas. Julie was able to locate Bob Baugh and let him a message.

Bob and Sun called back. They confirmed that Sun's cousin, Chung, lived with her sporadically in Alabama. She had dated Dave Jones, but they said she broke up with him and married a man named Terry Anderson, also a military man, in Alabama. At first, they insisted she had gone back to Korea and they had lost contact. Then, after a lengthy conversation, she claimed Chung was happy and living in Alabama with her three kids, but she swore that Chung had never married Jennifer's father, and did not have any children besides the three that lived with her. Sun provided Chung Anderson's phone number.

Julie and Jennifer talked about the situation, and Jennifer opted to contact Chung and her husband personally. All of the information about Chung Anderson matched the information Jennifer had about her mother, but the woman denied Jennifer was her daughter.

4/5/10: I spoke with Chung's husband, but I couldn't really tell if they are telling the truth. Both times I spoke with him he has been very persistent that we had the wrong person. But if that is so, I am really surprised that they have taken as much time as they have to speak with both of us and return calls and emails.

A part of me feels as if they want to throw us on the wrong path, especially after speaking with Chung and her telling me that her maiden name was Cho. That conflicts with what Sun said. I am thinking about calling Chung back today and asking her if she would mind if I send her some photos since she has the same maiden name as my mom, maybe she would recognize someone. If she is my mom, I would think there would be a part of her that would be eager to see these photos.

I had really mixed feelings about her when speaking to her, especially when her 1st question was "Where are you now?" But then she insisted that she was not the one I was looking for. It really upsets me that I did not have a chance to stay in contact with her over the years. My sister and I had a very hard childhood, we pretty much raised ourselves and had to live with a house full of drunks spilling their drinks on our backpacks and school books, we were always getting kicked out of our beds at night so some unknown drunk could pass out in our bed. From kindergarten up, we got ourselves up, fixed our own breakfast and went to school, with no one home to send us. I feel if we had some kind of relationship with our mom, we might have gotten a little bit of parental guidance and a little bit of a childhood, but maybe not. If this Chung is my mom, why would she deny me?

I would like the chance to find my mom to let her know I am not upset with her for not being there and also tell her I'm sorry that she had to go through what she did. As an adult I can see how easily this can happen with a divorce, especially when you have no family to back you up. My sister is actually going through something similar now, hopefully she will not lose her kids. Please let me know if or when you get a hold of the man using her social, I would love to know how he got it.

I also spoke with my uncle over the weekend. For the 1st time, he was honest about my parents' situation, now that my dad is deceased. All of this I had figured out myself, but I have more assurance about my assumptions now. He said when he first met my mom, he really liked her she seemed like a great mom and wife, then my dad began to hang out with a really bad group of people, started partying, cheating, was abusive, etc. My mom became angrier as time when on.

My uncle said in his opinion she was not crazy like everyone has always told me, he said my dad just drove her to get very mean over time. He said that my family members lied in court for my dad. He said she never should have been placed in Western State hospital. He said that when they had her admitted they ended up keeping her for a while because they did not believe the things she told them about my dad. My uncle said she did not tell them anything that was a lie, the abuse just sounded extreme. The deal was with the divorce that the only way Western State Mental institution would release my mom is if my dad paid for her plane ticket back to Korea. My uncle gave him the money for the ticket and my dad took her to the airport either in Washington DC or Dulles Airport in Northern Va. No one really knows whether or not she actually boarded the plane.

He also reminded me my mom did send a huge box of toys for Christmas the 1st year after she left. Now I remember my dad would never tell me where the return address was from. If the box was as big as I remember, I don't think it came from Korea. I remember when I was in 1st grade, I overheard my dad and his girlfriend talking about my mom and then within days we moved. My uncle said he never could understand why my dad kept my sister and I from having a relationship our mom, he only guesses that he did not want us the hear the other side of the story, which I have always assumed also. He also said my mom tried to contact my grandmother on my sister's 18th birthday.

I emailed Sun's husband some pictures of my mom and wedding. He said she did not recognize anyone and it has to be the wrong person. So either we have the wrong person or they are lying. I would think that if my mom tried to call my sister on her 18th birthday, then she would not be completely against us contacting her. I will let you know if I find out anything else and will fax you the divorce papers when they arrives. Thanks, Jennifer

5/10/10: Hi Julie, I am going through all the information I have and everything seems to be purposely miss leading. Try searching another name please for my mom Jo Eun Jung. I was looking through my parents wedding photos and noticed one of them had something written in Korean on the back. I took it to a Korean friend of mine and he translated "Jo Eun Jung," which is a name. There's a chance this could be my mother's real name.

The wedding date on the photos says November 7, 1976. However, the divorce decree says they were married on October 13, 1976. Could my father have intentionally changed the date? Her age, date of birth, social security number, wedding date, and even her name does not match up. It's as if my dad did everything possible to keep me from finding her.

I sent an email to the Korean embassy in Washington DC. Hopefully they will get back with me, there is supposed to be a family history on file of all my mom's relatives when my parents were married. It's a law when you get married in Korea. Is there any way you can search passports? According to my family it was an agreement upon the divorce that my dad pay for my mom's plane ticket back to Korea. That would have been right after the divorce April of 1984. Thanks, Jennifer
5/11/10: I have made a horrifying discovery. I got to thinking about all of these inaccuracies, and wondering whether my dad did this on purpose. Then I got to wondering, what would he be trying to hide? It doesn't make sense that he would go through all of this just to keep me from finding her, so there must be something else.

Then, I went online and searched the National Missing and Unidentified Persons system. Julie, I found the reconstructed picture of the skull of a woman that was found in 1985 in Delaware. I don't know that my mom was ever in Delaware, but the body was only discovered two hours from the Dulles Airport, where my dad supposedly dropped my mom off. What if he killed her and dumped her body? The whole scenario is so horrible and I desperately hope I'm wrong, but all of the facts point to a cover-up and I know my dad could be violent when he got angry. I'm going to submit my DNA for the authorities to match with the deceased woman. It will take 9 months to get the results back, so we can't stop searching. Let's assume it's not her, for now.

I contacted an attorney to obtain a subpoena for my mom's medical records at Wester State Psych Hospital. I ordered my Dad's military records. I also requested my parents' marriage license from Korea. When I have it, I will apply for the marriage registry in Korea and see if I can get a family history record. Let me know if there's anything else I can do.

5/26/10: Hi Julie, I just received the old medical records from the attorney. I'm scanning and emailing them to you now. The records are from 7/2/1979 and they say my mom was 31 years old at that time. I also talked to an investigator about filing a missing person's report. He says he still isn't able to file the report because I need to go through the state police and he doesn't think they would accept it because I "should have filed it when I was 18." He did look into the SSN issue with mom and the guy using it and can't ascertain whether or not it's hers or his. I talked to the social worker who worked my case in 1979 and she's checking her records to see if she has any additional info about my mom.

Then, I went to the social security administration. They would not confirm anything about the SS#, but the lady told me that the number I've been using has the last 4 numbers switched. So we may want to widen our search. Thanks.

Meanwhile, Julie began researching the previous known addresses of Jennifer's parents. She spoke with old neighbors seeking additional clues to the case. She also searched the nation for other women named Chung Cho in a ten-year age range, and eliminated each one as Jennifer's mother.

6/10/10: This afternoon, I found the Craigslist page for Souel, Korea, and posted a message. You never know if someone will contact us. Here's what I wrote: Hi, I am looking for my mom who went back to Korea in 1984, I have not seen her since. Her name is Chung Sik Cho, date of birth 2/28/48. Her fathers name is Won Tu Cho, aka Cho Won Tu, my grandmothers name is Yang, Ae Cha. My grandparents registry address is #110 Munju-Ri, Dong-Myon, Yonki-Kum, Chung-Nam. If any one can, please help me find my mom. There are wedding photos attached and last photos of last seen attached. Wedding photo was taken in 1976, family photo in 1983.

7/14/10: Hi Julie, I wanted to let you know I was able to set up a missing persons report for my mom through the NamUs web site, its case #7700. With the official NamUs case , I was able to contact the Seoul Jungbu Police station and they agreed to help with the case. I'll contact you if I hear anything.
On September 14, 2010, after a 5-month search of the United States for Jennifer's mother, under both the names Chung Cho and Jo Eun Jung, the case was solved. Jennifer received the following email from the Seoul Jungbu Police Station stating that her mother had been located.

7/14/10: This mail is to inform you the results of our attempt to reach your blood-related family (your mother, Chungshik Cho). We found out that your mother has been a patient at a hospital just outside of Seoul. Unfortunately, her health is not so well; she has a hard time expressing herself. We reached your aunt (maternal), Dongsoon Lee, and your family has informed us their will to meet you. Your family resides in Anyang, a city just to the south of Seoul. We will provide your aunt's (Dongsoon Lee) cellular phone number. We would like to tell you that we will inform your family your contact information. We would like to wish you a good luck in meeting your family, and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

After the divorce was finalized and the plane ticket purchased, Jennifer's father picked Chung up from the mental hospital and drove her to the airport. Somewhere along the way, Chung was very badly beaten, probably by Jennifer's dad. Nevertheless, she boarded the plane and sometime during the long flight she suffered brain damage, probably from swelling or bleeding in the brain. When her family picked her up, they noticed her injuries and rushed her to the hospital, but it was too late to reverse the damage. Since 1984, she had been in a child-like state in a hospital outside of Seoul.

This was certainly am unexpected ending to Jennifer's search. Shortly after receiving the news, Jennifer and her sister purchased tickets to Korea. They visited their mother, who did not understand who they were. They met their maternal family for the first time and were politely received.

I am glad that we finally have the answers we have been looking for all these years. I know now that my mother never sent us a box of gifts from Korea, and she never called on my sister's 18th birthday. But I have also learned that she didn't abandon us, or forget about us, or replace us somehow. She was the victim of a violent crime, probably by our father, and her life has never been the same. In a way, it is a blessing that she doesn't remember what happened, or that she left us behind. Otherwise she would have a whole different kind of suffering, knowing that we were alive but always out of reach. I'm happy we were able to meet members of our family, but disappointed that we didn't make any strong emotional bonds. It's probably due to cultural and language barriers, or maybe when they look at us they see our American father, who sent their daughter home literally broken. At least when my kids ask me why I don't have a mom, they will know that their grandmother would have loved them. I know she loved me, and I know it wasn't her fault. This was a long and difficult journey, to say the least, but we have answers, and that's priceless.

Written by Mica Burton on Jennifer's behalf.

(Client ID# 270491)


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When I was growing up and used to ask about my father, my mom and aunts used to make jokes and tell me my dad was the "Skipper" on the TV show Gilligan's Island. When I was really young, I believed them. In fact, I used to tell myself that my dad was too busy on the Island to come visit me. Then as I got older I became bitter and felt unwanted. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized my mom had never been to Hollywood, and asked the question, "Who is my father, really?"

That's when I learned that although my father's name is Alan Hale, like the actor, they are not one and the same man. My mother met Alan or "Mike" in March of 1969 in a naval hospital in Chicago. He was a patient and had been pinned beneath a truck on duty in South America. He was recuperating and my mother helped relieve his boredom by visiting with him for a while.

Later, a mutual friend introduced them and they hit it off right away. They were both working at Railway Express, and their romance quickly developed. They moved in together in May of 1969 in a little house off of Clark Street, south of Train, North of the hospital, in the Rogers' Park area. They were happy together through January of 1970. My dad had odd jobs working as a cook and also an entertainer at a restaurant.

Then, in June or July of 1969, he and a friend were arrested in her car for speeding or driving under the influence, and the police wouldn't let them leave until my mom went to the station in downtown Chicago and identified them. He bounced around to different jobs, and when she left him a few months later he was working in a diner in the Schiller Park area. She also remembers that he had family members in Florida, and used to vacation there occasionally.

My primary concern in searching for my father is to obtain medical information. I am adult now with my own family. I won't deny that I badly needed my father's influence when I was a teenager and in my early twenties, but now I have my own family to think about and I realize how important medical history can be. If he is open to having a relationship with me or his grandchildren, we will explore that road when we come to it. At least once, I want to shake his hand and I want him to be proud of the man I have become.

Thanks to SQA and Julie Jones, I have now been reunited with my father and a few half brothers as well. First, Julie tracked down my father's siblings. His sister, Karen, died in 1998. Next, he found out that my father had a son, Dorian, and may have married his mother in 1969. When Julie contacted Dorian, he said he had not seen his father since 1971 in Chicago. He didn't even remember him, but we had a good conversation on the phone and plan to meet soon. Dorian did mention an important clue, however. He remembered that our father's mother was living in Pensacola, Florida.

Next, Julie found another half-brother, Michael Jr. Like Dorian, he said our dad took off when he was 3 and hadn't been back since. He talked to his mom and then called Julie back with more information. He verified that Mike had been in Chicago at the time, and had been working as a short order cook.

Then, Julie located a man by the name of Michael Lee Hale, who verified that he was in Chicago at the right times, and had worked as a short order cook. He claimed he didn't remember my mother's name, however. He didn't have "Alan" in his name, but all the facts indicated that this was my father. Julie emailed him 3 pictures of my mother. One was of her with me as a baby. One was of my dad, Mike Hale, as she knew him, and the third was one of me today. She explained that my last name is different because I was adopted by my step-father, and that I live in Washington. From there, it was a waiting game. We were confident that we had the right man, it was just a matter of him acknowledging me as his son.

Eventually, Mike Hale, Sr. called Julie back and left a message. He said he got the pictures, but didn't remember my mom, and said the picture that was supposedly of him was too fuzzy for him to say for sure. Next, Julie contacted both of my half brothers and asked them to scan and email pictures of their father. At this point it was just a technicality, because Mike Hale's social security number matched the one my mom had on file from all those years ago.

My mom asked to listen to the voicemail Mike left, and when she heard his voice she confirmed that it is him. In the message, he wanted to know "exactly what she wanted from him." My mom volunteered to call him directly to reassure him that she isn't looking for back child support or anything like that, and that I am only interested in meeting him and getting medical info. When the photos came in from Dorian and Michael, my mom recognized my dad immediately, so we are one hundred percent positive that this is the right man, whether he admits it or not.

I didn't want to come on too strong, so rather than call my dad or show up on his doorstep, I opted to email him instead. I gave him my contact information and explained again that I don't want anything from him except medical information and hopefully the chance to meet him. If he doesn't want a long-term relationship I understand, but I also told him I'm not angry with him for his absence. It's all water under the bridge.

About a week later, he called me for the first time and we had a good long conversation. We have a few things in common and it seems he has lived a pretty exciting life, moving around a lot and working different jobs as a free spirit. The best part of this search is discovering that I have 2 brothers, who have been very open to getting to know each other and me, so that's good. All in all, I'm grateful that my wife encouraged me to search for my dad, and I feel like I can move forward and be the father to my kids that I never had growing up. I take this responsibility seriously and I'll do my best to make sure I am always in my kids' lives, no matter what.

Written by Mica Burton on Jon's behalf.

(Client ID# 247224)

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That's what happened during my wedding. I was trying on my hundredth wedding dress, in a stuffy bridal salon with an over-zealous sales woman hovering by. I stepped out of the dressing room in a gown I had fallen in love with, and was crushed when my mom sat there with a blank stare, and zero emotional connection to the experience at all.

"Mom! This is my wedding, could you show just a LITTLE enthusiasm?" I demanded. The sales attendant bowed out to give us a little privacy for my bridezilla meltdown. "My whole life you have been this frigid ice queen with no emotion at all! I can't stand it anymore! This is supposed to be a mother-daughter bonding experience and you aren't even emotionally connected!" I was on a roll. My feelings had been on lock down for way too long. What happened next was the absolute LAST thing I expected.

She stood abruptly and shouted, "You want to know why I have issues being 'emotionally connected?'" using two fingers on each hand to make quotes in the air. "It's because 36 years ago I gave a child up for adoption and I had to shut OFF my emotions or go insane! And every day while you are planning your guest list for this wedding, all I can think about is your big brother who won't be here!" She slumped down into her chair and both of us fell into a stunned silence.

"I can't believe you never told me...." I sat down next to her, poofy wedding dress and all. I took her hand and she poured out the whole story. She gave birth to a baby boy in Houston, Texas in August of 1971 and has never been the same since. It's amazing how learning one little fact about your life can spin your world on its axis and make you see things in a totally different way. It helped me understand my life so much better.

Now that the wedding is over, I want to give my mom the closure she needs and hopefully meet my big brother. That's why I contacted SQA in January to initiate the search. Julie contacted me right away and I began to get snapshots of my mom's life. I learned she as 4 feet 11 inches tall, and had brown hair and eyes, and a medium brown skin town when the baby was born. She was 19 years old and gave birth at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston. The adoption was handled through Catholic Charities, and the baby was adopted by a black family. Shortly afterward, she had to pull herself together and go to work at Foley's Department Store in downtown Houston.

A few years later, she received an update in the mail from Catholic Charities. They reported that the adoptive mother worked at the cosmetic counter of a department store, and the father was a postal worker. They were in their early to mid-thirties and had adopted another son from Catholic Charities about 2 years after my brother. My brother allergies as a child and he did not like to get dirty. He would often request to change his clothes if his got soiled.

I worked with Julie to request documents from the adoption agency. Once we had them, Julie located my brother. His name is Kevin and he lives in Humble, Texas. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 148 pounds, and has a criminal record. That was a surprise to us!

Kevin had three DWI's, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and in 1991 was charged with Possession of a Firearm on School Premises. Since 1991 he has been clean. In fact, he got married about 6 years ago and was recently divorced. While Julie tracked Kevin through his marriage, previous address, phone records, etc., I could not contain my enthusiasm!

I told all my friends and family that we had found my half-brother. When I told my half-sister, the first question she asked was, "what's his name." She was flabbergasted when I told her his full name, then started jumping up and down and screaming. She said "Oh my god, I think I went to high school with him! He even went to my same church!"

When Julie called back with this exact information and his phone number, we verified all the information and sure enough, it was the same guy she went to school with. I can't believe that this is such a small world! She called him that night and he and I talked for the first time. My mom cried and cried when she first heard his voice, and sat and listened as he carried on the conversation for several minutes while she composed herself.

Since we all live in Houston, it was easy to get together for the first time. I feel so blessed to know to have found my brother, and I feel like for the first time, me and my mom can have an open honest relationship because I understand where she is coming from and why she has seemed cold all these years. I want my mom and my brother to know that I love them both, and that they are a part of me and my family forever and always. Now that we have found Kevin, we won't let him out of our sight! Thanks for all your help!

Written by Mica Burton on Jessica's behalf.

(Client ID# 267220)

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My mother never knew what happened to her siblings after her mother, Hattie WARD, and father, Lester WARD, separated. Lester kept Ann and the other siblings went with Hattie. After 66 years, I was too excited to say, "Pam," from the agency I hired, called on Nov. 29 and said she'd found Rosetta! "Pam" found Rosetta's son, Kelvin, first. After verifying pertinent information, she asked if he thought his mom would like to talk to her sister. He said, "Yes, she's been praying for this her whole life!"

(The locator found their brother, Charlie, first. Sadly, he passed away in August. However, his passing was the lead in finding Rosetta because his obituary listed her as a sibling and used her married name.)

My mother was so happy when I told her!!! I asked if she wanted to speak with her sister and she excitedly said, "YES!" Trembling slightly, I called Aunt Rosetta and said, "Hi, this is your niece, Barbara." All I remember is her saying, "Praise God! God is good; it's a great day today!" I handed the phone to Mother and they talked like it was old times.

Plans were made quickly for a visit; within two weeks of finding each other, they were able to give each other the HUG you see in the picture! There are no words to explain the emotions that filled us all as we watched them. They rarely left each other's side during the 3-day visit. Besides looking alike, they share a lot of things in common. For example, they both have daughters named Sharon!

A Reunion Specialist from Search Quest America, the third party search service provider for TroyTheLocator.com, is still working on finding the youngest sister, Edna Ward.

Story written by Barbara Ward

(CL 281005)

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I guess you could say I'm pretty desperate. I have been trying to locate him for about 5 years on my own and have had no luck. I've gone through a website my aunt went through to find her biological parents but they couldn't find the right person. I've even tried getting my original birth certificate from the lawyer who handled my adoption, but he didn't seem to want to help. I don't have enough information to find him on my own and have done all I can think of to do. I really don't feel my life will be complete until I can find him and talk to him and have my questions answered that only he can answer.

My mother was married to John Lopez in July of 1985 in California. I think he was born in 1965. Their divorce was finalized when I was four or five in Washington, and my mom says he moved to East Washington, somewhere around Wenatche. I also know that at one point my mom had a restraining order against him in Washington, but it's not clear why.

When I decided to pursue the search with SQA, Linda and Julie both warned me that it could take 6-9 months to either solve or close the case. I went into it the search my eyes wide open, even though my husband was very skeptical. He had seen me get ripped off and let down with other websites and companies, and he didn't want me to get hurt again.

Both of us were shocked when Julie called me only 16 days later and told me to grab a pen and write down my birth father's phone number and address. I was so happy! I was overjoyed and ecstatic that he wanted to meet me. Not only that, but Julie told me when she called him, he said he had been looking for me for years, and he was so happy he broke into tears on the phone with her! Although I may have been legally adopted by someone else, there has been emptiness in his heart that matches the emptiness in mine. When he hung up the phone with Julie, he said, "Please call and give her my phone number. Tell her to call me right away!" So of course I did.

I called him "John" at first, but by the end of our long conversation, I entered his information into my phone as "Daddy Lopez." He works for the city of Los Angeles and his job is to "paint the town" and remove graffiti from public areas, like the Hollywood sign. He likes his work and loves his family. I have 2 sisters and a brother, a plethora of cousins I got to meet when I visited him and the family in LA.

It felt so good to see everyone gathered to meet me and celebrate my return to the family. It was so surreal. It didn't feel like I was talking to complete strangers at all. There is no denying people who share your blood. It was like coming home. It was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I could not have asked for a better reunion with him, or a better experience with SQA.

Even though she hadn't been willing to help me along the way, my mom got on board once the case was solved. She even took the time to make a scrapbook with pictures from my childhood and adolescence for him. He was overcome as he accepted the gift and I loved sitting next to him for hours talking about the things he missed, and sharing my dreams for the future that he will get to be a part of.

I'm proud of myself for not giving up. It took years to finally find him, but my determination paid off. I've been keeping in touch with my siblings, especially my oldest sister. We text and talk on Facebook all the time. They have definitely become a huge part of my life and I'm so grateful that the gap in my life has been filled.

I sent out this card for Christmas with a picture of me and "Daddy Lopez." From the bottom of our hearts, we THANK you SQA and especially Julie for all your help. It wouldn't have been possible without you!!

Written by Mica Burton on Katie's behalf.

(Client ID# 222835)

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My researcher, Julie Jones, contacted me last May. We had a good chat as she verified the information, and told me I should be patient and plan to wait several months for the case to be solved. When she called back three days later I assumed she wanted to ask me a few more questions. I was flabbergasted when she told me the case had already been solved!

Someone years ago told me that there is no such thing as coincidences. Tears come to my eyes when I think about how easy it was to find Hollyn. 2 days after I mustered the courage to send an inquiry to SQA and open a case, she ALSO got online, found SQA, and sent an inquiry of her own! She put in all the information she had and wrote, "I'm compelled to meet the woman who was strong enough to offer me a life she was unable to offer at the time." When Julie opened our case files side by side, it was immediately clear that our stories are one and the same. Although her adoptive parents did not name her Whitney Hollyn, she knew about their plans and the birth name was the key that linked us together so quickly. All of the other information, like the date and place of birth, matched also.

How crazy is it that in a 48-hour time period, both mother and daughter felt compelled to seek out the same company?! I almost can't believe it myself, but it's true. When Julie gave me this news I knew immediately that our reunion was going to go well. My worst fear had been that Hollyn might not want to reunite with me, but once it was clear she was looking for me too, my nervousness evaporated and I knew everything was going to be ok. Better than ok, Great! We have talked on the phone almost daily. Hollyn said, "Thank God they didn't name me Whitney!" and I can't help but think, "Thank God for this whole miracle."

Hollyn and I will finally be meeting the weekend of July 23rd. I am so excited and she seems to be. I just sent her an email and told her that I have reserved us a suite for us. Her husband Sean is coming with her so I will get to meet him as well.

My oldest and dearest friend is going with me. She told me straight up that I was not going alone and she would busy herself shopping while Hollyn and I become acquainted. I will let you know how our meeting goes and I am so grateful that you were able to find her and find her well. You are an angel!

Written by Mica Burton on Sue's behalf.

(Client ID# 288877)


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This is my story.

When I was 25 and preparing for my wedding, I asked my mom for information about my birth family for the first time. I knew she would be angry, but I was an adult and figured it was time to take matters into my own hands. I asked for the phone number of the department of vital records, and told her I planned to call and request my adoption file and look for clues to find my birth family.

She didn't breathe a word of it until the rehearsal dinner the night before my wedding. We were all sitting around the table, everyone happy and excited for the wedding, when she turned to me and said, "Here is your damn phone number and I hope you are better to her than you have ever been to me!" Then she stormed out and I was left to smile and laugh it off for the benefit of our guests. Inside, I was furious that she made a scene in front of all our family and friends, and then I felt crushed and conflicted. How could I search for the answers I needed without alienating her further? We never had a good relationship, and looking back I see that she probably reacted so strongly because she thought I was trying to replace her. She must have felt threatened and in some ways, betrayed.

After the wedding, I did call and request my adoption file, which I received in the mail. From the file I learned my birth mother's name and birth date, and I found out that I had an older sister. This information gave me more questions than answers. A few years ago I contacted an internet search company, paid a fortune, and was ultimately ripped off. They found nothing. After that, I was hesitant to hire any more 'professionals,' yet searching on my own got me nowhere.

Then one day, I was watching TV and I saw an episode of Troy the Locator on WE TV. I went to the website and submitted all of my information. Simultaneously, I was talking to a friend on Facebook and told him about my search. He asked if I was referring to Troy Dunn, and told me that he went to school with Troy's wife, Jennifer. He emailed her about my story, and I went to bed that night wondering if anything would come of it. Sure enough, the next day I got a call from Susan Friel-Williams. Jennifer had worked her magic and convinced Troy to help me. Then, he contacted his trusted third party search provider, Search Quest America. Susan is the CEO of SQA, and she promised that if I decided to pursue the search, she could find my birth family within a week. With that kind of guarantee, how could I refuse?

First, Susan found my sister. Those first phone calls were a whirlwind! My sister's name is Tammy and we hit it off right away. She came and stayed with me for a few days, and a few months later I went and stayed with her for four days. My sister and I have a relationship that's more than I could ask for. We even look alike! We talk every day and text back and forth, constantly in contact. We were sitting in church one Sunday when my mother-in-law noticed we have the same hands and feet. We are different in some ways, however.

I am married and have 2 children, an 11-year-old girl and a 23-year-old boy. I am a religious person and am very active in my church. Meanwhile, Tammy is single and lives with her best friend and her friend's children. She is also a lesbian. When she first told me, I could tell she expected me to be shocked and narrow-minded. Tammy is my sister, and I have searched for her all my life. I could never let this stand in the way of our relationship. I told her "I don't care if you are purple! It really wouldn't matter to me!"

It may have been difficult to handle our differences if Tammy had been brash and bold about her lifestyle, or if I had been overbearing in my religious beliefs. Luckily, both of us are loving and understanding. Plus, it's easy for me to understand why she has made certain choices in her life after finding out some of the things that happened to her as a child. It must have been so horrible what she went through. I haven't had the best life but Lord knows nothing like that has ever happened to me. In fact, Tammy did not grow up with our birth mother, but was raised by an aunt. She never had a relationship with our mother growing up, and they had lost contact with one another.

A few days after I first talked to Tammy, Susan called me and gave me the contact information for my birth mother. I decided to write her a letter. I sent pictures and told her I wanted to meet her and get info about my birth father, if she was willing. She called me a few weeks later, right around Mother's Day. She was really hard to understand because she recently had surgery for throat cancer, and her voice was very deep and gravelly. She did tell I that Tammy and I have the same father, but she said he is dead. She kept saying, "don't be mad at me, I'm a good person." One of the questions I asked her was why she lied on my birth certificate and put a false name. She said it was a stressful time; she was in a biker gang and had a wild life at the time. Something about her version of events left me wondering if she really remembers what the truth is anymore. Over all, it was a very one-sided, awkward conversation. We did not make any plans to meet, and I hung up the phone with a heavy, bitter heart.

I was glum for a few days, but then rallied myself with prayer and realized I have so much to be grateful for! I have gained a relationship with my sister, and that outweighs any disappointment I have encountered during my search. The last thing left to do was to tell my adoptive mom that I had found my birth family.

She is in a nursing home, and I visit her often. Considering how strongly she disapproved of my search throughout my life, I was hesitant to tell her I had found Tammy and my birth mother. At the same time, I wanted Tammy to meet my mom. One day, I took Tammy with me to the nursing home, but I introduced her as my "friend." A few hours after I left, a nurse called me and said that my mom had been going on and on about how Tammy and I look and act alike. Even though I didn't spell it out for her, I think she knew that Tammy was my sister. When I went back and revealed the truth, she was actually thrilled to death for me! I couldn't believe the transformation. I think it's because at this point in her life, she knows I'm her daughter and I love her. She doesn't feel threatened by my search anymore and she can be happy for me. This has brought us closer together. She tells me on a daily basis, "Tell Tammy hi, that I'm thinking about her!" That's more than I could ever have expected.

I know God's in control of the situation and He'll work it all out.

My story isn't exactly the perfect reunion you'd see on TV, but it is what it is and I can accept that. I've met my sister, her awesome friends, and my life is better to have known these people. Even more important, I came into Tammy's life at the perfect time - she needed me even more than I needed her. I feel so grateful for Jennifer, Troy, and especially Susan at SQA who kept her promise and made this miracle possible

God bless each of you!

Written by Mica Burton on Angela's behalf.

(Client ID# 288471)

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I am so proud of the man he has become; he is a wonderful father, an accomplished professional, and a wonderful human being all around. About six months ago he took me out to lunch and blindsided me with a hidden agenda. He wanted to pick my brain about his father, who he has only met a few times in his life. Matt's father's name is Sherman. He was born in 1951, and we had a brief affair that lasted about six months. We did not get married; I raised Matt as a single mother and was later happily married. Now that Matt is a father himself, he has been feeling the need to reconnect with his dad. He is also interested in meeting his half-sister, Mary.

While we were dating, Sherman told me the story of his first marriage. He was only 18 at the time, living in Oklahoma in 1969. He got a 16-year-old girl pregnant. Her name was Robin and he did the right thing and married her. Robin gave birth to a healthy baby girl, whom she named Mary. However, her family objected to the marriage and it ended in divorce shortly after Mary's birth. When Sherman and I were together, one of his greatest regrets was that he had lost touch with Robin and had not been the father to Mary that he planned to be. History repeated itself when our relationship ended and I raised Matt alone. Matt grew up wondering about his sister Mary but had never met her. That afternoon over lunch, he convinced me to help him find Sherman and Mary. I suppose I had known this request would eventually come, and the timing seemed just right.

Finding Sherman was the easy part. I had a string of phone numbers that I had kept over the years from his sporadic visits. As I suspected, however, Sherman had totally lost touch with Robin and had not seen Mary since she was a baby in 1972. He did not know her exact date of birth, social security number, or last known address. We assumed that by now, she would be remarried and maybe even located in another state. Matt was able to speak with his father for the first time in a few years, but still felt a strong desire to locate Mary.
Unfortunately, we had very little information to go on. We knew we needed professional help. We researched several companies and decided to put our money on SQA. We were not disappointed!

Julie Jones was our researcher. She attacked the task with dogged determination and some unconventional ideas. I gave her an old address where Sherman and Robin used to live. She found out who the neighbors were at the time and tracked them down to inquire if they had kept in touch with Robin or Mary. They hadn't. Next, she found Sherman's 5 brothers and contacted them to see if they could remember any additional details about Robin or Mary. She also searched birth and marriage records.

Only two months after initiating the search, Julie located Mary living in Lander, WY. She is married and has a family of her own and until Julie called her, she had no idea she had a half brother. Julie reported that she is very open to contact with Matt. I haven't spoken with Mary personally, but she and Matt have been talking for hours and hours on end. They are Facebook friends and have exchanged photos and talk on almost a daily basis. I always thought Matt's life was full and rich, but now I see that Mary was the missing piece that helps him feel like a whole person. Mary could not remember ever having spoken with Sherman, and she is very grateful to be reunited with her father AND her half brother. Two for the price of one!

I am so pleased with the service we have received. It was a pleasure working with Julie and my expectations have been exceeded. I will definitely recommend your services to my close friends and family as the need arises. I know that you will continue blessing the lives of individuals and piecing families back together, as you have mine. Matt, Mary, Sherman and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

(Written by Mica Burton on Gretchen's behalf.)

Client ID# 275885

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One day when I was about a year old, my adoptive mother was home alone with me and the doorbell rang. My birth parents had shown up out of the blue, a total shock. They appeared to be a happy young couple in their early twenties and introduced themselves as Elaine Mae and Jack Blythe. They were newlyweds and had driven across the state to visit my adoptive parents. However, they didn't just want to see how I was doing. They explained that they had recently gotten married and begged my adoptive parents to give me back so I could grow up with my "real" parents and siblings. I can only imagine the fear and anxiety my adoptive mother felt when confronted with her worst nightmare. Years later when I discussed my desire to find my birth parents, it must have seemed like they were reliving that day over again. I love my adoptive parents and I'm grateful for everything they have done for me. But I also need to know my heritage, medical information, and whether my birth parents are still alive.

Clearly, my adoptive parents didn't just "give me back." However, they did write down some important information about my birth parents, which later was the key to solving my case. They wrote down my birth parents' full names and dates of birth, and the fact that they were married in 1948, one year after my birth.

Over the years I occasionally looked in phone books or on the internet for Elaine and Jack Blythe. I never went so far as to hire a professional or take a more aggressive approach. I thought if fate wanted us together, it would happen on its own. I also held back out of respect for my adoptive parents.
It wasn't until late April, 2010 that I decided I was tired of waiting, and it was time to search once and for all, for better or for worse. I asked myself, what if I have full siblings out there somewhere? What if I wait too long and miss out on the chance to know my birth parents? Don't my children deserve to know their medical history and heritage? I contacted SQA and two weeks later, Julie Jones had solved my case!

Unfortunately, Elaine passed away in 1983 and Jack soon followed in 1986. However, Julie discovered that they had several children, including Jack Jr., Elaine Jr., and 4 more boys and 4 more girls after me! I had hoped for siblings, but never imagined I would have TEN of them! Even better, my birth parents were very open with their children about me, and they always knew they had a big brother out there somewhere. Our parents always promised them that one day I would show up on their doorstep the same way they had once shown up on mine. When Julie made the first phone call, the news that I had "finally" found them spread like wildfire, and before I knew it my phone was ringing off the hook with siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews who can't wait to meet me. It has only been two weeks since that day, and I am still processing all the information. I regret that my birth parents have passed away, but I knew that was a possibility when I started the search. I am grateful that I have been welcomed with such open arms and that finally, the mystery is solved. Thanks to everyone at SQA for your efficient search program, and to Julie for your no-nonsense "get it done" philosophy that wrapped my case up so quickly. I will keep you all posted as I meet my siblings in person and in the process, get to know my birth parents vicariously. God bless you all!

(Written by Mica Burton on Mark's behalf.)

Client ID# 276579

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I know my father's name is Ernest Paul Riddle. I have not seen or heard from him since I was about a year old, or so I'm told. I don't really know if he even knows I exist, and it sounds like he may have reason to doubt my parentage. Nevertheless, he's the only father figure I have grown up knowing, and I really need to hear his side of the story once and for all. I have been looking for my dad for about 15 years but I keep running into dead ends. If he's still alive, he would be about 55 today. He was last seen in Hawaii, he was born in West Virginia, and he was in the marines when I was born. He married my mom in Nevada before I was born. His mother's name is Emma.

When I started this search I honestly had no idea If these details are enough to find a person in the first place. I didn't have his social security number or his date of birth, and I had no idea if he had remarried and had other children. I assumed he moved on with his life and never looked back, though I hoped that was because he didn't know about me, and not because he didn't care. I am a grown woman now with children of my own. I don't want anything from him except answers, and maybe let my kids have a grandfather if he wants to be one.

Every time I thought about searching, it seemed there were a hundred reasons NOT to. I was petrified that the search would turn out badly, that he would be dead, or just tell me he's gone this long without being a part of my life, why bring up old ghosts now? After doing all the research and figuring out how much it would cost to search, I also worried about the money and whether I would be able to pay my rent or buy tires for my car, or a hundred other things that come up unexpectedly in this economy. Luckily I have great friends and family members who encouraged me to take a risk. After all, they said, you'll never know until you try.

I first contacted SQA on April 6, 2011. Just over a month later, on May 12, 2011 my researcher Julie called with incredible news. She asked me to grab and pen and told me to write down my father's address and phone number. She had just gotten off the phone with him and said, "he acknowledged being married to your mom and didn't ask me any questions other than for your phone number. He said he would be calling you." She also gave me a physical description and I learned that my dad is 5'11", 176 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. When I hung up the phone, my mind started racing. Great, I knew he would be calling me, but was he talking 10 minutes, 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years? Was I honestly supposed to sit by the phone and just wait for him to call? And when he did call me, would he be calling to blow me off, or explain why he's been AWOL all my life?

Luckily, I didn't have to wait long. He called me the next day and we spoke for the first time. I think I expected him to be gushy and warm and "oh, I'm so glad you finally found me!" At least I hoped he would be. In reality the first conversation was a little bit awkward, and it felt very much like meeting a stranger for the first time. I guess it should, right? I mean, we may share the same DNA, but who I am as a person is based on way more than just genes.

Over all, I would say the reunion was a success. We didn't spend much time talking about what went wrong or why he left, which is fine with me. Instead we talked about our lives now. I learned that I have two half-siblings and a step-mom. I told him about his beautiful grandchildren and emailed him pictures of them. We are looking forward to meeting in person sometime over the next few months or so. We are going to take it slow and see where it leads.

I'm glad to finally have the answers I was looking for and I realize for the first time that the truth is always somewhere in the middle between the two sides of the story. I've also learned that you don't get to pick your family, but you just have to make the most of what you've got. I'm excited to do that and I'm grateful to SQA for putting me in touch with my dad so we can start this journey together, one step at a time. It was worth every penny, fax, phone call, and tear shed along the way, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

(Written by Mica Burton on Brianne's behalf.)

Client ID# 276671

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All I could think about was the magnetic popsicle stick picture frame with my Polaroid in the middle that I had presented to my mom last year. I had written "I love you mommy" and glued construction-paper hearts to the corners with fuzzy pom-poms in the middle of each one. The frame was still on the front of our refrigerator, gathering dust. It was one of the many things my mom did NOT take with her when she walked out on us when I was eight years old. Of course, she left ME behind too.

So you can imagine how much easier it was to pretend to be sick and stay home from school. The only thing worse than getting stuck making another Mother's Day craft was seeing my teacher's kind, sad eyes when she excused me from the assignment and let me play with the puzzles instead. No, it was easier to stay home instead. My dad was a smart man and he knew exactly what was going on. That afternoon he took me out for ice cream and that memory is one I will always hang onto.

As I great into adulthood, I wrestled with depression, anxiety, lack of self-worth, and tons of unanswered questions. I needed to know WHY she left, and most importantly, why she left ME. My dad and I were very close growing up, but three years ago he passed away from cancer, and I feel like I am missing another part of me now. I don't know anything about my mom, but I want to find her to see if she wants a relationship with me. It may be a fool's errand, but I figure it is better to try and be disappointed than wonder what might have been.

About a month ago, I was put in touch with Julie at SQA, who picked my brain for information about my mom. It turns out I knew more than I thought I did, and Julie found my mom in less than a month. It turns out that for a few years, BOTH of us had lived in Tampa, Florida. How many times could we have crossed paths? Maybe at a grocery store or at the mall. I asked myself, had I had a conversation with my own mother and failed to recognize her? Julie also informed me that she had a prison record in Tampa, which was a total shock to me. However, it wasn't a violent crime, and I had promised myself to follow the search through to the end, no matter what.

I wasn't brave enough to make the first phone call on my own, so Julie did it for me. She left a message at Patricia's work and got a call back later that afternoon. Julie said she sounded "professional," and promised to call me tomorrow. I hoped that was a sign that she was in front of customers or in front of her boss or something, not evidence that she had blown me off again.
As you can imagine, that was a sleepless night. I tossed and turned and turned all the different scenarios over in my heard. Finally, the next morning I got the phone call I had been waiting for. The first thing I noticed was that her voice sounded so familiar! We talked for hours over the phone and put it all out there---the truth about how I was feeling (joy, happiness, anger, frustration, abandonment) and how she was feeling (regret, relief, acceptance, wariness). I told her about what life was like growing up with a single parent and how much I had missed her. She told me about her life since she left in 1988 and about my half-siblings.

The only thing we haven't talked about is WHY she left in the first place. Believe it or not, after everything is said and done, the why seems so much less important. I hope that eventually she will tell me what happened, but for now I am just so happy to have my mom back in my life again. I think I am on my way to letting go of the hurt and resentment I have felt over the years and replacing it with friendship, camaraderie, and hope for our future.

I miss my dad so much, but I feel like in some small way he must be looking out for me still. I know he would be happy to see me not only get in touch with my mom, but forgive her for all the opportunities lost and focus on the positive, the here and now. Julie and SQA have been amazing, of course, but I like to think that this journey has been guided by a little bit of divine intervention. Wherever this journey ends, I hope it leads to happiness and healing for both me and my mom, and for my dad too.

(Written by Mica Burton on Ashley's behalf.)

Client ID# 278667

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When I was 9 years old, I met my sister Elizabeth for the first time, and then met another sister, Sarah Jane, when I was 12. Both were younger than me, and had been given up for adoption at birth. After each meeting I was filled with more questions than answers, but kept getting conflicting information from my adoptive parents.

In my early adulthood, I contacted the adoption agency and social worker for answers, but the information provided just didn't add up. My non-ID gave a few pieces of the puzzle and the image of my birth mother began to take shape in my mind. I learned that she was 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighed 100 pounds, had brown hair, green eyes, and was listed as "small boned." Her name was Susan, and she was 27 years old when I was given up for adoption. It was rumored that she was a graduate of Texas A & M University and had studied law. She was divorced. Her mother was from Mississippi and her father was from Texas. She had not provided any information about my birth father.

Prior to my birth, she had either 2 or 4 children, the oldest being 10 years old. She named me Johanna when I was born at Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston. The reason she gave me up for adoption was listed as "she already had 2 children she was supporting and didn't feel that she could comfortably support another on her income."

Through the years, I wavered between wanting to find her and be reunited, and telling myself that I could not survive the rejection if it went badly, so I shouldn't search. My sisters and I often discussed the pros and cons. Recently, I was diagnosed with a genetic disease, and the doctors requested family medical information that I was unable to provide. That's when my sisters and I decided it was time to put the questions to rest and search for answers.

We contacted Search Quest America for the first time in September of 2009. We expected the case to be solved or closed within 12 months. Our case was assigned to Julie, who attacked the case like a pit bull, determined to get to the bottom of it. She sorted through information, made phone calls, requested records, contacted possible candidates, all to no avail. My sisters and I all requested our Non-ID, hoping that between the three adoption records, there might be more clues to go on. We learned that our mother had been living in Oklahoma with her birth father, Michael, and her two SONS. That told us we had two older brothers. We also learned that her relationship with her father was short lived, and she came to Houston to stay with friends for my birth and placement. We still did not have enough information to find her. Our 12 month time period was coming to an end, but Julie reassured us that she wasn't going to give up yet.

That's when we approached our adoptive parents for the first time. My parents were understanding and agreed to help in any way they could. However, my sisters' parents did not wish to participate. However, Sarah's adoptive mother remembered that our birth mother had a son between my two sisters named Hans. We could not guarantee the accuracy of the information, but for the first time, we considered that there may have been other siblings given up for adoption other than us girls. Elizabeth's father remembered that our birth mother was named Susan, and he thought we had other siblings named Shannon, Brandy, James, and Daniel. These were clues that helped narrow down Julie's list of possibilities. At this point in the search, I was beginning to wonder if we would ever find the information we were seeking.

In January of 2011, we received our adoption records, which my parents had requested from the county (Thank God for open records!!) This was the missing piece of the puzzle we needed. We learned that when I was born, my birth mother used an assumed name. I was actually born in Pasadena, Texas. My birth father was listed as one Carl Howard. The adoption records provided her real name and birth date, which Julie used to find her social security number.
At this point in the search, we were celebrating! We could feel that the search was drawing to a close, and soon enough we would have the answers we were seeking. A few days later, Julie called with surprising news. Now that we had her social security number, Julie ran a search for criminal records and low and behold, our mother has a record! She was arrested in 1996 for using a fake ID to obtain a controlled substance, and again in 2006 for possession. The physical description on the criminal record matches our non-ID perfectly. To me, that was a confirmation that Julie had definitely found the right person, criminal record or not.

By the end of the long search, Julie supplied me with a plethora of information about my birth mother. I now know her full name, nicknames, the dates of her birth and death, her social security number, where she was born, and the names of my grandparents as well. Julie even provided us with names and information for both my birth mother's siblings, and records of her marriages. I found out that she was married once when she was 16 years old and again when she was 20. Julie even found a photograph that was published in a newspaper in 2005. Sadly, our birth mother passed away on Valentine's Day in 2009, so we will never be able to talk to her face to face or hear her version of the story. I find it very ironic that we started the search in November of 2009, and she was already gone.

We know now that she had 9 children total, and gave the three of us up for adoption between kids #5 and #8. Somehow, she managed to give birth while staying with friends, so no one in the family even knew that we existed. The most valuable information I found through this search is the information for my siblings. Julie helped me take the first step by contacting my brother Daniel. I was relieved and excited when he was receptive to the call. He was the first sibling we called. It was definitely an emotional experience talking to Shannon, Debra, James, Daniel, and Hollis for the first time. They range from ages 38 to 19. Three of them have photos posted to Facebook, and I spent hours poring over their faces looking for similarities between us.
I just wanted to write and thank you for all of your hard work. When I first got SQA on the case I always hoped we would find something but I never let myself actually believe it was possible. I am amazed with all of the information and all of the brothers and sisters! Thank you so much for everything you do. I am planning on getting together with Dan, Shannon, and Hollis in a couple of weeks. I will keep you updated. Thanks again for everything.

Written by Mica Burton on Lany's behalf.

(Client ID# 255871)

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Robert:

My name is Robert Simmons in San Antonio, Texas. I just wanted to give a quick update and another big thank you. I want to share my story as a sort of recommendation for your company. I have been so pleased with the service I received and I just took a trip this past weekend to meet my mother for the first time. If there's anything I can do to support your company, I'm glad to do it. This is my story.

I searched for my birth mother for over a decade. Finally after 10 years of persistence, a Texas judge opened my adoption records, and I received my original birth certificate. This gave me the name of my mother, and I found out that I have a half brother, and possibly other siblings. I have no extended family and desperately wanted to make a connection with my birth family, but I did not know where to turn. I contacted SQA in December of 2010 and gave all the information I had.

I knew my birthmother was named Betty Lavern, had a son named Leon, who was 2-3 years old when I was born. I believed she was from California, and she was 22 when I was born in 1958. My birth mother actually lived with my adoptive parents for the entire pregnancy with me. She called my brother "Little Leon." After I was born, she let to go to California with a military man. My adoptive parents wanted to adopt Leon also, but she said no. She stayed in contact with my family for a few years through letters. But then one day, the letters just stopped, and my parents lost all contact with my birth mother.

I turned all of this information over to SQA and was connected with Susan Friel-Williams. She has years of experience, lots of resources, and most importantly an intuitive mind. This is her side of the story.

SUSAN:

When I was interviewing Robert via phone before starting his case, I asked him to go get his original birth certificate so that we could go over a few things on the certificate.

Robert's parents actually met Betty Lavern, which was a great advantage. Betty and Leon had stayed with them while Robert's birth was pending. They told Robert that Leon was about 2 and 1/2 years old, and that Betty was from California, and that some gentleman had come to get her and take her back to California after the birth. These are all seemingly unimportant details, but were essential to putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

The original birth certificate indicated that Gallagher was Betty's 'maiden' name, but given our experience with Texas birth certificates, I highly doubted it.

Research Documentation:

First, I checked the California birth index and discovered a record of a birth of a Leon Gallagher born in 1955. Right surname, right county, but mother's maiden name was Chadwick. But it fit. So I checked the CA index for females by that surname even though the OBC said that Betty had been born in TX. I found an Iris Laverne Chadwick born in 1936.

Right middle name, right surname, (maiden name) and the right age. In following Iris through the years, I located a marriage for her which listed her giving birth in California to THREE children, but what made me decide that she was not Rob's birth mother is that one of Iris's daughter was born 2 months before Robert, time wise, so she could not be his birth mother.

Since Iris Chadwick could not have been Robert's birth mother, I then turned my research back to a different Texas Birth Index available to research professionals and found three other entries.

These records indicate that there was a Betty Laverne Chadwick born on 07/17/1936 to Thelma Louisa and Charles Chadwick. It also indicates that Betty had two older siblings born to the same parents, James Harall Chadwick and Avis Chadwick.

Now we knew that somehow Robert's Betty Laverne ended up in California. On his OBC it listed the mailing address on Walnut Street in Yuba City, CA.

I called the library in Yuba City and asked if they had a 1958 Yuba City directory, which is an annual volume of city residents listing names and addresses. I actually had to teach the little new research librarian who answered the phone 'how' to use the directory. First we checked for Gallaghers, and while there were some listed, none lived on Walnut Street.

Then I asked her to do a reverse search by address to find out who did live at that address on Walnut Street, and she replied a Mr. Robert Boies. That did not seem to tie in at all with Robert's search, so after we spoke and I gave Robert that name, I went to another line of research, tracking the TX Betty's siblings down in an investigative database.

Remember that address in Yuba City, CA on Walnut Street? Yes well, being the curious sort of investigator that I am (translate that to I love family search puzzles) I found a 1950 Yuba City and Marysville (neighboring towns) city directory on Ancestry.com which is a genealogical resource that anyone can use. I checked for a Robert Boies and came up with a match: Boies, Robert O (Thelma) Forman at SP Company - address in 1950 was R 1036 Hammonton Rd. in Yuba City.

Figuring that neither of them could possibly still be alive at this point, I checked the Social Security Death Index and I found something that tied everything together.

Name: Robert Otis Boies
(Identifying information has been removed)
Mother's Maiden Name: Jolley

Name: Thelma Louisa Boies
(Identifying information has been removed)
Father's Surname: Walden

Apparently after Betty Laverne Chadwick was born, Thelma was either widowed or divorced her husband, and remarried a Robert O Boies, either in CA or TX. I show these subsequent births in California:

BOIES EARL RAY, 1953
BOIES ORA A, 1956
BOIES OTIS LEE, 1951

Although I checked for children born in Texas to Robert and Thelma, after 1949 they do not list the parents full names on the index, so I could not narrow down any additional births.

As I said, I tried to find Betty's siblings and unfortunately located death records for them both in the Social Security Death Index. Their names were Avis (died 1995) and James (died 2002).

It appears that both Avis and James either stayed in Texas with their father, or they were old enough to stay after they got out of high school. They also could have gone to California with Thelma and Betty and then returned to Texas later but it DID give Betty somewhere to go to while she was trying to hide her pregnancy with Robert.

The next step was to contact Betty directly and verify the essential details of Robert's birth. Robert gave me his parents' names at the time of his birth, so that I could ask Betty if she remembered them. I made the initial contact with Betty, who was quite surprised to be found after all this time, but nonetheless eager to meet Robert. Then, I called Robert with the good news, and passed along the contact information for his birth mother and two half-siblings, a brother and a sister.

Robert, all of us here at SQA wish you the very best of luck. Keep us posted and let us know how your reunion goes! It has been our pleasure to work with you and witness your happy reunion with your birth family. We hope this reunion brings you joy!

Robert:

I'm so glad I decided to take the plunge and start this search, and that I found such a trustworthy company to facilitate this process. You really did a great job and I recommend your services one hundred percent.

This reunion has been surreal in many ways. I made a trip to see and meet my mother this past weekend. I met a brother and a sister and for the first time couldn't get enough of the resemblance between us, the shared mannerisms, and the sense of belonging I felt immediately. We are still putting together the pieces and answering endless questions about one another. I feel like a complete person, maybe for the first time ever. Thank you so much for all you have done for me and my family!

(Written by Mica Burton on Robert's behalf.)

Client ID#284670

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Darlene first wrote this email to Search Quest America May 25, 2009. She hoped that she would finally be able to find the answers she has sought her entire life. She was not disappointed. Just three weeks later, when her researcher, Julie first called to introduce herself, her case had already been solved.
"The first time I ever spoke with Julie, she explained that she was my researcher and that even though I was prepared to wait up to six months for my case to be solved, she had already found my birth mother! I was shocked, and so grateful," Darlene said.

Darlene's birth mother Joyce lives in Nebraska today. Unfortunately she recently went through a series of strokes and has trouble communicating. "I am just so grateful that I found her before her health failed even more. I'm grateful she's still alive for me to put my arms around her and tell her that I love her."

Darlene has been blessed to become part of a very large extended family. "My mother's sister was the first person to contact me. We cried together and she told me that the family has thought about and prayed for me every day since I was born. They have always wondered what happened to me and prepared themselves for the day I would find them. I didn't have really high expectations going into the search because I know it was possible that my birth mother and her family may not be excited when I showed up all of a sudden. I could not have been more wrong. They have welcomed me with open arms and I am just so pleased with the way the search has turned out. I talk with my brother on the phone almost every day, and even though my sister doesn't want anything to do with me yet, I know she will come around in time and that is enough for me."

Darlene has been telling all of her friends about her positive experience with SQA. "I just had a good feeling about your company from the beginning. There's just something really honest about you all." Honesty and integrity are increasingly hard to come by these days, and Darlene is grateful to have found those qualities in SQA, "I knew I liked your company from the beginning. My expectations were surpassed tenfold!"

UPDATE from May, 2011

I want to bring you up to date on all that has happened in my life since Search Quest America helped me to find my birth mother in May of 2009. After you made contact with one of my aunts, I called and talked to her. Then my half brother, Bob, who lives with and takes care of my mother called me and we still talk about once a week. My husband and I went to meet my mother, brother, niece, and nephew in Gresham, Oregon over Labor Day weekend in 2009. We have since visited again in August of 2010 and December of 2010.

My mother has had several strokes and her speech is very hard to understand, but I am getting better at it. She has a really good attitude. She just keeps repeating and repeating until someone understands. She has a cute personality and laughs at herself all the time. Slowly, we are getting to know one another.

I also have a half sister, Betty, who lives in Arizona. At first Betty was not interested in getting to know me but I let her take her time and finally in Dec of 2009 she called me. We have talked almost every day since then and my husband and I met her and her husband in AZ in May of 2010. I think she and I will become best friends over time. Our lives have been very different. We are very different, but we can find some common ground. I think we "need" each other. We are both excited to have a sister!! I am having fun being the big sister!

I have also made a strong connection with another Aunt, Luella Davis, who lives in Portland. I have had no additional contact with any of the other aunts or cousins as my mother and Aunt Lu do not speak to any of them. The family is really divided.

I am happy that I reached out to find my birth family. It has been an interesting journey. It will take us time to get to know one another and establish relationships.

I also learned that I am really very lucky that my mother gave me up for adoption. I had a wonderful, but not perfect, life and was able to take advantage of many opportunities that probably would not have come my way if I had grown up in my birth family. I have a very loving extended adopted family. I am super close to all of my first cousins. I just wish I could have told my adopted parents THANK YOU for adopting me. They never wanted me to find my birth mother. I think I know why, but it would have been nice to tell them "yes, Murriell is my birth mother, but you two are my real parents."

Thanks for all your help. I feel much more settled and happier since I found my mother. It's good to know where you came from. I know that this has been a real blessing for my mother, too. No more hiding and I think she is relieved that I have had a good life and turned out pretty good!

(Written by Mica Burton on Darlene's behalf.)

Client ID#245608

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We were together 20 years ago, lost contact, and he was never told he has a daughter. We met in the summer of 1990 when I was living in Dallas. Recently, my daughter has been asking me so many questions about her birth father. I can tell she is in a difficult time in her life, trying to find herself and figure out what kind of person she wants to be.

Now that Syheenah is an adult, she understands that relationships between men and women do not always last. She understands that her father has been out of the picture not because he doesn't love her, but because he doesn't even know he has a daughter. I don't want to get her hopes up or tell her that I am trying to find him, but I'm ready to do the right thing and find Syheenah's father.

I know that his name is Clyde McDonald. I last saw him in Dallas, Texas. I do not know his date of birth, age, or social security number. I know that his father has the same name, but is Clyde McDonald Sr. He has a twin sister named Sabrina, and sometimes goes by Tyrone or "Polo." I think he went to Skyline High School in Dallas, and would have graduated around 1988.

I contacted SQA for the first time last August. My case was assigned to Julie and she found him within three days! Can you believe he is still living in Dallas, Texas? He works for a Dairy company and goes by Tyrone. His sister Sabrina also lives in Dallas and runs a spa. Julie called the Dairy where he works to get a message to him. His supervisor promised to give him the message and he must have called him right away. He called Julie right back and said "I remember Sharekia! You give her this number and tell her to call me YESTERDAY!"

How do you tell an ex-lover that you got pregnant, had a child 19 years ago, and by the way, she's yours? Julie made it easy, and when I picked up the phone and called him, it was like no time has passed at all. He is thrilled to find out about Syheenah, and we are making plans to get together so they can get to know each other. After I contacted Tyrone for the first time, all that was left was to tell Syheenah.

I left a message on her voicemail to come over as soon as she could. She practically broke down the door, thinking something bad had happened to me, or I had some bad news to tell her. When I told her I had found her father, and he wanted to meet her, she was shocked. She screamed and started jumping up and down, and could hardly get her fingers to dial his phone number fast enough. I know that this is the missing piece that is going to give her the confidence to move forward in her life with high expectations. Thank you Julie and SQA for making this possible for her, and for me too!

Written by Mica Burton on Sharekia's behalf.

(Client ID#280230)

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I'll never forget the day, time and place a family member blurted out to me that I was adopted. I was 8 years old. At that very moment, my adopted mother confirmed that neither she nor my father (her husband) are my real mother and father. They reassured me that they loved me very much. My adopted mother continued to tell me that her younger sister, Lalette, who I knew as Tatie (aunty), was my real mother and that she had not been able to care for me so the decision was made to have an in-family adoption. I asked about my real father and was always told that he was somewhere far away.

I loved my adopted parents and I knew they loved me, too. I would always think about and wonder who my birth father was. I still do. During my childhood, I would not mention or ask about my birth father, but that subject was always brought up by other family members with a lot of hushed sounds as if no one wanted me to overhear the questions or conversations. I maintained a very limited relationship with my birth mother, who eventually married someone and had two sons. I never had the courage to ask her about my birth father. My birth mother never shared the details with me either. When I graduated from high school and during my first year in college, with the permission of my adopted mother, I decided to ask my birth mother about my birth father face to face during a trip to their birth place of Tahiti, French Polynesia.

That inquiry turned into a nightmare. I returned to Hawaii with unanswered questions and a bigger hole in my life. My birth mother did not want to talk to me about it. When I returned to college, my adopted father wrote me a 6 page letter telling me everything that he knew and could remember about my birth father. Both my adopted father and adopted mother met my birth father. When my maternal grandmother passed away, my birth mother was only 13 years old. My adopted mother was the eldest of the siblings and was asked by the remaining aunts and uncles in Tahiti if my birth mother could live with her in Hawaii to get a better education and life than in Tahiti. Therefore, my birth mother lived in Hawaii with her sister and brother in law for the next 7 -8 years. My birth father was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii in the U.S. Army. My birth parents met each other in Waikiki and soon after, my birth mother became pregnant with me.

My birth father was well liked by all until they found out from one of his friends that he was married and had a family in Oklahoma. I have heard many versions of the details surrounding this time period before I was born, but the end result was the decision made to relieve my birth father from any responsibility of his unborn child and to let my birth mother erase this pregnancy or time in her life and to give me up for adoption. My Dad continued to write how both he and my adopted mother were so happy to be able to adopt me since they could not have children of their own.

The desire to know who my birth father is has never left my mind. I got married in 1996 and had my first child, my daughter, Chloe in 2000, followed by my son, Reece in 2002. It was the moment my doctor handed my baby to me in the hospital that I thought about how my birth mother may have felt---holding me in her arms for the first time knowing that she would not be the one to raise me. I have chosen to open up my life to my birth mother and my half brothers. I want my children to know why their birth certificates say Caucasian and American Indian because my birth mother's nationality is Chinese, French and Tahitian. Since my birth mother has been really tight-lipped on my birth father's information, my adopted mother has accompanied me to the Hawaii Family Court systems in hopes to open my adoption records to reveal my birth father's information. We have had no luck.

My birth mother has always told me that she will not and cannot tell me anything about my birth father over the phone or in a letter. So, in 2005, I traveled to France with my husband and two young children to ask my birth mother in person, who my birth father is. Especially now, since I have a young family and would very much like finally know details and information about him. I would love to meet my birth father to see what he looks like and finally agree with my family members that I do look like him. I would love to know about him and who he is, what he's like. I have no ill feelings. If anything, I would like for my birth father to know that after all these years, I have been great. I was raised and loved by the best parents anyone could ever want. When I got married, I decided to hyphenate my maiden name and married name in hopes that my birth father would try to locate me. I would also love to have my birth father meet my husband and my children.

My trip to France revealed very little information about my birth father. I was surprised that my birth mother could even remember my birth father's last known address in Oklahoma. I googled the address, but it came up as unknown or had been re-numbered. My birth mother has little information on my birth father or did not want to give me all the information. I only have a first and last name and that he may be around 60 years old by now.

I used to watch the shows on TV and daydream about how lucky I would be if I were that girl being reunited with her birth father and finally finding peace. Now, thanks to Julie and SQA, I finally have the answers I was looking for. I just called him Monday for the first time, with my two children and husband by my side. We spoke for about 5 hours. It felt so comfortable, as if we just spoken to each other the day before. He is definitely my dad as he was able to fill in the gaps of the stories I was told about him and surrounding my birth and adoption from my adopted parents and birth mother. He has led an amazing life in the military and hearing about my family is equally amazing. I have 3 adult siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.

We've exchanged email and other information and I'm waiting to receive a picture of him soon. He does want to meet me (and so do I), but we have to discuss further details. When we do meet, I'll be sure to email pictures of that reunion. I'll always be grateful for all the help Julie and Search Quest America have provided me from the start. You are truly awesome!! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!

With Aloha,
Michelle

(Client ID#279001)


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Then I watched a show on television and as I cried over the stories of other families being reunited, I knew I had to try one more time to locate my son. No one or nothing could fill that hole, until I found my son. And so my new journey began.

I started by writing a letter to SQA to help me. I received a call about three months later, stating that they would help me as they could now do research in Illinois. They told me it would take 60-90 days to find him, but they were confident they could do it.

By July 23, I was notified of his name and where he lived - 5 minutes from where my family had lived. My oldest daughter gave me some startling news - she knew him and had been a good friend of his in high school, however, they never knew they were siblings.

My son was the oldest at 45, my daughter is 44, my other son is 42 and my youngest daughter is 40. I also raised a step-son, who was older than those four. My step son still lives in Illinois, but the rest of us live in the State of Washington.

On September 16th, all of us decided to go to Illinois to meet with my "new" son. Here are the pictures of the whole family together. Also, is a picture of my son and I, and my two "new" granddaughters and I. He also has a 5 year old daughter. Here is a picture of her and her "new" Aunt (who knew him in
high school). This was a marvelous 4 days of visiting and having all the family together again.

On our way to the airport, we were invited to a wonderful breakfast at his adoptive mother's home. She was such a sweetheart. She showed my albums and told me all about my son. His adopted father had passed away several years ago. I am so grateful that he had been raised by a great set of parents and that his mother was willing to share him with me.

To make it short, we had an unforgettable time and he was so receptive. I give the glory to God for that. As I was getting into the car to go to the airport to return to Washington, he called, "Mom" and I said "yes" and he said "YOU FOUND ME". Yes, I did and I thank Search Quest for making that possible.

Connie Sheehan

(Client ID# 278403)


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I know his name is John Woodruff. He was last seen in New York somewhere, and would be about 62 today. I think I remember hearing that he moved from Boston State University in Massachusetts to Rochester, New York in the December of 1971. He and my mother did not even date for a year before she got pregnant. They went to school together from 70-71. I have one photo of him with my mother, which as you can imagine is pretty worn by now. He is a black with light skin, medium thin build, about 6 foot 4 inches tall. At the time they dated, he has light brown, almost reddish hair. They look happy.

I have tried doing internet searches, looking on Facebook, and even flipping open phone books every now and again hoping that by chance I will run into the right John Woodruff. Every time it turns out to be the wrong person, I tell myself it was a long shot anyway, but I feel the hole in my chest getting wider each time. I am ready to find out for real what happened and why he left me. That's why I contacted SQA in April. Julie Jones helped pick my brain and straighten out all the facts of the case.

Julie spoke with my mom and found out that my they met at a part in Boston, but John Woodruff did not attend Boston State College. He said he was going to Ohio State. She remembered an old address of his on Risley Place in New Rochelle, New York. Julie searched through city directories and found the people living at that address in 1970 were Hattie and John Woodruff, my grandparents. Julie also found out that this John Woodruff was the same John Woodruff who was a Gold medal Olympian in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

This entry in the directory led her to my father's current location and phone number. He is alive and well, and is an attorney practicing in Brooklyn. All of a sudden I realized that my father was only a phone call away. I panicked! I couldn't seem to pick up the phone and had no idea what I would say. Julie walked me through the process, and asked me to write down what I want him to know about me when she made the initial contact. I still have the email I sent her.

It says: "I'm okay! I don't want anything from him I just want to hopefully meet my biological father and learn about the other half of my family. I have always felt like there was something missing in my life and I know it is not knowing him and the rest of my family. I have always wondered about him but I guess I was afraid to really act on searching for him, well since becoming a father myself I just feel like it is time to at least try. My only real fear right now is that he will not want anything to do with me, but I am hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. I guess I will have to move on if he is not interested in knowing me or doesn't accept me. At the very least I want him to know about me and what I have done with life thus far.

I was born January 16, 1972. My mother's name is Carol. Her family was from Lynn, Massachusetts.

I graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School class of 1990 in Massachusetts (15 minutes North of Boston), I played Football, but I excelled at Track, specifically High Hurdles and Triple Jump.

I was amazed to learn about my grandfather being a Gold medal Olympian in the 1936 Berlin Olympics no less. I even wrote a book report on Jesse Owens' role in those Olympic games when I was in the 6th or 7th grade. I was an art major in high school, but I really wanted to go into Law Enforcement.

I graduated from The Police Academy in December 1997 and I have been a Police Officer ever since. Since 2001 I have been a detective. I have been married to my wife Jessica for 7 years this May, but we have been together for 12 years. We have 2 children (his grandchildren) Lila who is 5 and Allison who is 3. I do have questions that I hope he will be willing to answer, but ultimately I just hope he just give this a chance."

Julie called him the next day at his office and left a message. He called back that afternoon and asked Julie to have me call him. She said his tone was "professional, but receptive." Our first conversation was surreal for me. My father is a man I can be proud of, and I hope he can be proud of the man I have become as well.

All throughout this case I kept waiting for answers, and at times I just wanted it to be over, one way or another. Now that I have found my father, I realize that this journey is just beginning. I have siblings I have never met, my dad has two beautiful granddaughters who can't wait to meet him, and we have about 40 years of my life to catch up on. I just want to say Thank You to Julie and SQA for making this possible. For the first time, I feel like a whole person and I have you to thank for that!

Written by Mica Burton on Oren's behalf.

(Client ID# 266806)


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Written by Mica Burton on Tracy's behalf.

(Client ID# 270068)


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He wrote, "Carolyn is my half-sister. My father Bobby, lost contact with her after he divorced her mother, Anna. My father remarried my mother in 1971 after I was born. My dad says he does have a copy of Carolyn's birth certificate. He said she was born in New York, New York and their address at the time was 1000 Villa Avenue in the Bronx. Bobby and Anna were married in New York, New York (in the Bronx) in 1958. I hope this additional information helps with our search. I have never met Carolyn and would like to find this missing piece of my family for myself and my father."

Brett's case was assigned to Julie Jones. Over the next two weeks, Julie searched through public records and located Carolyn living in Staten Island, New York. When Julie first called Carolyn and explained the reason for her call, Carolyn hung up on her! It's not every day that you get a phone call from an investigator who tells you your long lost brother is trying to locate you. She thought it was a scam. Luckily, Julie is not easily dissuaded. She located Carolyn's son, Michael via MySpace. She wrote him a message explaining the reason for her call, and asking Michael to pass the message along to him mom. She wrote, "If you could please let your mom know why I was trying to contact her, I'd be extremely grateful. Bobby and Brett have no idea what Carolyn was told over the years, but at the time of the divorce I can assure you that Anna told Bobby 'You'll never see your daughter, again.' He's spent decades looking for her. Please have your mom call me ASAP."

Michael did pass the message on to his mom, and Carolyn finally called Julie to learn about her father and the half-brother she never knew she had. A few months later, she wrote this note to Julie:

"Dear Julie, this past April you and your firm contacted me on behalf of my brother Brett and my Dad Bob. I wanted to let you know that on July 4th my brother Brett and my Dad made a car trip to NY to meet me and get to know me and spent 4 whole days here in NY. We all thought it would be better if the three of us spent time together first before including the other family members.

Let me tell you Julie that this has been a life changing experience for me. I never thought the day would come that my Dad would be sitting in the same room with me drinking coffee and holding my hand. My brother Brett is a wonderful brother and human being. There are really no words to express my heart's content. I thank you so much for locating me, even though I was very skeptical in the beginning. To think that a brother I never met went through all this trouble and expense to locate me is humbling to say the least. I plan on visiting my Dad and brother this month for a yearly family reunion. All is going very well. Once again I want to thank you for locating me and for all your patience. Words can never express my gratitude. Sincerely, Carolyn."

Thanks to Brett's patience, Julie's ingenuity, and Michael's MySpace page, this family was pieced back together and a 30-year search has come to a happy close.

Written by Mica Burton on behalf of Brett, Bobby, and Carolyn.

(Client ID# 270893)


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The case was assigned to SQA researcher Patty, who located Mike's birth mother Ginny living in Las Vegas. Ginny was happily married with a son and a daughter, who were not aware that Ginny had given a son up for adoption. Nevertheless, Ginny was very open to reuniting with Mike and providing information about his birth father, Terence, as well. Sadly, Terence passed away in his 20's, but Ginny provided Mike with pictures and information about him, along with the name of Terence's sister. Here, Mike and Ginny describe the experience in their own words:

"I am writing this in conjunction with my birth mother Ginny, and first would like to thank SQA and Patty for the outstanding job they did in handling the search process for me. Patty was relentless in her leads, and handled the first contact between my mother and me with the highest level of professionalism. It took Patty a mere week and half to find Ginny for me after I had traveled other avenues off and on again searching for over 6 years. I just spent one of the most fabulous weekends of my life getting reacquainted with my mom. Thankfully we are only a two-hour plane ride apart! This is now a new chapter in my life that I will cherish, and I feel it will only get better from here. As it turns out this is something we've both wanted for a long time, and I couldn't be happier with the results. We have 43 years of being apart to catch up on! I noticed your testimonials on Searchquest were usually only from one party involved in the search. Ginny and I thought it would be fun that we submit one together. Please feel free to post this in your testimonials. Thanks again!" --Mike

"Michael and I cannot fully express in one paragraph how we feel but wanted everyone to know how thankful we are for Searchquest and Patty. Thank you to Patty for helping my son in his pursuit to find me. The hope of someday seeing my son again was something I have carried in my heart for a very long time. And most of all, thank you to my son for not giving up!" --Ginny

Written by Mica Burton on Mike and Ginny's behalf.

(Client ID# 267037)

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There was a day this summer that I didn't feel like doing much of anything except taking it easy, so I went online and googled the TV program. Upon reaching the site, I realized that I would need to fill out an information survey regarding who I was searching for before I could get full access to the information contained within it. Within a week after the moment I filled out that form, I received a call from Linda Rasmussen at Search Quest America. As I stared at my husband with wide open eyes, Linda explained who she was, who she worked for, and why my case was chosen. She was so very kind and personable that my shock was soon turned to excitement. After we finished our conversation, I turned to my husband and informed him that I was about to find my biological family.

If you haven't guessed by now, I was adopted over 40 years ago when I was 7 months old. Though I had always wondered who my birth family was and what they were like. I never really went beyond the wondering until Linda and Search Quest America made the possibility of finding the answers to all of my questions a reality. Twenty days later, Susan, my case manager, contacted me and let me know that I would be hearing from my Guided Research Partner, Patricia. I gave her all of the information I had regarding my adoption and emailed her the scanned documents my parents were given at the time of my adoption. Just three days later, I had news about my family that I never thought I would have. My life had just opened wide, and I was in for the ride.

Initially I was so nervous, not knowing what to expect from her findings, but Patricia's warm and professional demeanor was comforting. She told me my birth name and gave me information about my birth mother and siblings, emailed me the same information, and waited to hear back from me as to what steps I wanted to take next. As I sat staring at my computer screen, I felt like I was beside myself. It was as if everything froze in that time and place and all I could hear was the pounding of the heart next to mine. In front of me were the names of mother, my two brothers, and my sister. I had a sister. I had a sister, and she was only 1 year and 4 1/2 months older than me.

Well, I called Patricia back and we decided that it would be best that she make first contact. She was unable to contact my mother, so she asked if I wanted to try to contact my sister. I said yes, and in a complete state of preoccupation and the inability to concentrate on literally anything, I waited. I waited while my incredibly supportive husband and children waited with me.

Finally, I received the call I was waiting for, only to find out my sister was unavailable. Patricia wasn't giving up, and neither was I. She made a second call and actually spoke again to a young lady, who proceeded to make a 3-way call to my sister who was vacationing in New York. I had a niece! After her call to my sister, Patricia got in touch with me. I learned that my sister knew nothing about me, but that everything made sense to her. Patricia said that she would get in touch with me as soon as she returned from her trip. Five days later, we spoke for the first time on the phone.

It was incredible! We were both amazed. My sister began to send pictures of the family to me, and I sent pictures of my family to her. I saw her face, my younger brother, my nieces and nephew, and my mother. I couldn't believe it. I had seen the face of my mother, and for the first time I saw why I look the way that I look. That was exciting, but I couldn't stop thinking about my sister, and I found myself going back to the pictures of her. Looking into her face, I felt like I was smiling from the inside out. I couldn't begin to tell you how many times we spoke and texted each other for the next 4 days. It was constant. We decided we would meet on that 5th day. And then Friday, August 13th came.

I was a wreck! What if she doesn't like me? What if we have nothing in common? Will we get along? Is my hair doing what I want, or what it wants? When her car pulled up, a handsome young man came out. It was my nephew and he was so cute! He greeted me with a "Hi Auntie" and a hug. Then my sister came out of the car and our eyes met. I couldn't believe it. I was looking at someone that I was related to; a person that wasn't someone I had made (I have two children). She was stunning, and she was mine. We hugged and it felt like hot chocolate on a cold winters night; warm and perfect. We spent the next hours sharing, laughing, comparing our hands and toes, and finding things that we had in common. Later I would meet my incredible niece who helped make that first contact, who is incredible, intelligent, sweet in her nature, and beautiful from the inside to the outside. My family came home, and later in the evening even my younger brother came through my door with a "Hi Sis," and a big hug. I fell in love all over again. We laughed, played, and told stories of our lives. We were all there and our lives, together, began.

I remember thinking at one point how ironic it was that here we all were, for what was equivalent to a moment in time, and it felt like we had been doing this for all of our lives. It felt as if everyone was used to being together, knew each other, and loved each other since the invention of time. We laughed, shared, compared, and bonded well into the morning hours. No one wanted it to end. And it hasn't.

My sister and I have talked every day since that first phone conversation, and I can honestly say that I absolutely love and adore her. She is such a blessing in my life, as are her family, my brother and his family. We have had several family excursions to the park and to the beach since, and have celebrated the birth of a nephew recently. I am so happy, and I have Search Quest America, Linda and Patricia to thank for it.

So, in an attitude of gratitude, thank you Search Quest America for making this possible. Thank you Linda for making contact with me and starting me on the search for my family. And thank you Patricia for being persistent and so supportive during this entire process. Thank you for giving me my sister. You all have impacted my life tremendously and I will always be grateful. And to my Sis; "Together, together, together, until the end."

By Theresa Hamilton

(Client ID# 279515)

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Some people say that they moved on relatively quickly after adoption, but the process was very difficult for me. I have never married and Carmel is my only birth child. I have always thought about her, but had no knowledge on how to find her, until I found Search Quest America. I am 64 years old and my mother is 88 years old, it is just the two of us. I decided that it is time to find my daughter, before time runs out and we both pass away.

I contacted SQA for the first time on April 2, 2010 and immediately felt comfortable and confident with each member of the staff as I came in contact with them. Susan contacted me to confirm all the information and kept me updated throughout the search. About 3 weeks later, Susan found her alive and well, living in California. Her name is Tina.

Unfortunately, Tina was very difficult to reach. Susan wrote her this letter:

"Dear Tina, Please allow me to introduce myself and tell you, briefly, why I am writing to you today. My name is Susan E. Friel-Williams and I am a licensed investigator with Search Quest America. We are a firm that specializes in helping people who are in search of a missing friend or family member. As such, I am contacting you on behalf of my client, Cheryl, who is searching for her biological daughter. I have tried to reach you several times by telephone, and did speak to you once, briefly, when you were on your way to work. When I called back there was no answer. I have talked to a young man at your telephone number a couple of times and left my name and number hoping that you would contact me shortly. Since you have not, I am writing you this letter.

My client, Cheryl, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on June 3rd, 1966 in the Orange County Hospital in Santa Ana, California. Cheryl was 19 years old at the time of her baby's birth, and was not in a position to provide adequately for her daughter. She placed her baby for adoption through a local agency. This baby, whom she would have named Carmel, is Cheryl's only child which means that for many years she as worried about her child and hoped that she was safe, happy and loved by her adoptive family.

Tina, I know that when I initially contacted you, you did not believe that you were the correct party that I was searching for, however, I did determine that Baby Girl Miller, mothers maiden name Doe, become Tina M. Smith. If you are she, and did not know that you were adopted, I am very sorry that someone did not tell you sooner. Cheryl's intention was not to upset you in any way by contact, but was an effort to hold out her hand in friendship with a prayer that you would take it.

As investigators, we are not able to access sealed adoption records, however there is a reference tool that we are able to utilize that allows us, through a process of elimination, to narrow our research down until we have the right party.

Please give me a return call discuss your wishes regarding a potential reunion with Cheryl, who has never stopped loving you since your adoption occurred."

I waited through April and May for a response, and my optimism slowly diminished. I was devastated, wondering if perhaps Tina was angry with me for my decision to give her up, or had been given false information about the circumstances of her birth. I decided that come what may, I would respect her wishes, but I prayed fervently that she would be open to a reunion. On June 2, 2010 I received this letter:

"Dear Cheryl, I apologize for taking so long to respond to Susan's letter, but I needed time to collect my thoughts and express them without regret.

I've always known that I was adopted. Some people may feel unwanted or struggle with who they are, but not me! I have an AMAZING life! I was blessed to have been adopted by two of the most wonderful people in the world. They have devoted their lives to providing me with unconditional love and endless opportunities. I had a childhood that most people only dream of--a nice home, fun neighborhood, cool parents, pets, countless vacations, a great education, and most of all a loving family!

My blessings have continued into my adult life. I have a fabulous husband, 2 sons I adore and a great dog! I am healthy, lead an active social life and work part-time. But most of all I love being with my family. I thank God every day for the riches in my world! My parents are still involved in my life and I realize even more the sacrifices they have made. All that I am goes back to the fact that I was adopted by two incredible people. I owe so much to them!

To pursue a relationship with my birth mother just seems wrong; almost like I'm not being loyal to my parents or minimizing all that they have done for me. That may sound crazy, but I don't want to hurt them or jeopardize what I have. I hope I'm not being disrespectful because I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you have made. I thank you for the gift of life and for having the insight to know you couldn't care for me. I have no negative feelings, only gratitude! I hope you'll understand.

Maybe in the future I will think differently, but for now this is the decision I have made. Please no further contact."

To say that I cried many, many tears when I received this letter would be an understatement. My emotions were so jumbled I can't hardly put them into words. I was grateful that Tina had such a good life. I could tell she is loyal, educated, well-spoken, and a caring person. I rejoiced to think that I have 2 grandsons, but the gut wrenching sorrow that I will never be a part of their lives immediately followed. I am relieved to know that she harbors no negative feelings towards me, but was so hoping for a photograph or to hear her voice just once over the phone. I still have hope that these things may come in time.

I wanted to share my story, though it is personal and private. I do not regret my decision to search because I have gained peace of mind to know that Tina is safe and happy. There really was no way to be prepared for this outcome. If you are reading this I hope you will send a prayer our way, so that maybe someday I will be able to embrace my baby girl again, even just once. If you are a fellow birth mother in the middle of your own story, please find consolation in knowing you are not alone, and the courage to accept whatever outcome your story may have, even if it is bittersweet.

Client ID# 274990

(Written by Mica Burton on Cheryl's behalf.)

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Sunday, March 21, 2010

My Journey in Finding my Birth Family:

I've always known that I was adopted and had wanted to know where I came from. Back in 1990, my adoptive mother, Margaret, gave me the address to the San Diego County Adoption Agency to find out whatever information I could. They sent me my Background Information which had some information in it and listed the first names of my birth mother and one of my sisters, but no last names. I found out at that time that the records were sealed so I figured that I couldn't really progress with the search without spending thousands of dollars hiring a private investigator. So I let it go at that time.

When I was a child and snooping in my mother's desk, I found what seemed like my original birth certificate with the name, Jennifer Lee Meyers. I had no idea if Meyers was my last name or not. I never really thought about it. Maybe they named me that instead of Jane Doe.

Over the years, that yearning was still there and it felt like a huge hole in my heart. It sort of went away for awhile when I had my kids because I could associate with them and say, "Yeah, my son and daughter look like me". But after losing my adoptive mother in 2003, I thought about looking again.

And then, my opportunity came when one day I was watching Oprah (in late February 2010) and on her show she had Troy, the Locator who looks for long lost family or friends. I went on his web site and filled out their very short evaluation with my name and my mother's name, where I was born and my birth date. A few days later, Linda from Search Quest America called and wanted to ask me a few questions. She said that the reason she called me was because I was born in California and California is one of the 7 states in the US that they can g research birth records dating back to 1949. She then asked me a bunch of other questions to see how much I knew. Going back to my 'Background Information', I knew quite a bit which would make this search somewhat uncomplicated. She told me to wait about 15 days to process the information and they would get back to me.

I told my brother, Cliff, about this search and he was very supportive. He didn't want me to forget about him in the process. I told him that he was my real brother and that I loved him, we grew up together and have a history.

By the following Saturday (March 20, 2010) I received an email of who my mother was. My original birth certificate stating that I was Jennifer Lee Meyers was actually my real name given to me at birth. Weird to think that I had my family name the whole time! She also told me that I have a set of twin half brothers.

And then Sunday (March 21, 2010) came and what a whirlwind day that was!! The first email that I received from my search person, Patty, stated that my birth mother, Evelyn, had passed away in 1999. I actually cried over that one because I was way too late. I also found out that I had an older sister named Ruby and Patty was going to call her. There was one other sister between Ruby and me, and her name was Vicki. Unfortunately, she just passed away last November, 2009 of cancer. I found out some other pertinent information regarding the family like that I have an aunt named Pam, who is my mother's sister.

After this phone call, Patty was going to try to get a hold of Ruby. Twenty minutes later, Patty called me back. She had gotten a hold of Ruby through Pam. They live in San Diego! She gave me Ruby's email address and told me that she was on Face Book. After that phone call, I immediately looked up Ruby O'Dell and saw her picture. She has the same rosy cheeks as me! I guess Ruby had done the same. Later that evening, Ruby called me. Now that was surreal! Here I was talking with my sister (actually 1/2 sister, but sister nonetheless). She told me that my aunt Pam noticed the resemblance between me and my other sister, Vicki, and our mom. We chatted a little bit and it was real easy to talk with her. I guess we talked for about 30 minutes or so. She told me to look at her family pictures to see what Vicky looked like. I did that, and I was amazed we look a lot alike! It was strange to see her looking back at me. I copied that picture and sent it to my best friends and family, and they also saw the resemblance.

Between Sunday, the 21st, and now (Wednesday, March 24, 2010) I have exchanged a few emails with Ruby and I called her last night. In one of her emails, she wanted to be the first to welcome me into the family and I was very touched by that! I also have my aunt Pam as a friend on Face Book.

They both have told me that they have wondered about me throughout the years. Even Evelyn (my birth mom) wondered as well. I asked Ruby if our mom was still alive, would she want to meet me and she answered "Yes"! That made me feel good.

April 24, 2010:

I had to meet them. I flew to San Diego and when I met them, it was like we were old friends. They were so comfortable to talk with, and we had such a great time. I fit right in (they thought so too). I have another trip planned for August to meet some more of the family. I have Search Quest America to thank for this, I couldn't have done it without them!!

I started this search back in 1991 but couldn't go further because there was no internet (I didn't know how to start) and I didn't have the money. I'm sorry that I couldn't because I could have met my mother and sister, Vicki, but as Ruby said so eloquently in an email, she felt like our mom was in heaven looking down with Vicki and smiling, probably wishing they were here or that this could have happened years ago. Me too! But I'm happy that I have found them at last!

Alice Romano

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I wonder what kind of man could just abandon his son like that. When I was a kid I used to wonder if I had done something wrong or if maybe he had another family he liked better or something. I've learned to put these questions to rest and ask the more important ones--what do I need to know to move forward with my life and be a better father and husband that he was? I guess my goal in searching for him was to find the answer to that question.

From the day I contacted Search Quest America to the day the case was solved was 26 days. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, who was awesome! She put me at ease and spoke frankly. She told me about some cases she has had that worked out great and a couple others that didn't. That helped me understand that anything can happen, but in the end I decided it is better to get bad news that go on wondering my whole life.

A few weeks into the search, Julie called with bad news--my father passed away back in February of 1992. I had told myself I was ready for bad news if it came, but I don't think you can ever be ready for that. I was so excited about meeting my father, and then found out that I will never have that chance. He was on the go for most of his life, so the goal became finding a living relative or perhaps a sibling who could help answer my questions.

A few days later she called to let me know the good news. I have a half brother named Jeff. She got in touch with him and found out that like me, his mom got pregnant at a young age and his dad (our dad) left when he was a kid, only 4 years old. We have both been asking ourselves the same questions our whole lives. Jeff never spoke with or heard from him after he left.

I wrestled with feelings of disappointment for a few days, and then I called Jeff. He is an outgoing, happy guy and we have lots of stuff in common. We even look alike! It's true that he can't shed much light on our father's life or who he was as a person, getting to know him could help me get to know myself better. It shows me that I'm not alone and I wasn't rejected because I did something wrong. It was our dad's M.O. I guess. It looks like we even have a couple half sisters out there still to find. This isn't exactly the ending I was expecting, but I am grateful. I guess what we want isn't always what we need. I set out to find my birth father, but found my brother instead. I can't ask for more since we are on our way to being good friends. Thanks SQA for helping make this whole thing possible. I couldn't have done it alone. You guys are the best!

(Written by Mica Burton on Dennis' behalf.)

Client ID# 265574

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When I was 19 I got pregnant. My mother told me that I had to give the baby up for adoption. Of course I was upset but I had faith that everything would work out for the best. I am adopted myself, in fact. My twin sister and I were placed for adoption at birth and we were raised by a wonderful family who loved us. Coming from that background it was easy to believe that Anthony Chris would be taken care of. Relinquishing my rights as a mother was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Almost since the day he was born, I have been searching for him and trying to fill this great big hole in my heart. I did have another son, whom I love dearly, but there is a part of me that has always ached for my firstborn. As my other son has gotten older, he has encouraged me to search for Anthony Chris and we often talked about how cool it would be to introduce them to each other..

About a month ago I came across this company called Search Quest America. I tried to search for Anthony Chris several times on my own. I hired a few companies and did internet searches, but at the end of the day it was always a waste of money or some kind of scam. The first thing I did after talking to Linda at Search Quest America was look the company up on the website. I could see that they were legitimate and was reassured by the fact that the Better Business Bureau gave them a good rating. When I reported back to Linda that SQA has an A-minus, she said, "how dare they give us an A MINUS!" That old me that every member of the SQA team takes pride in giving quality service and that they are not satisfied with anything but the best.

My case was assigned to Chris Tangedahl. Right away I thought it was a sign that things would work out because he has the same name that I gave my son, Anthony Chris. I could not have been more blessed! Only 28 days after our first conversation, Chris called to let me know that he had found my son. The first thing we did was pull up Anthony's profile on Facebook. He is the most handsome man! He has a gorgeous little boy and he is educated and has the best smile!

His adopted name is Baye and Chris searched the internet and found a little bit of information Baye submitted for school. It reads, " My name is Baye Davis and I began Foothill during Spring Quarter 2001. I am a resident of East Palo Alto and a graduate of Menlo Atherton High School, Class of 1999. For one year, I attended Hampton University, a historical black college in Hampton, Virginia. I decided that I preferred the West Coast and returned home to California. What I do miss about Hampton is the many African American students and teachers. I found it easier to approach another student or teacher for help. At Foothill, people encourage you to ask for help but at times it feels like you are on an island when you look around and not many people look like you. When The Griot newspaper was first mailed to my home my initial thought was, Well, there is some black influence on campus but when I first stepped into class and looked around I wondered where all the folks were. Menlo HS had a diverse student body which I enjoyed and I found other African American students who were focused on similar goals. I've taken pre-calculus and accelerated courses while enjoying a friendly competition in regards to grades.

"Currently, I work as a youth outreach worker at One East Palo Alto, a local community organization. As a youth worker, I put functions together and provide positive activities for youth such as the Junteenth Festival and Youth Day. My focus is to get these students more active in their community so that they will inherit a better one."

Can't you just feel how warm and friendly and educated he is! I was so excited that I was ready to pick up the phone and call him, but Chris cautioned me to write a non-threatening letter first. This is what I wrote:
"Hi Baye, My name is Celia and I am your birth mother. I was 19 when I relinquished you and gave your parents a lifelong gift, YOU. I love you very much, think about you all of the time and I am also adopted.

I have a twin sister and you have a younger brother, who is 19. I am married to his father, who is a truck driver and I am a Master Social Worker/MFTI. We live in California near the Capital and are very excited to meet you. I was one of the hundred Professionals laid-off; therefore, I can visit you at a moment's notice. I have been looking for you since you turned 18, and this year I was blessed to find you. I do not want to disturb your life just want to be a part of your life. Please communicate with me. GOD BLESS YOU, Celia."

The very next morning at 8:10 am I got a call from the investigator, Chris, who let me know that he had spoken with Baye the previous evening and Baye would be texting me that morning. The only thing I could think was that I don't remember how to text?! What if I missed it? Luckily, I didn't have long to fret over it. Baye sent me a text message at 8:30 and at 11:00 he was able to talk. That Saturday we went up to see him. He came to the motel where we were and it was so wonderful! Like the heavens and the earth and everything were just in alignment. We hugged for over 20 minutes and it's like that whole in my heart was filled up--like a fire in both of us. I knew that it was real because he held me just as tight as I held him and neither one of us wanted to let go. It was the most wonderful, fabulous experience and I will never forget it.

We have spent lots of time getting to know each other and getting caught up. He's going to come to up here to see me for mother's day. God is so so good because everything happens for a reason. If he was younger, who knows how it would have turned out. But now he's 28 years old and a father and he was open to meeting me. It's a beautiful thing, a beautiful thing. Everybody notices that I and walking around with this big old glow. I tell everyone what a blessing God has given me in my life.

I can't believe it only took 28 days!! The only sad thing about the whole thing is that my adoptive mother doesn't want to meet him or have anything to do with him yet. She's being really mean right now, and that's the only negative thing about it. One person is unhappy and that's ok. Hopefully she will come around over time. I just want to tell everyone out there that miracles really do happen! I am just tickled pink that this all worked out and I hope that if you are out there somewhere reading this and wondering if you should search, or if you should trust this company to help you, DO IT! You won't be disappointed. It will be the biggest blessing you have ever had in your life. Good luck to you, and remember, God is good!

(Written by Mica Burton on Celia's behalf.)

Client ID#270916

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When we contacted Search Quest America, our case was assigned to Julie Jones. Julie worked so hard and was with us every step of the way. I gave her all the information we had about Trish and Danielle. When Danielle was born, Trish worked in an office in Florida, and I have reason to believe that she is still in Florida today. I told Julie everything I knew, including her approximate age and how old Danielle is today. We asked Julie to tread lightly because we feared that Trish would head for the hills if she was tipped off about us looking for Danielle.

The last thing we wanted to do was cause Danielle any heartache, so we asked that before contacting her, Julie needed to make sure that there wasn't another man in her life who she called "Daddy," someone she loves and believes is her father. We believed that Trish probably lied to Danielle about her true parentage, but in our hearts we felt that Danielle should be very open to learning that her "real" father is out there and looking for her. No matter what, we didn't want to scare her off.

Julie handled the whole situation like a pro. She found Trish and Danielle still living in Florida. When the time was right, she gave us Danielle's direct contact information and John made the call. It was an emotional moment for both he and Danielle. They shed tears of joy at being reunited. Just as John had feared, Dani went through difficult times where she felt abandoned by him. It meant so much to learn that John has always cared about her, always searched for her and that he wants so badly to have her in his life.

As a technicality we also bought a DNA kit and sent off for the results. Dani and John were in touch almost daily and then a few weeks later, we got a letter in the mail. We were shocked to learn that John is NOT Dani's father. We were devastated, and very worried that at her young age, Dani might take the news badly.

We spoke to Trish about the situation to get her advice. She said simply, "You don't understand... it really doesn't MATTER what the test results are. The fact that someone out there was LOOKING for her and WANTED to be her father means everything in the world to her. That's all she needs." Those were her exact words - I'll never forget them.

So, we flew Dani up from Florida, and flew up her best friend Lindsay from South Carolina as well, to made Dani more comfortable. We had the most wonderful three days ever! The girls were wonderful, and I believe Dani had the best time ever. We had some Christmas gifts for them, and John had a beautiful little diamond turtle necklace for Dani (she LOVES turtles). We did everything - went into Manhattan, had snowball fights (she had never seen snow), had a huge NYE party at our house, and the kids all got along really well. There was a lot of bonding going on... and we took them on a shopping spree at the mall, which they LOVED.

We told Dani that we were very sorry that the results came out as they did, but assured her that in John's heart, she's been his daughter for 20 years, and that just doesn't go away that easily. So we agreed to be each others "extended" family, and I believe everyone was happy. We're looking forward to having her come back this summer.

As for Trish, no one is going to tell me that she doesn't know who her daughter's father is. I feel that she wasn't truthful with her daughter at all over the years, and I hope she's correct when saying that this was a GOOD thing for Dani. If so, then it was all worth it.

Julie and Search Quest America, how can we ever thank you for all you've done? You have given John closure, and you've given Dani a "father", even if it isn't by blood. We expect to have many years of having her in our lives. You accomplished the impossible. Thank you a million times over.

(Written by Mica Burton on John and Michelle's behalf.)

Client ID# 264049

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Her parents took her to San Diego, California, without telling her the reason for the trip. They dropped her at a home for unwed mothers and then left, not to be seen or heard from again until the day after her baby girl was born.

They came to get Melva to take her back to Oregon, only giving her one minute to look through window at her baby girl for the last time. Her folks were very poor and forbid her from keeping the baby even though she didn't want to leave without her.

After we were married we tried to locate her daughter, but at that time finding her baby was very hard and cost us a considerable amount of money with no results.

I had never seen a computer until my daughter gave me one when I was in my fifties about 19 years ago. Even though I learned to use and repair computers, I still could not find Melva's daughter for her even though I tried.

Melva and I are both 69 years old now, and last year we watched a TV show called 'The Locator' hosted by Troy Dunn. Even though it had been 53 years since the birth of Melva's daughter, we still had hope she could be found. I talked my wife into dictating a letter for me to send to Troy as she won't use a computer. I sent the E-mail letter to Troy's web site and got a letter back saying they were considering it for a show but not to get our hopes too high as they get so many requests and can't select them all.

After not hearing from them for a month I got up at 1 AM and wrote another letter with a lot of information about where baby was born and more. I sent it off to Troy again not telling my wife as I didn't want to see her disappointed again.

About four days later Melva was sitting in her chair in the family room when the phone rang and when she answered, Susan who works with Troy, told her they had found her daughter in San Diego, and she had been looking for her mother too by registering on a registry. It took Melva a while to figure out what was going on as I never told her about my letter, and then the tears came.

After Darlene and Melva talked on the phone several times (long calls), we told all the family. Our 3 boys and the 2 girls who were born after we married. We sent Darlene a plane ticket to come to Bandon, Or.

The 2 girls came from Arizona, 1 came from Florida with our grandson and great grandson, and the boys from Portland, OR. When we met Darlene at the airport I could not believe what I was seeing, I've been trying to find Susan's e-mail address so I could send her the picture I'm sure she would be quite surprised.

My wife says it was meant to be when I decided to send another e-mail at 1 o'clock in the morning without telling her. We will never be able to thank Susan for saying she had decided to take a look and see to see if she could find anything, and the rest is all one great reunion that lasted a week and still goes on and on.

No one ever knew, not even our children or her younger brother and sister. Everyone knows Darlene now because we just consider her a part of our family.

We will never forget what Susan has done for our family, and the great work she does, it would never have come true without her.

Bill


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About a month ago, I did some research and to my dismay, discovered that Amanda's father and grandfather recently passed away. I knew that she would be crushed with this news, so I set out to find information on his children, Amanda's half-siblings.

That is where I hit a dead end. I knew that I needed to either seek help to find them, or tell Amanda the sad truth about her father on my own. I contacted Search Quest America last month, and was put in touch with my researcher, Julie. I gave her all the information I had. I knew that one of Amanda's half-siblings is named Michael. There is also another half-brother, probably named Jonathan, but I think he was adopted by his biological mother's husband. I am 90 percent sure that he was born in Tennessee and went to school in Selmer, Tennessee in 1981. Michael was raised by his paternal grandfather George Barnes, who died in 2008.

With this information, it only took Julie about 48 hours to find Michael, living alive and well in Tennessee. That same day, she emailed him on Facebook and gave me a copy of his photograph. He and Amanda share the same coloring and resemble one another in several ways. Julie also called and left messages with him, as well as his relatives. A few days later he called back and was excited to get to know Amanda!! I am so thrilled that it turned out this way. I am of course sad to have to break the news to Amanda that her birth father passed away, but I am glad I am not going to the table empty handed. At least I can put her in touch with her half-brother, who can help her get to know her father vicariously though photographs and anecdotal stories.

28 years ago when Amanda was born, I never imagined that we would be where we are now. It is crazy how things seem to come full circle. This experience has taught me that life is too short to worry about who was right or wrong, it's about family. A family is defined by more than blood, it also comes down to the people who love us the most and who are there for us when we need them. I hope that by performing this search and going to these lengths to find answers for Amanda, she will understand that I always did what I thought was right, for better or worse. That's the very best we can do for one another, right? Thanks again for all your help!

(Written by Mica Burton on Jane's behalf.)

Client ID# 262751

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30 years ago my brother Harold was involved in what he thought was a happy relationship. He had a son named Richard Damien Lindsey and we loved that baby so much! When he was only 6 months old his parents split up and his mother took him away from our family. He was born in September of 1979 at Eustis Hospital in Lake County, Florida. His mother's name was Ruth.

He would be 30 years old now, and no member of our family has ever seen him since. Harold doesn't talk about the baby much--though I guess now he is a grown man. I see how much his heart hurts for his son, and I want to help put his mind at ease. He wonders if Richard had a good life, if he grew up to be a good man, and what his mother told him about his father over the years. He wants a chance to set the record straight and most importantly, tell Richard he loves him and he has never forgotten about him.

Our case was assigned to Julie Jones, and she was wonderful to work with. From the very first day she talked to us about the case, asked questions we never would have thought about and showed us we actually knew more about Ruth and Richard than we thought we did. She gave us realistic expectations about the search process and helped us understand all the possible outcomes--that Richard might be dead, that he might not want to be reunited, that he might be in jail or that it might be impossible to find him. We expected the worst, but hoped for the best.

About a month later Julie called to relay some information. She spoke with a man by the name of Gary, Ruth's current husband and Richard's step-father. Julie explained to him that she was hired by Richard's aunt and asked for Richard's whereabouts. Gary said Richard recently got married to a woman by the name of Noelle. He was in jail a few months ago, but was supposed to be out and coming to their house for Thanksgiving, but he never showed up. When Julie asked Gary if he knew anything about Richard's birth father, he said he had died several years prior. He was shocked to learn that Harold is alive and well and searching for his son. He took Julie's name and number and promised to get back to her if Richard called or made contact with the family.

Julie gave me the contact information and that night, I called and spoke with Ruth for the first time in 30 years. It was a short-lived conversation. She said that the last she heard, Richard was living in Baytown. She said she really hasn't been in touch with him very much over the past several years. Gary spoke with me and gave me the contact information for the parole officer who might know Richard's whereabouts. I called and found out that Richard is not on probation anymore. The officer suggested that I call Parole to see if he had been arrested. He hadn't. At this point I was very frustrated. It was clear that Ruth did not want me to contact Richard, but without current contact information it seemed impossible to get a hold of him.

Finally, about 3 weeks ago I received a phone call from Richard himself. His Mom finally gave him my message. He is in shock because he was told that his Dad was dead his whole life. He is really excited to get to know him. He said he doesn't look like anyone in his family and has never identified with anyone and always thought his Mom was lying. It was such an emotional conversation and it meant the world to Richard to know that he has always been remembered and loved. I put him in touch with his dad and both of them are on their way to healing after 30 years of separation. I am grateful that I was able to put the two of them together again and it would not have been possible without Search Quest America. Thanks so much for all your help! Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Kara Lynn.

(Written by Mica Burton on Kara's behalf.)

Client ID# 244447

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My cousin's name is Carol Jean and today she would be 64 years old. She also has a sister named Sharon that we would like to find. She was last seen in Texas in the Pecos County area. She has a younger brother named Richard Lee and her parents' names were William Russell and Dorothy Lavina. Her father was in the army, stationed near Del Rio Ft. Stockton when she was born. Her mother worked on the base. I also know that her father was born in 1915 and died somewhere in Kansas around 1975. William was my mother's brother, and they were very close throughout their lives. Carol, my cousin, was estranged from the family in her young adulthood, and she was not reconciled with them before her father passed away. My mother promised Carol's father before he died that she would find Carol and let her know how much her father loved her. When my mother passed away, that promise transferred to me, and I have been searching for 12 years to keep that promise.

I contacted Search Quest America to help make it happen. I worked hand in hand with a researcher by the name of Julie Jones. Julie was awesome to work with--funny, down to earth, and incredibly skilled at the same time.
It only took about 30 days start to finish to solve the case. First, Julie found Carol's brother, Richard through his criminal record. He was arrested in 2007 and currently in Arizona State Prison on 4 counts of child abuse. That was sobering information, but it also led Julie to find Carol's current whereabouts. Carol and her sister Sharon both live in Phoenix today. Their phone numbers have been disconnected, but Julie contacted Sharon's ex-husband. He was not particularly helpful, to say the least. He promised to pass Julie's contact info on to Sharon and Carol, and we waited weeks to hear from them. Julie called back a second time, more forceful. He said he had emailed both Sharon and Carol, and they didn't seem especially interested in talking to me, though he said he would try again. We never heard from them.

Julie and I discussed the situation and decided it was best to try sending a letter instead. I wrote the letter to Ed, included a letter for Carol and Sharon in separate, unsealed envelopes with postage and her return address for Ed to forward on. I also copied the kids' baby photos so they would know I am legit. One of the things Ed mentioned to Julie is that Carol and Sharon do not know anything about their father's side of the family, so they probably don't really understand why I wants to get into contact with them. Julie followed up and gave Ed my contact information, and right now we are just waiting to find out what will happen.

One of the things Julie said to me when we started the search is that she could find my cousin, but may not be able to wave a magic wand and make it all turn out the way I wanted it to. I pondered on that reality as I wrote my letter. To be honest, the main reason I decided to pursue this search was out of loyalty and respect for my mother. Now that I have honored her wishes I feel like I can put her to rest, and actually meeting Carol and Sharon does not matter as much as I thought it would. I know that somewhere my mom is pleased with my efforts, and I am content to sit back and wait to see what will happen. Julie and SQA, Thanks so much! You have been wonderful and I owe you many thanks for helping me fulfill my mother's last request. Love, Kayleen

(Written by Mica Burton on Kayleen's behalf.)

Client ID# 262791

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After my mother broke up with him, she moved to Columbia and gave birth to me in Prosperity, South Carolina. She never contacted Barry to tell him about me; she just went on with her life and focused on being a good mother to me. I'm grateful to know the truth, but it changed my whole perspective. I just feel that there is a whole other side to my life that I am missing out on. I don't want you to get the impression that my life is bad. I have had a wonderful life, and now I am married to a wonderful woman and have 2 beautiful teenage girls. I am the acting mayor of our small town. Life is good for me. I just don't know who can help me make this side of my life complete.

About a month ago I was talking with a friend who recently used Search Quest America to reunite him with a child he had never met. He recommended that I contact SQA to see what could be done about finding my biological father. I didn't think I had enough information, but after my case was reviewed, it was accepted. Julie Jones was my researcher. I was prepared for the search to take months, but she called me back less than 72 hours later with news.

9/4/09--Julie spoke to Barry and he confirmed that he was in the NAVY, in Summerville, drove an MG, had family in Hawaii, was on a ship in the Naval Weapons Station, had a girl visit from Hawaii, married Jean in Summerville, lived at the Camelot Valley Mobile Home Park and on Bacon Ridge Road, etc., etc. All of the details my mom remembered. Except He said he didn't remember my mother and wanted nothing to do with being reunited. Julie asked for some medical history and other basic information, but he was not willing to say much. She told him to keep her number if he changed his mind. That was it. She called me back the same day to give me the news. She gave me his contact information and explained that the best option was to send him a letter with some pictures and see where it went from there. I told her I would think about it.

10/20/09--I sent him a letter. It was definitely a hard thing to do because by then I had been through every emotion--sadness, pain at being rejected, anger, sorrow, frustration-- finally I challenged him to take a DNA test just to prove that he wasn't my birth father. I waited to hear back, ready to accept the outcome either way.

1/6/10--Barry agreed to take the DNA test. We sent off samples and waited for the results.

3/31/10--The results are in!! It is a match and Barry cannot deny being my father. He is slowly coming around and we're talking about getting together out to meet each other. I am just happy to finally have an answer. It was a hard process, but it will be worth it to meet my father and find out what we have in common after all this time. It might not be a perfect scenario, but it's better than not knowing. Thanks, Julie and SQA, for all your help! You guys sure know how to put the pieces together! Sincerely, Troy

(Written by Mica Burton on Troy's behalf).

Client ID# 236740

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Edward's father's name is Robert. We were high school sweethearts at Rincon High School in Tucson, Arizona in 1959. We were in love, but Bob went into the Air Force and that was the end of it. I never heard from him again. A few months later I discovered that I was pregnant. My family was ashamed, but I was grateful and never thought twice about raising my son. I never told Bob's family about the pregnancy. His stepfather was a sergeant in the Air Force and was a very intimidating man. He had goals and expectations for Bob, and I wasn't going to be the person to get in the way of his potential. As time passed I got married and raised a family. When Edward was 2 years old, Robert came home from Vietnam and saw Edward for the first time. He loved him, but by that time, it was too late to really be a father to him. That was the last time they ever saw each other. Edward had a wonderful stepfather, and never expressed an interest in finding his biological father. That is, until now.

A dear friend of mine with a similar story was recently reunited with a loved one using Search Quest America. She recommended that I contact the company, and of course I followed her advice. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and Julie was wonderful! In less than three weeks, she already had answers. She contacted Robert's mother, Lucille, and found out that Bob died many years ago from cancer caused by Agent Orange, which was used in the Vietnam War. His wife died soon after he did. She said he's buried in a military cemetery in South Carolina. He has twin daughters but she could not remember anything about them. She declined contact with Edward, saying she was in ill health and could not take on anything else right now. Robert had never told her about Edward.

I was discouraged when I got the news that Lucille did not want contact with Edward. I am not surprised that Robert never spoke with her about him, but there is no denying the fact that Edward is Robert's son, Lucille's grandson! We took a break from the search for about two weeks to decide what to do from there. I spoke with Edward and the rest of the family, and though disappointed, we decided we should not give up yet.

Bob had 2 daughters, Michelle and Shannon. We asked Julie to search for Edward's half-sisters so he could at least get photographs and make contact with his half-siblings. Unfortunately we hit another road block. Julie found out that Shannon has also passed away, and Michelle's phone numbers were disconnected. We had a family conference again and agreed to follow the case through to the very end. With Julie's help, Edward wrote Michelle a letter and enclosed photos of himself and his family. Ed told me that when he put the letter in the mail he felt peace for the first time in years. Even if she never writes back to him, he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has done everything he can to reach out to her. He says that is enough for now.

Thank you Julie and everyone at SQA for giving my son a wonderful birthday present. After 50 years I am relieved that he took a chance and reached out to his paternal family. Whether it turns out or not doesn't seem to matter as much as the fact that he found the courage to do it anyway, and to answer the questions in the back of his mind. You have all been a pleasure to work with and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

(Written by Mica Burton on Karen's behalf.)

Client ID# 262883

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I am the founder and owner of a successful construction company in Washington and have more than 25 years experience in my field. Most importantly I have two beautiful children who are my pride and joy. I have always wondered who my father is and I started my search because I wanted to know his story. I know he has other children who are my half-siblings. I have always wondered what kind of man he is, whether or not I resemble him, and if he would be interested in meeting me and being a grandfather.

All I knew about him at the time was his name (James), that he was born in Pinebluff, Arkansas, he was a carpenter, and was married when I was born. He had two daughters and was last seen in the South Bay Area in California in the late '60s. My mother and step father have both passed away, so I was not able to get any more information, but before they died they made it clear that I had their blessing if I ever decided to search for my father.

In my construction company I manage a crew of professional craftsman and we take pride in creating spaces that turn a clients vision into reality. When I contacted Search Quest America and spoke with Andy, a search consultant, he listened to my story, asked intelligent questions, and gave me the courtesy of being honest about all that the search entails. We discussed the fact that when they find my father, he may be deceased, may be living and unwilling to reunite, may deny my legitimacy as his child, or I could discover something about him that would make me question my desire to know him. I assured him that I was prepared for any of these outcomes and my case was assigned to Julie Jones.

Within a months time, Julie found my birth father, but he passed away in October of 2003. His obituary revealed that my half-sisters' names are Valerie and Cynthia. With this information, Julie located current contact information and left messages with both of them.

Valerie was the first to call back. She told Julie that the family was not aware of my existence, but based on my birth date she assumed that I was conceived while her parents were separated. She was very open with Julie. Apparently, Valerie's mother lived in fear of her father. He was violent and abusive. When her mom was pregnant with Cynthia, James tried to poison her with cyanide. He was a wanted sex offender and had trouble with the law throughout his life. None of Valerie's memories of him are positive, but she told Julie she would be happy to talk with me on the phone and give me whatever information I wanted.

In the last 30 days I have learned that the difference between my profession and the private investigation field is that I work with materials that are easily manipulated and formed into something beautiful. When we combine lumber, hardware, tools, and years of training, the result is always smooth and polished and predictable. When Search Quest America found my birth father's family, I learned that people are inherently flawed and no matter how much you try to sand down and polish up the reality, it won't ever match the vision, or the ideal situation I had painted in my head. I am grateful that the case has been solved, but now I have more questions than ever before. I am still sorting through my own emotions and deciding whether I want to have a relationship with my birth father's family or not. In the mean time I just want to thank Andy, Julie, and everyone at SQA for solving my case, even though it hasn't turned out exactly as I planned. I will keep you all posted as I sort things out.

(Written by Mica Burton on Todd's behalf.)

Client ID# 265360

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My parents did not keep my adoption a secret. When I was five years old my dad wrote away and received my un-redacted Texas birth certificate, which listed her name. He wrote to the lawyer who handled the adoption for more information, and he confirmed her name and gave some background about her situation. I found that piece of paper as a teenager and the memory is burned into my mind. I was blown away by the coincidence--without knowing my birth mother's name was Philomena, my parents named me Philip, and both of us go by "Phil" as a nickname. Since that day I have felt a connection with my birth mother, though I imagined that we lived a world apart.

My case was assigned to Julie Jones, who was a real asset through the whole search. After only about 7 days, she had located my birth family, still living in Texas. She found my birth mother's full name and the first hit from the internet search was an announcement about my grandparents. My grandfather was on the parish council in the Knights of Columbus, and my grandmother taught Sunday school weekly. It was clear that my birth mother came from a very devout family, and she herself graduated from the Order of Incarnate Word. With this background I worried that with the emotions involved with unwed pregnancy, my birth mother may not be favorable to a reunion. But we pressed on.

The next day, Julie called to tell me she had found current contact information for my birth mother and asked if I wanted to make the contact myself. I preferred that she make the phone call on my behalf, and wrote her an email with information to include or not include depending on how it went. I supposed she had good guy instincts and based on experience would say or withhold whatever she felt was appropriate. I could not help but miss the irony that her husbands name is Leo (just like my cat) and we were calling her on the day before her birthday.

I told her the basics--I'm happy and healthy. I bear no ill-will or resentment for her decision to place me. I understand why she did it, at least I think I do. I'm a college grad (degree in Writing with a concentration in Poetry), and although I'm sort of off the career-path at the moment (spent a decade in marketing as a graphic artist), I'm skilled and intelligent. I'm an artist and illustrator. I sang in rock bands for 17 years. I've always been outgoing and talented artistically. I'm bald, which was a BIG surprise when I turned 26! I am very fair-skinned and freckled, blue eyed, and used to be a redhead. I didn't know what sort of things to say, but these seemed logical.

Julie left a voicemail that on her cell phone that evening and we both waited anxiously for a response. It was January 6th of this year. Then on January 7th she called again and left another voicemail. When she still did not respond to the message regarding Dallas and 1972, I got a sinking feeling in my gut that told me she wasn't going to be calling. Julie reassured me that some birth mothers just need more time than others, and that I should be patient. She encouraged me to reach out with a letter, which I did. What do you write when you know the letter may be your only chance to reach out to the woman who gave birth to you? I wrote the basics of who I am as a person, what I look like, and how I feel about her. I included a photo and asked her to consider writing me back, but told her I would understand if she didn't. I mailed the letter off and tried not to expect anything in return.

January passed, then February. Finally, just yesterday, Julie called to tell me that Philomena called her out of the blue asking for my contact information! She received my letter and pondered over it for several weeks.
She shared the story with her family for the first time and was ready to write back to me and begin corresponding gradually.

I am overjoyed that we will be able to be reunited, albeit slowly and on her terms. It is everything I hoped for and I just want to thank SQA and Julie for giving me the tools to solve this mystery and the courage to keep hoping when it didn't seem that it would turn out well. I greatly appreciate all of your hard work and wish you the best of luck in the future.

(Written by Mica Burton on Philip's behalf.)

Client ID# 264695

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One of her sons died in an accident at the age of 39. Right before his death, he was involved in a short-lived relationship and fathered a son. My brother's name was Kevin and though he passed away, we have not forgotten that his relationship blessed us with another family member. My nephew's name is Christopher Michael and he does not know that he has a wonderful grandmother. One of his cousins says that his grandmother personifies the true meaning of "grandma." She has not forgotten Christopher, but has continued setting aside a little something for him as each birthday and Christmas passes. She lost a child but knows that somewhere she could see her son's smile again in the smile of a grandson she has never met, but has always loved.

Recently, mother and I were enjoying lunch together when out of the blue she brought up Christopher in conversation. She said, "Sandi, before I die I have to meet that young man and tell him I love him, and that I've never forgotten about him. Would you help me find him?" Her request was utterly unexpected, but I could see her sincerity shining through her tears, and I promised her that I would find him.

The next day, I did what anyone would do--I conducted an internet search for Christopher. It came back with thousands and thousands of hits and I quickly realized that finding him was not something I could do on my own. My next search was for private investigation companies, and voila! I found Search Quest America. Through several clicks of the mouse, I ended up at this very website and found myself engrossed in the stories of people just like us who were also searching for loved ones. I quickly saw that not every story had a happy ending, and discussed that reality with Mother before proceeding with the case.

When we made the decision to go forward, our case was assigned to Julie Jones. She first called to introduce herself and get more information on January 3, 2010. I'll never forget that day because in the morning we gave her all the information we had, including what we thought to be Christopher's mother's name. Then in the afternoon, Julie emailed us with a photograph of Christopher--It was from Facebook of all places! Unfortunately all of the most recent phone numbers and addresses on record were outdated, so the best option was for Julie to send him a message on Facebook. We held our breaths and waited for a response. Sure enough, the next day Chris called Julie, overjoyed that someone was looking for him after all this time.
Chris said he didn't know his dad had died until he was about 14 years old. He always wanted to look for us, but found himself in the same situation we did, not knowing where to look or who to trust to find the answers.

Incredibly enough, he grew up within 20 miles of our hometown his entire life! We must have crossed paths with him in the grocery store or at sporting events. In fact, he graduated from the same high school as his cousins, just about 5 years apart. We must have had a hundred opportunities to cross paths with him over the years, but never connected until now.

Right now, Chris is stationed in North Carolina at Camp LeJuene and we are so proud to learn that he has been to the war zone overseas and recently offered to go again at the end of March. Unfortunately he just took leave and will not have the opportunity to come see us until he saves up some time, but we have begun corresponding over the phone and through email, getting to know each other slowly and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet in person. Mother is so thrilled to finally know what happened to her long lost grandson, and it means the world to Chris to know that he has always been loved and thought about on every holiday and throughout the year. We can't say enough positive things about Search Quest America--everyone we dealt with took a personal interest in our story and we felt their compassion from the very first phone call. Thank you so much to each of you, may God bless you in your endeavors and smile upon you as he has smiled upon each member of our family. Much love, Sandi.

(Written by Mica Burton on Sandi's behalf.)

Client ID# 265506

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Last August, I wrote this email to SQA: "I found my birth mother over 20 years ago and within the last few years I have been trying to locate my birth father. The only problem is that my birth mother is not being cooperative with me at all. I have tried to locate him on my own but have hit a dead end at every turn. I don't know how much of the information that my birth mother has given me is accurate or if it is true. Nobody in the family every met him so I can't ask any of them about him. I was told that he only saw me once after I was born and then he just walked out on me and my birth mother.

I just want to know why he walked out on me when I was born and if he has other children as well. Another reason I am trying to find him is because I have Epilepsy and my daughter also had Epilepsy up until it took her life almost seven years ago. She was only 12 years old. I need to find out about his family's medical history and see if Epilepsy runs in his family because I know it is not in my birth mom's family tree. Pretty much all I know is his name which is Ray Clark and the name he used in Kansas City which is "Carp". I have also been told that he has a brother named Everett. I know that he used to ride a Triumph motorcycle and supposedly also rode with an outlaw motorcycle club called "El Forastero" in Kansas City in the early 60's. Also, I have been told that his mother lived in Marceline, Missouri. How much of what I know is the truth I can't be sure because my birth mother has been very reluctant in giving me the information I have asked for about him over the years. All I can do is try to see if you can locate him for me, that way I can find out the answers that I would like to have and possibly get to know him and be a part of his life.

I guess the reason I am trying so hard after all these years to locate him is because I am 41 and I feel that I have a right to know the truth behind him walking out on me and my birth mother. Every time I think I am getting close I hit a dead end. Is it really possible to find someone with so little information? I have read through your success stories and I cry when I read about the positive things that you do for people by helping them find their loved ones. I hope that you can help me get some answers."

I wrote that email in August, and I was definitely not disappointed! My case was solved by the end of January. I had to put myself out there and write letters and make phone calls, but in the end it was all worth it. My researcher Julie Jones helped me every step of the way until we were able to track down my birth father's family. He away several years ago, but we were able to find my half-brother, J.R., who still lives in Missouri today. We have spoken over the phone and corresponded via email several times and I am getting to know the family that way. I also have a half-sister Sheila who has not been as warm and receptive to a reunion, but I am confident that with patience, she will come around eventually. The family has provided me with the medical information I need, as well as a family history that helps me get an idea of where I come from.

I still don't understand how she did it, but Julie was able to solve the case with almost no information to go on. She even approached my birth mother and talked her into answering her questions and setting the facts straight--something I never expected her to do. When all is said and done, I am super-happy and just want to thank everyone at SQA for working together as a team to help solve my mystery--you guys are the best!

(Written by Mica Burton on Cindy's behalf.)

Client ID# 222376

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Over the years I have compiled this picture of the man who I'm told is my father. I know he was once married to a woman named Vicki, and that when I was conceived, my parents worked together. Her name is Lucy and they had a brief love affair that ended in heartbreak for my mother. Perhaps that is why she refuses to speak of him today--or maybe she is ashamed that she doesn't have more information. My greatest fear is that if I do not take the opportunity to search for him now, I may miss the opportunity to meet him while in this life. I contacted Search Quest America on a whim--I was afraid to hope that my dream might come true, but willing to take a chance to see what happened.

That time seems so long ago! So much has happened that has changed my perspective on the whole situation. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, who helped me write down everything I knew about my birth father, and we went from there. It became quickly apparent that I didn't have information, I had dis-information, several pieces that did not appear to fit together. Julie searched through all the databases, but did not find one single man who met the description I have her, or who fit with the mental picture I have formed over all these years. I had planned to keep the search a secret, but Julie and I hit a wall and she ended up approaching my mother for more information.

I had been afraid to broach the subject, but Julie handled it beautifully.
She learned several key pieces of information, like his sister's full name and the fact that she was married and lived only a few blocks away from her in Chicago. She was married with five or six kids. Julie was able to extract information my mother had never shared with me, like the fact that my birth father was a drug user. I never knew that when I was a little girl, he kidnapped me for three days right around Easter. The police found me all alone in an abandoned building--It was on the news and everything. How could I not remember that? At first it was shocking to hear that news, but at the same time hearing both sides of his personality helped me have a more realistic impression of who he was. We learned that he used to hang out at the Home Run Inn Bar in Chicago, that his dad lived in Texas, and that he really was an electronics engineer. I also learned that he really was married to a woman named Vicki, but I didn't know that he was recently married when he met my mother and I was conceived. I expected my mom to resist our efforts to find him, but she seemed relieved to get the whole story off her chest. She even agreed to go to the bank deposit box and get my original birth certificate, which he filled out when I was born.

With this information, Julie was able to track down his ex-wife, Vicki. She confirmed his birth date and said they were high school sweethearts and he enlisted in the army in 1960. I never had any idea he had a military background, but now know that everything he learned about engineering and electronics was learned in the army. One day in 1967, he left Vicki in Chicago with the kids and just never came home from work that day. She eventually divorced him on the grounds of desertion, but she never knew what happened to him.

Then, when their daughter was a young adult, about 20 years old, she went looking for him. He had been a very heavy alcoholic and on drugs at the time of my birth, and he lost track of his friends and family. Sadly, he committed suicide in 1976 by hanging. He lived in a suburb of Chicago and the closest I will ever get to seeing him is visiting his grave.

Of course, this was devastating news. I thought I was prepared for anything, but looking back I can see that I really only prepared myself for other wives, other siblings, being rejected by him, or not being able to form a connection. I had considered that he may have died, but I never imagined it would have happened by suicide the same year as my birth. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have answers to my questions and I am excited to meet my half-siblings and find some peace of mind that way.

I just want to say how much I appreciate all the help and support you all have given me. I am truly grateful to put all of my curiosity to rest and focus on moving forward and living my life. You have all given me perspective and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

(Written by Mica Burton on Loris behalf.)

Client ID# 259747

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One September 1st, 1978 I gave birth to a baby girl in Rupert Idaho. I was 13 years old. The State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare made me feel like I had no rights in the matter. I had to give the baby up. I know now that it was the best thing to do. A 13 year old can't take care of themselves let alone a baby. I have thought about her everyday ever since. A part of me has always been missing.

In March of 2000 I received a response from an adoption registry via e-mail from a girl named Clarice. She said she didn't know a lot about her adoption, but she did know that she was born in Rupert, Idaho on September 1st, 1978. We e-mailed back and forth for quite a few months and we both believed that we were mother and daughter. I told her of my situation at the time of her birth. She said she had no hard feelings towards me and that she wanted to meet me. She even told me that she loved me, and we started a relationship through e-mail. If I remember correctly the last e-mail I received from her was on Mother's Day that year. She told me happy Mother's day and that she loved me. I have not heard from her since. I have still been searching the adoption registries and message boards whenever I get the chance.

One of the e-mails she sent me, she told me that she lived in Riverside, California until she was 14 and her and her family moved to Glendale Arizona where she went to high school and eventually went to the university of Arizona to become a school teacher. She had a younger brother named Jason. I still have every e-mail that she sent to me. I just need to know if she is ok. Was this girl even my daughter? Did she change her mind about meeting me or was she part of some sort of fraud? I don't understand. I guess now I need some questions answered. It was just so very strange how it just come to a complete stop overnight. From our relationship I gained so much comfort and understanding and closure, and all of those things have been ripped away from me overnight. The hole in my heart seems bigger now than it has ever been.

I contacted Search Quest America a few months ago and my case was assigned to Julie Jones. From my first interaction with your company, I felt that I could have confidence in your abilities and professionalism. I knew that this time, I would not be taken advantage of.

Julie walked me through the process of requesting the non-identifying information for the couple who adopted my baby. They were from Canyon County Idaho, and none of the facts matched the information Clarice provided. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, and my worst fears were confirmed when Julie did some research and found out that the email address she had used was fraudulent. All of the hopes, dreams, tears, and laughs I shared with Clarice were a fraud! To say I felt like a fool would be an understatement. I had to wonder if I was a fool for trying again--how could I open my heart and trust that this time, when Julie solved the case, it would be a true reunion?

I only had about a month to prepare myself. Julie called me out of the blue to let me know that my daughter's name is Tyanne. She is a beautiful young woman with 2 daughters and she is happily married. I stewed on the information for a few days and then decided to write her a letter. I wrote:

"Hi, my name is Clara, and I am your birth-mother. I can't believe we have finally found you. I have thought about you every day for the last 31 years. Every holiday, every birthday, I would imagine what you were doing, and if you were happy, and with a good family. I would picture you in my mind and imagine what you look like. I always wondered if you knew you were adopted, and if you ever thought about me. I wondered if you hated me for giving you up.

Since the day I gave you up for adoption, I have had a big hole in my heart, and a piece of me has been missing. I dream of one day being able to meet you, and getting to know you. I wish I could hold you and hug you, if only for a brief moment.

I in no way want to disrupt your life, or cause any pain or problems. I just want you to know that I love you. I hope one day you will want to contact me, and we could possibly have some kind of relationship.

You have a full brother, and a sister that would love to meet you, and get to know you also. I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Hopefully I can answer those for you one day. I just want you to know that even though I don't know you, I love you with all my heart. I will leave my contact information with you. I hope to hear from you soon. Please take care, Clara."

Julie mailed the letter along with a cover letter explaining that SQA is a professional company that was hired to find Tyanne. I steeled myself for her response, expecting the worst and hoping for the best. I was not disappointed. Tyanna called me about three weeks later and we have had a wonderful relationship ever since. She came here to Burley once, and I have been to her home. We spent New Year's eve and New Year's day together. It was wonderful. We talk to each other every day, either on the phone, texting, or chatting on the computer.

I am so happy. She is a beautiful young woman and I could not be more proud. Finally, I feel validated in my decision to give her up for adoption. I can't thank you all enough for helping me solve this mystery and for showing me that even my story can have a happy ending. Thank you so much for everything! Sincerely, Clara.

(Written by Mica Burton on Clara's behalf.)

Client ID# 241269

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I first contacted Search Quest America on December 15, 2009. Jason and I had just been talking about Christmas and how much more fun the holidays would be when we had our own kids one day. I jokingly suggested we get started on that, but instead of playing along, Jason went quiet. When I probed him about what he was feeling, he put his head in his hands and said "it's hard to start my own family when a piece of me is missing. How can I be a father when I don't even know my own dad?" I was taken aback by the emotion in his face--Jason never talked about his father and even with how close we are, I honestly didn't know that it was such a deep wound for him.

Jason was born in Blue Island, Illinois in March of 1985. He was a fighter from the very beginning. When he was born with health problems and the doctors needed his father's medical history to make a diagnosis, Jason's mother contacted his birth father, a man named Stan. He had no idea she was pregnant and I gather it was only a brief relationship. By the time she caught up with him, Jason was 3 months old and Stan was married and living out of state. We don't know the details of that phone call, but we gather it was not a pleasant conversation. Jason's mother never speaks about it, or anything about Jason's father for that matter.

I approached her for information, but as soon as she found out I planned to help Jason find his birth father, she clammed up and made it clear that she did not approve and would not help us. Jason expected that reaction, but I don't understand how she could deny Jason the right to know his birth father, and know himself.

I contacted SQA on a Tuesday afternoon. I paid for the search myself and the case was assigned to Julie Jones. One of the first questions she asked was if Jason wanted to make the phone call himself or if he wanted Julie to call for him. He preferred to let Julie handle it, and I know it was because deep down Jason worried that since his father knew about him and hasn't tried to find him, he may not want to reunite with him. I did my best to reassure him, but in the back of my mind I hoped that this situation would not blow up in my face.

On February 1st, Julie called to tell us that she had found Jason's birth father. She left several messages trying to get a hold of him, but for whatever reason, he never returned her call. To Jason, it seemed like a confirmation of his worst fears. Julie encouraged us to write him a letter and include photographs of Jason growing up and as an adult. We talked about it together, and a few days later we mailed the letter with restricted delivery since it was intended for his eyes only.

Two days later, we got a call from Julie. Stan finally called her back and she said he had the "deer in the headlights" tone of voice. He denied ever knowing Jason's mother and said sorry, but he wasn't Jason's father. He did promise to call back if he could "shake any memories loose." But it was clear that we were at an impasse.

That night we talked to Jason's mom and to say that it did not go well would be an understatement. She instantly got very angry with us and began yelling at us. She said that Stan does know who she is. She thought that we are insinuating that she lied to us about something. We tried to explain to her that he might have been in front of his wife and just didn't want to say anything, but she wouldn't let us get a word in edgewise. Finally, she kicked us out of her house--a first for Jason. We had no idea what to think. She asked us if we were sure that we had the right Stan, but it has to be him based off of the information that she gave me. So unless the information that she gave me was incorrect there is no way that it could be the wrong guy. The fact that she got so angry and defensive right away makes me wonder if she did lie about something.

Jason and I went home that night emotionally exhausted. We decided it was a lost cause and tried to convince ourselves that we had done our part and the rest was up to Stan. We honestly weren't expecting anything good to come of it. We wrote Julie a long thank-you note for all her had work and asked her to let us know if Stan every called her again. As far as we were concerned, the case was closed.

We were completely surprised when Julie called two weeks ago. Stan did call! He said he talked to his wife about it and she remembered when Lori called when Jason was 3 months old. Stan said he wanted to do the right thing and offered to take a paternity test. He said if the results were positive, he wanted to be a part of Jason's life and let him get to know his half-siblings!! We could not have been happier.

Jason and Stan worked with DNA Diagnostics, who confirmed that Stan IS Jason's father--case closed. I am still reeling with everything that has happened. I can't believe Stan called back. I am so happy for Jason. This means so much to him and that means the world to me. Thank you AGAIN for everything that you have done for Jason. A new chapter in his life is about to open and none of it would be happening without your hard work and dedication to your job. You are a wonderful company and we greatly appreciate you! Thank you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Michelle's behalf.)

Client ID# 264234

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My story, like many others, begins with the earliest dreams of my childhood. When I was 5 or 6 I saw a Hallmark commercial that showed a man picking out the perfect Valentine for his sweetheart and bringing it home with a single rose. One would assume that the card was intended for his wife or girlfriend, but what always stood out to me is that the card and flower were for his little girl. It's totally ridiculous that I still remember that commercial, but that was the first moment I remember feeling the emptiness that comes with being raised by a single parent. Naturally, I went to my mother several times over the years for questions. I asked what he looked like, how they met, whether or not he had dimples, or if my eyes were the same color as his. She told me his name was Patrick O'Donovan and that when they met and fell in love, he was working as a ground crew at the San Francisco airport. She told me he had 3 younger siblings, Dominic, Anthony, and Margaret.

One of the first things she fell in love with was his European accent. His family was Irish and Patrick was raised in East Acton, London, so mom always said he had a lilt in his voice that she couldn't resist. They dated for several months until his work visa expired and he returned home to England. She never saw him again, but a few months later she discovered she was pregnant with me. Often as she brushed my deep red hair, she would tell me stories about their time together and that I looked just like him. I liked to think he would have been proud of me and all that I accomplished through my adolescence and now into my early adulthood. Yet even as I have gotten older I can't help but long for the relationship I have always envied. The fact that Patrick is likely living abroad today has deterred me from searching seriously for him.

However, when I contacted Search Quest America to get an idea of what I was up against, I was surprised to learn that they were confident they could reunite me with not only my father, but the rest of my birth family as well. Of course I was worried that it was too good to be true, but with my mother's blessing I took a leap of faith and decided to search anyway. I was not disappointed! Julie Jones solved my case in only 2 months. When all the traditional methods failed to pan out, Julie sorted through hundreds of people on Facebook and corresponded with a member of my birth family via email.

Finally, Julie convinced her to pass my contact information along to my birth father. I waited in anticipation and less than a week ago, my dad called me for the first time! I just want to thank Andy, Julie, and Susan at Search Quest America for following my case through to the happy ending. It looks like we are off to a great start and this new beginning would not be possible without Search Quest America.

I may not have the Halmark ending I always dreamed of as a child, but I anticipate a bright future ahead for both of us. I owe you all a batch of cookies, a vacation, my firstborn or something!! Please accept my humble thanks and use my story as a testimonial of your skills, compassion, and integrity. Best of luck in the future...Kristen.

(Written by Mica Burton on Kristen's behalf.)

Client ID# 261786

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The last time I saw Carmen she was newly married to the man who is now her ex-husband. Her husband was a big problem. They were living in the house with my father. I was also married, and letting my ex-husband dictate a lot of things. I should have been stronger and handled it a lot better, but I didn't. One thing we always did well was stand by our men, but neither of us was ever good at picking up the phone and mending fences. I never made a conscious decision to cut Carmen out of my life, but before I knew it over a year had passed. When I finally picked up the phone to call her, her number was disconnected. I went to her home and found out she had moved out of state 6 months before. I was hurt that she hadn't even said goodbye, and tried not to think about how I had hurt her by not standing up for her when it mattered most.

Now, I'm 67 years old and find myself alone. I'm divorced, single, and driving a motor coach for a casino. It gives me plenty of time to think about the things I wish I had done differently in my life. About a month ago, one of my good friends died in her sleep at only 54. No one saw it coming and no one could give an explanation. It got me thinking about how we never know how much time we have left. I went to her funeral and saw all of her children and grandchildren and listened to them tell stories about what a great person she was and how much they will miss her. I tried not to think about who would miss me or who would come to my funeral if it had been me instead.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. The next day I picked up the phone and called Search Quest America. Andy put me at ease. He walked me through the process and before I knew it I was working with Julie, my researcher. Then, just 2 weeks after that I got a phone call one afternoon at work. Julie was calling to tell me she had found Carmen and wanted to know if I wanted to call her first. I told her to go ahead and break the ice for me.

Only thirty minutes later the phone rang again and it was Carmen herself!! We cried together and got caught up on all that has happened since we last spoke, and never once talked about the things that had separated us, only the things that bind us together. I knew I had 2 grandchildren, but they are not children anymore. They are 24 and 27 already! I also have 3 other grandsons, 15, 13, and 10 years old and even 2 great-grand children, who are 4 and 2 years old. I went out to see her that weekend (it's only a four hour drive). Now we talk all the time. We have so much in common and I am just so grateful that Andy and Julie helped me put the pieces of our relationship back together before it was too late. All of a sudden I have a family again! It's awesome. I can't thank you all enough for your role in all this. I hope you continue to help others the way you have helped me.

(Written by Mica Burton on Marilyn's behalf.)

Client ID#266499

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I was treated very well and had a good life. But as the years passed, I used to write fantastic stories about what was happening in my birth mother's life in 1949. What could possibly have motivated her to abandon me? I wrote about what life must have been like for her and my other siblings and they grew up. I had no reason not to believe that they were living together happily somewhere else, life going on as normal without me. I naturally assumed that I was given away because I misbehaved or somehow wasn't good enough for them. It was a wound I nurtured silently as I tried to adjust to life in my new family.

My foster parents petitioned for adoption several times over the years. I was told that when each petition reached my mother, she was living in Long Island, New York. She denied their request for adoption every time. I took that as a sign that she would come back for me one day, but as the years passed I forgot my life as Mary Davis and my youthful anticipation turned to dread and fear. My memories of life with my biological mother faded and over time, I became Mary Kramer.

Now, I am 68 years old and find that I have a hole in my heart filled with questions and longing to understand the events that led up to that fateful day. I have searched for my siblings, 2 of whom are named Debbie and Dianne. They are in their early sixties now and may not even remember me.

About a month ago I decided it was best to proceed with the help of the experts. I contacted Search Quest America and my case was assigned to Julie Jones. I gave her all the information I had, everything I remembered about my childhood, and asked her to find my mother and siblings so I can get the answers I need. I believe my mother is still living on Long Island, New York, and I would like to talk to her first. She is in her 80s today, but I hope she is cognizant enough to know who I am and explain what happened 61 years ago.

Only 2 weeks after signing the contract, I received a phone call from Julie. It was a Friday afternoon and she told me she had found my birth family. She first contacted a man named Walker, my nephew. He took down all the information and agreed to pass it along to his family and call me back the next day. The problem is, he never called back. Julie has left several messages with no response.

I am grateful for Julie and SQA, who have been instrumental in helping me solve this case. She has given me phone numbers and addresses and my next step will be to write letters to my siblings and my mother, who is still living, and beg for answers. Even if I only have the chance to speak to them one time, I will be content. Truly, there is a piece in my life that's missing and I just feel that I would like to fill that void before I die. I have searched for a long time and just feel I need a little help and a little peace. As you can imagine, I feel 7 years old again, with all the abandonment, sorrow, and loss of being left on the curb again. I will keep you posted as I try one more time to reach out to my birth family and find answers to my questions, and most importantly--peace.

(Written by Mica Burton on Mary's behalf.)

(Client ID# 258587)

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I still remember the day our relationship ended. It was 11 years ago at a bonfire following graduation. We spent the evening partying with the rest of our senior class. He was heartbroken and angry because I was heading off to college a few days later and he was staying home to help in his dad's mechanic shop. As much as I promised we would keep in touch and get together during the holidays, he knew that our relationship was about to change forever. I joined my sister at the university the next week, and Christopher never returned my phone calls. When I came home for Christmas break, he was gone, vanished into thin air. I still wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in La Habra. I moved on with my life, got married, and had 2 beautiful daughters.

I hear from a friend of a friend that Chris got into some trouble with the law and spent some time behind bars soon after graduation. Then, I ran into him in a Walmart of all places back in 1999. He was with his wife, a woman named Catherine, and they were expecting a baby. I often wonder if they had a boy or a girl or if they are still together.

Since that day, I returned to California as a single mother after getting divorced. In the quiet hours after my girls have gone to bed I still think about Chris and what a good dad must would be. I wonder if he might also be single and if he might consider giving me a second chance at happily ever after. Either way, I will love him till the day I die.

As I said before, I contacted SQA on New Years Eve. On January 18th I got a call from my researcher, Julie Jones, who called to tell me that she had found Christopher. My instructions were to call me first and let me know what his circumstances were before contacting him. If he is happily married or something, I didn't want to disrupt his life. Julie reported that his wife filed for divorce 2 years ago and as far as she can tell, Chris is single today. I was ecstatic! I got all he contact info from Julie, including his email address and phone number, and sent him an email that very night. Since then, Chris and I have been catching up via email and on the phone every few days. It feels like no time has passed at all and I am very optimistic about the future. I can't guarantee that I have found a stepfather for my girls, but I have reconnected with my best friend, and that is well worth the cost of the search. I just want to say thank you to Julie and SQA for helping my dream come true!! You are amazing and the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face. Best of luck to all of you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Michelle's behalf.)

Client ID# 266502

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I did not send the contract back immediately because we all needed to talk about it as a family and get the money together. I thought about it a lot from December 3rd to December 5th. Then on December 13th I made one more phone callI looked the birth father up in the phone book and called him! He was still living in the town my mother Linda and Lawrence Cook graduated from and it was him! He was the Larry cook that dated my mother for that short time and Lynnette was conceived. I talked with him for 20 minutes which seemed like an hour. But he was very interested in being a part of our search for Lynnette. Larry had not been married since around 1978. He never had any other children. Lynnette is his only child. So he then said to me during that phone call he would like to help financially to find her. I gave him Lindas contact info and Search Quest America the details and he called and paid the fee. We all were just amazed.

Now the ball was really rolling. I let me mother know right away that I had made that phone call and that he paid the full amount to search for Lynnette. So from that day until Jan 3rd, two days sooner than I expected, the 14 day waiting period was over. Now Susan Friel-Williams emailed me that she had a good lead on my Sister. I called and left her a message and she called me back. She had good news. She had found my sister!!

Her Name is Jacqueline. She is in California. She is possibly married and maybe divorced and married again. She said she had found her on Facebook and another site and left her messages and emails. About a week went by and Jacqueline had not responded. I was sent a picture of Jacqueline to share with my family from Susan. Susan and I talked and she decided since she had not responded, maybe she thought we were a collections person trying to reach her. So I asked if she could give me the information. She had phone numbers, addresses, etc and I would make an attempt to contact Jacqueline myself. Susan did just that. I wrote the info down and she suggested I write a letter and send the same letter to all the addresses she gave me.

Well, I was confident enough I would have some sort of success. So I called the first two numbers and left a message saying my name is Nicholle Hardy, I am calling from Iowa for Jacqueline and its regarding family matters if she could please call me as soon as she is able. Thanks.". I left another message at another number with the same message. Finally the 3rd phone number I was starting to leave a message and low and be hold a voice came on the phone that I will never forget, as I went speechless for a few seconds. I was at a loss for words and all I could say is "Jacqueline I think I am your sister..." She said "Really?" After that I forget what she said. But I do recall she was a nervous wreck and so was I. I didn't know what to say other than I had known about her since I was 17 and I am now 36. I had to wait till the time was right for our Birth Mom. I told her about the story of Linda Davis having her and the name she was given. The next thing you know her husband Marty was talking to me for a moment and got us connected to the web cam video connection and we saw each other over the computer for the first time. All we both could say is "this is so cool!" I told her she has a brother named Scott also and 4 nephews and a niece. Her new found niece is very fond of Jacqueline even on the computer and she is far away. Isabella has an Aunt. I have a Sister. My mother has a daughter she can now bond in their own way from here on out.

Our mother Linda came to my house and she then got to do a video conference too and see her daughter for the first time since that day, April 19th, 1970. Jacqueline got to ask her questions and things and they have been in contact 1 and 2 times a week since that day. I also keep in touch with Jacqueline 2-3 times a week as much as possible. She is just as bubbly as our mother is and has a heart of gold. Her parents that raised her are two beautiful people that gave her a home with love and caring as she grew up. Linda has received a package of photos of Jacqueline growing up from birth to now and was so excited to sit down and enjoy them and see how much Jacqueline and I, Nicholle her sister, look alike at different stages of our life. It's crazy!

In the mean time I let Larry, Jacqueline's birth Father, know that we had found and made contact with her. I gave him all her contact info. He is retired and owns a farm not far from us Here in Iowa. Though we all are far away, we will not be apart again if we all can help it. Jacqueline and her husband, Marty, live in California near Sacramento. They are both in college and cannot get away for a get together to reunite. However we are all looking forward to this summer and hope to meet half way or just get Jacqueline and Marty to Iowa to meet us all. We cannot thank Search Quest America enough for what they have done. We are thankful to them and their talents for searching for people of all situations. We will be forever grateful... God Bless everyone involved in our Search for a Sister, Daughter, Aunt etc. Sincerely Nicholle Hardy."

(Written by Nicholle Hardy.)

Client ID# 265260

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I spent my childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and the first part of my married life just like any other person. I had no idea I was adopted and only found out about a month before my first child was born. During that time in my life, I learned that my mother had a serious disease and was not expected to live more than 6 months. One day she invited me and my wife over for Sunday breakfast. She sat us down on the couch and informed me that she and my father had decided it was time to tell me that I was adopted. They told me I was born in Birmingham, Alabama on January 21, 1952. My mother was married and I was conceived from an affair. Her husband forced her to give me up for adoption for the sake of her marriage. They remembered that her name was Geneva, like the place in Switzerland, but besides that they had no other information. I was stunned, and had a hard time figuring out what to say. I could not be angry at them for withholding the information. With this new knowledge, they also gave me their blessing that if I ever had a desire to find my birth family, they would support my decision.

Over 30 years have passed since that day. During that time I have thought long and hard about searching for my birth mother. Finally, a friend of a friend provided me with SQA's contact information and encouraged me to send an email. I talked it over with my wife and my children, and with everyone's support, I initiated the search.

I could not possibly be more pleased! Julie walked me through the process of applying for my original Alabama birth certificate. This provided us with the clues we needed to find my birth mother, Geneva Densmore, from Osceola, Florida. Unfortunately she passed away in 2004. This came as great disappointment to me, but I was grateful for the opportunity to meet my natural brother and 2 sisters. When Julie contacted them, they were just as stunned as I had been. None of them had any recollection or even an inkling that our mother had another child, but they were able to confirm her identity and everything on my non-identifying information matched to a T.

I just want to tell you all that you did a great job making my dreams come true. I now have the answers to all of my questions, including my medical history and information about my genealogy. Naturally, I regret that my birth mother passed away before we could meet, but I am grateful for the many ways my life has been enriched by meeting my half-siblings. I am incredibly grateful for my friend who suggested I call SQA. I have given out their contact information several times myself and I am excited to give my friends the gift I have been given--finally knowing who I am and where I come from. May you each lead long, happy lives full of opportunities to bless the lives of others, as you have blessed mine. Sincerely, Stan Graham"

(Written by Mica Burton on Stans behalf.)

Client ID# 231322

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Robert was taught to be fiercely loyal to his family, and he lived much of his life without even a thought to contact his birth father or paternal grandparents. As time passed, however, he learned to express gratitude for the role models in his life without feeling the need to have their approval all of the time. He started to wonder about his paternal family, and when we had our first child, he was overcome with emotion not only at the new addition to our family, but realizing that his own father never had the opportunity to watch Robert be born. I think that was when he really decided that he would pursue the search.

His case was assigned to Julie Jones, who was fabulous every step of the way. She worked hard and pursued leads I never thought would go anywhere. All she knew was that Robert's father's name was Andrew and that his paternal family owned a Goodyear Shop in a suburb of Chicago in 1975. She also knew that the family had a summer home in Edgerton, WI across the street from a family Robert's mom used to babysit for--that's how they met. About half-way through the search, we also remembered that Robert's grandmothers name was Gwen, and she was his grandfather's first wife. Julie took this information and contacted city directories, ran internet searches, and even called the old neighbor who still lives across the street from the house Robert's dad grew up in. One thing led to another and finally Julie stumbled onto Robert's uncle, whose name is Edward. Edward agreed to put us in touch with Robert's family and voila! Case closed.

Roberts family was so thrilled to meet him! They called him right away and expressed their deep regret that they were unable to be a part of his life. When it became clear that his maternal family would not let them into Robert's life, they eventually gave up trying, Over time, they moved to another city and lost track of Robert altogether. We are all just so grateful for Search Quest America and for the opportunity to solve this mystery and find answers for Robert. He has been lighter, more energetic, and more confident since the day he found out that his family still knows remembers, and loves him. That is knowledge that can't be bought and I am so happy we decided to pay the price to make it happen for him. He has a new pep in his step. I definitely recommend SQA. Ask for Julie. She's the BEST!

(Written by Mica Burton on Ranae's behalf.)

Client ID# 229222

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My parents raised me as an only child, but I have been told that I have 2 birth siblings. I know my birth mother had polio as a child and was only twenty-one when I was born. I was conceived from a one-night stand, and I am told my birth father never even knew about me. Both of my adoptive parents have been dead for three years now, and the time has come for me to figure out who I am and where I come from. I am so tired of being an only child, and have felt like half a person my entire life. I have a life others would envy--two beautiful daughters and five spunky grandchildren. I even live in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful places earth. Yet there has always been something missing; I have always dreamed of being part of a large extended family.

I can't say enough about my researcher, Julie Jones, who held my hand every step of the way. She walked me through the process of requesting my non-ID and would not let me give up until I received it. All of the important names and dates were blacked out, but over time the ink faded and letters and words started to show through. We knew that my mother's name was Dorothy, that she had 7 or 8 siblings, and that besides my oldest uncle, no one knew about me.

As the case came to an end and the six month deadline got closer and closer, Julie and I hit a brick wall and were unable to progress further. We had a list of women who could be my mother, but without a specific birth date it was impossible to know for sure. We requested more documentation from the state and began the laborious process of elimination, calling each Dorothy, writing letters, and being rejected time and again. The deadline came and went, but Julie kept working hard and was dedicated to solving the case no matter what it took.

Julie's determination was the deciding factor in the case. One afternoon she called a woman named Janice, the daughter of a "Dorothy" who had passed away. When Julie told her the purpose for her call, Janice immediately started crying. She asked that Julie read the non-identifying information and then exclaimed "My sister! My sister! You found my sister." Every piece of information fit perfectly. About a week before my trip to Arizona to meet them, Janice's uncle called the family together to reveal the secret of my adoption, stating that the secret had grown heavy and he did not want to carry it alone anymore. He told Dorothy's story as a feisty young lady who was confident and talented, yet she always pined over the child she had given for adoption--Me.

Janice was excited and said, "When can we meet her?" Just as I had hoped, the family welcomed me into the fold with open arms. I got to meet my sister, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and the reunion was incredible! They tell me I am the spitting image of my grandmother. Being with them is a little surreal, but on a deep level it feels like coming home. My life feels totally different now. I have spoken to many nieces and nephews. Emails fly back and forth daily with pictures from both sides. Unfortunately, my birth mother Dorothy passed away several years ago, but meeting her family members and my sister shows me, for the first time, that I LOOK like someone. That knowledge alone has brought me more peace than I ever imagined was possible.

In our first conversation, Julie made me promise that when I was reunited, I would share my story with others, and that's why I decided to write in today. She also promised that I could have my photo put on the SQA Reunion board in their office. Actually I have been informed that what was once a few "bulletin boards" is now an entire wall. I am amazed and so very grateful for SQA's help and support through this whole process. You have given me peace, hope, and a sense of belonging that cannot be bought at any price. I hope you continue to reunite fathers, mothers, siblings, and children with their long lost loved ones. Keep up the good work and keep filling that photo wall on reunion at a time!

(Written by Mica Burton on Candi's behalf).

Client ID# 227206

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I finally found my wonderful birth mother Diana Mae and her family! Sadly my mom passed and has gone to heaven in 2003. She will live long in my heart and soul; she never gave up that one day I would find her and her family so in her honor and to my great joy I've met with her two sisters, Auntie Wease (Orlando, FL) and Auntie Moni (from Kensington, CT). Yes you read that right! I have met them and love them and it is like we've known and been with each other my whole life!!

Believers we are and have in Jesus! We serve and love an AWESOME GOD!!! He knew me before I was in my mom's womb, need I fear the unknown? And even more wonderful, if you can even imagine how it gets better... my daughter Sarah was able to come and spend a few days with us all!!! YAY! It is because of her and my parents that believed with me that I have find them! I love and appreciate all of their prayers to help me keep the sweet faith... the faith as a mustard seed. If you are out there in the cyber world reading this and wondering if you could have a story like mine, KEEP BELIEVING! Miracles really do come true if you believe in yourself and the God of miracles. I am forever grateful to Him for helping me find Search Quest America to answer my many prayers.

I have always believed that the love between two people creates a spirit, and that spirit is always with us no matter where we travel or what might happen in our lives; one must only look in the pool of their soul to see the reflection of that love. Some pursue happiness-others create it!! What are you waiting for to create your own happiness? Stop wondering what could happen if you took that leap of faith and just LEAP!! Someone will be there to catch you and it will surprise you how much you are loved and cherished even by people you have never met. Just believe that you are worth it and good things will come to you. I KNOW IT'S TRUE!!! Good luck on your journey. Love, Marianne

(Written by Marianne Graves).

Client ID# 258772

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From the time I was a little girl, I thought my father was dead. Worse than just being dead, I was told that he killed himself shortly after finding out my mother was pregnant with me. You can imagine the baggage that went along with that knowledge. I grew up thinking that my father was dead because of me, and that by being born I killed him.

I specifically recall an incident when I was about 7 years old. My mother was very angry with my sister and brother's dad. They were divorced and he and his family came to visit. That was the first time I realized that I was treated differently than my siblings. My relatives talked about me in hushed tones and I was sure they thought of me as a murderer. Little did I know that the reality could be even worse.

A few years ago, my grandmother went through a particularly difficult episode with Alzheimer's. One afternoon during a lucid moment, she drew me near and told me that my father was still alive and that I should find him. When I confronted my mother about it she got very angry and told me never to speak to her about "that man" again. Instead of dissuading me, it sparked my curiosity and I began searching for my father. All I knew was his name and approximate age, and that he was born somewhere in Texas.

I contacted Search Quest America at the beginning of December, and received a call back right before Christmas. Julie cautioned me to sit down, and then gave me news more shocking than I imagined--my father is alive today, but is serving a sentence in prison for a violent sexual assault against a child. I was speechless, and then began to cry. I was prepared to find out that he had died, but was totally blindsided by the news that my father is a criminal and an abuser. Suddenly the whispers and sad looks took on a whole new meaning and I realized that I am the child of a sex offender. Needless to say, this wasn't the Christmas gift I was hoping for.

Julie gave me a few days to think it over, and then provided me with information to contact my father's ex-wife, who still lives in Texas and could give me information about my siblings and other family members I may want to contact. So far, I still haven't done anything with it. What would I say? What would I write? It's just something I am trying to work out and I am taking each day one step at a time.

I have read plenty of stories from people who say it is better to know than always wonder about the truth. Personally I say that ignorance is bliss. Part of me wishes I had left the whole situation alone. Another part is grateful to be free of the guilt I have carried over the past 40 years thinking I killed my father just by being born. My family and friends have been very supportive in the whole ordeal, and I am grateful for that.

I guess all I am trying to say is that if there is anyone out there in my shoes trying to decide whether or not to search for a lost loved one, just think about it carefully. Take off the rose-colored glasses and consider the fact that your story might not have a happy ending. I'm not sure what I will do or if I will contact his family. For now I am just taking it one day at a time and trying to remember that I am not defined by my patronage, but by the decisions I make with my own life.

(Written by Mica Burton on Andrea's behalf.)

Client ID# 262347

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I have had a big hole in my heart for 43 years. I was only 18 when I got pregnant with Jeff--his father was out of the picture before I even knew I was pregnant, and when they found out about the baby I carried, my parents told me the best thing I could do was give him up for adoption. They arranged the adoption privately, and told me that he went to a wonderful home and that his parents were kind, generous people who would give him a good life. Even at 18, I knew he deserved to grow up in a stable family with a mother and father, and that was something I was powerless to provide for him. It was a heartbreaking time, and even as I grew up, got married, and had more children, I never got over my need to see my baby again and find peace in knowing I did the right thing.

Hiring Search Quest America was definitely the turning point in my search. It only took 30 days before Julie (my researcher) called to tell me she had found him. I thought I was prepared for the news, but suddenly I got cold feet and asked that she make the first contact on my behalf. She called me ecstatic a few hours later to report that not only was Jeff willing to reunite with me, but he was overjoyed that I had finally found him! Jeff and his mother have both thought about me over the years and they agreed years ago that if I ever showed up on their doorstep, they would welcome me into the family with open arms.

I am so grateful for Julie and her guidance in the whole process! Jeff and I both agreed that because of the professionalism of Search Quest of America every step seemed logical and right. We both always felt that you followed what we wanted, kept us calm and helped us get to the step of contact. Please let whomever at Search Quest you report to know that we are very, very happy. We will never be separated again and will be seeing each other again in March. This time my husband Greg and I are going to his neighborhood. Our families are thrilled and there was not one single problem or issue for any of them except when do we get to meet him?

We are very, very happy. Thank you all for helping to close the hole we've had in our hearts for a very long time. The best to you for the new year, ours certainly will be special!!

Sincerely,

Linda (and Jeff)

Client ID# 261844

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I was raised very Irish-American, even thought I am full Puerto Rican. Race was hard during my childhood. As I was growing up, my parents always told me, Your birth mother loved you, but we love you too. My parents always reminded me how grateful they were for my birth mother. She gave them their baby; their only daughter, their only child. They gave me a good life and they are wonderful parents, but they wouldn't be my parents if it hadn't been for her.

By the time I was a senior in High School, I was counting down the days til 18; counting day in, day out. I had recently found out that my uncle-in-law, brother-in-law of my adoptive mothers sister, was then and is now my birth grandparents' doctor. So I was waiting; waiting down to the minute, when I turned 18 to call and say, Hey Uncle! Im 18 now how bout that, uh, that numero. And I called my birth grandfather and it was amazing! By this time, I was already doing hardcore research on adoption for my senior paper and presentation. So each day that passes, I was more and more excited know that I was that much closer to meeting her.

My birth grandfather made it clear that my birth mother was in hard times but that she would contact me before my High School Graduation. Graduation came and went, first semester at college came and went, my 19th birthday came and went. Little did I know then that he never told my mother I was looking for her and wanted to connect with her.

My adoptive mother read this article in an 'All You' magazine and put on it on my stairs. For Sarrah, Love Mom, it said on the top. I saw it, thought nothing of it. I saw, I use my sixth sense to solve cases, and I thought, That's great she sees dead people. Cool, and I went on my way. Several days passed and my mom finally told me what the article was about and I ran upstairs to read it. That minute, I got online to check out Susan's website and within five minutes, my mom and I were on the phone, hiring Susan Friel-Williams to find my birth mother for me.

My mom was just as excited as myself. She said, I'll finally be able to tell her thank you, and I smiled and that was that. It was less than two weeks when I called Susan, informing her that I received the basic information packet sent to me. She already had found names, dates of birth, mailing addresses for my family and I was thrilled!!

My aunt, whose brother-in-law is the Dr., had moved and was living in this one area, now, for close to 10 years. My mom, myself, and my best friend had been traveling to her home near the beach for several years. My aunt, little did I know, is located 45 minutes from my birthmother. My best friend, Serena, and I met some marines at a club there, and their base is located in the same area in which my birthmother lives. Serena's boyfriend drove passed my birth mother's home to scope it out and told me what it looked like. Little did I know, my birth mother was watching from a neighbor's house and was ready to call the police. Oops! Ha ha, Ill never send him to do something like that ever again.

So I had written my birthmother a letter during my junior year in High School and decided to send it along with a new, updated letter. Susan suggested that I send it to my mother via UPS so that someone would have to sign for it; just in case they rented out or had moved. The day the letter arrived, she called me AND I MISSED THE CALL!! I called back the next day and 5:30ish PM and was on the phone with her until 1:30 the next morning. I found out I have four younger siblings! I went from being an only child to being the oldest of five! FIVE! Never in my life have I been so happy! I feel so complete. I have the support of my adoptive parents, grandmother, entire family and all of my friends, as well. They all know that no one will ever replace them, but also that I wouldnt be with them if not for her and her love for me to give me a better life than she could have given me. I have twenty years twenty years, of time to make up thats long enough for me!

Written by Sarrah in 2006


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I have been told by experts in the field that Suzette's case is "solveable." We have the adoption papers and the amended birth certificate with Suzannes adoptive parents names. We even have a copy of the original birth certificate with the birth mothers name. Yet even with all of this information, I had no idea what the next step was. That’s why I contactedSearch Quest America to guide me through the process step by step and help me find the answers for Suzanne before it was too late.

When I signed up and my case was assigned to Julie Jones, she warned me that I should be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. She also instructed me to be patient and work with her every step of the way. We kept in contact throughout the search, and we finally found the answers four months later.

Suzannes birth mother had been a housewife when Suzanne was born in 1946. She was conceived from an affair with a local law enforcement officer. The birth mother decided to give the baby up for adoption and did not meet any resistance from the birth father, whose name is Dennis. About five years ago, Suzannes mother came down with an undiagnosed illness and died shortly thereafter. However, Denis is still alive and when Julie called him to break the ice, he was overjoyed! I emailed him pictures of Suzanne right away and the first thing he said was "Suzanne has my mothers eyes."

The next day, Dennis called Suzanne and welcomed her warmly into the familyeven though he had never told a soul that he had another daughter. Suzanne is blessed to have 2 half-siblings, a brother and a sister. They have been in constant communication since the day they spoke for the first time. They exchanged photos, life stories, and their hopes and dreams for the future. For me it is so refreshing to see Suzanne with goals again for the first time in a while. I can't help but grin at the new spring in her step and I am grateful that I had a part in that.

One interesting fact that Dennis told me is that his mother had an undiagnosed illness before she died that sounds like Parkinson's and that is what Suzanne has. Also there was a history of MS on her side of the family in addition to a heart ailment which Suzanne was just recently diagnosed with. Not that it makes the situation any better, but it does give her some closure. We are developing a list of questions to see if we can determine the connection between Suzannes birth mother and adoptive mother. It appears that they may have known each and arranged the adoption privately. Both women have since passed away, but we are confident that they are looking down on all of us, happy that we have all found one another. Dennis is still trying to wrap his arms around this situation, but he has stepped up to the plate with ease and I am grateful that he has been so open. Meeting him was Suzannes final wish, but now she is looking forward to the future instead of dwelling in the past. Thank you so much Julie and SQA for your hard work! You performed a miracle for Suzanne and I thank you for blessing her with peace of mind. We are not sure what the next step is or where to go from here, but Suzette is leading the way and Dennis is following, so that is all we can ask for! Thanks again.

(Written by Mica Burton on JoAnns behalf.)

Client ID# 245381

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Yesterday, I packed 2 UPS boxes to go to my birth mother in Florida. One box has all my photo albums I want to share with her and my 2 sisters and extended family. One box has things just for Clarice (my birth mother), being my first baby shoes, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for my niece to have as a keepsake, a portrait my Mom (adoptive Mom and always Mom) had done when I was 3 or 4 years old that I'm the spitting image of my birth mom, school art and papers written including a paper I wrote when I was 10 about how special being adopted is, etc. I leave Friday 12/20 for Tampa, where they are picking me up for a short weekend where I can meet Clarice, Sherry, Gracie, and extended family.

My sisters and I are all 1/2 sisters. My younger sister looks just like me! No one can doubt that we are sisters. They are all "jean people," casual in dress, so it makes it easy to pack. My adoptive parents never owned a pair of blue jeans. I'm very much a jean girl...I knew there were "good genes" somewhere in her family! It is so amazing that aspects of my personality can actually be passed down genetically! I always thought my preference was a rebellion or something, but now I am discovering that it is just one of many quirks I have in common with my birth family!

The parallels are incredible. For instance, my mother played the flute in marching band...so did I. I was very much into horses, so was my younger sister. Everyone says I should have been a vet because of my rescues

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In May I received a call from Susan--she gave me some numbers and I called my birth mother for the first time. The first number I called there was no answer; the second number I called a guy picked up and I asked for my mom by name. Once he put her on the phone she asked me which Marisol was calling. I told her my last name and she recognized me. Everything after that was very emotional. We couldnt talk but were just so happy to hear from each other.

In June, I was able to travel to Chicago to see my mom. I was nervous and excited at the same time. It was a little weird but we had a great time. I got to see many of my family members, including my grandma, my aunt, my cousins, and my god parents. They had a dinner get together for everyone to come and see us. Now we keep in touch and talk almost everyday, sometimes twice a day. Now my God Parents are trying to find my dad. Hopefully one day I will be able to see him. I am happy I was able to find my family--it brings peace to many nightmares I had about my past and at the same time I can work on my genealogy, which is very important to me. I have already started getting info from my mom. I am very thankful to Susan! I looked for so many years and I did not find anything. I probably did not look hard enough but I am very grateful to Susan and I would do anything for her.

When I went to visit we stayed up late and my moms boyfriend was telling me that when his cell phone was ringing he was not going to pick it up and then he decided to answer the phone. He said he almost hung up on me, but just gave it to my mom. I am not sure if why he decided to answer the phone when he did not recognize the number, but I am thankful he did answer and gave the phone to my mom. Search Quest America has blessed my life so much, and I just want to say thank you. I am so happy everything worked out for the best!

(Written by Marisol Robinson.)

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Until very recently, I was living a happy life and going along with business as usual. I have always struggled with health problems, but I recently tested positive for the anti-nuclear antibody (ANI), which is the pre-cursor for Lupus; last week I was told that I have non-Hodgkins lymphoma and have only months left to live. I can't describe how way it feels to hear this news, but I can tell you that it is sobering and brings a clarity to life that I have never felt before. Suddenly I understand that what is most important in life is family and finding both my birth family and my daughter has become my life's ambition. I need to know where I came from and who I look like, and you at Search Quest America have been my guardian angels and made that happen for me.

You found my daughter in only a matter of days!! You put me in contact with members of my birth family after only a few weeks and instead of being filled with anguish and regret, each new day is a path of discovery as I come to know and love these individuals who will forever play leading roles in my story. You have not only brought peace to my life, but you have given Karen (my daughter) the opportunity to find the answers to her own questions. You have reunited generations of a broken family and I cannot possibly find words to express my gratitude for your kindness and your service to me. For the first time in several months I feel like I have something to live for, and that is a gift no one else could have given me.

When I first decided to search, I was full of fears. I was worried I would be ripped off or misled or otherwise mistreated and I wasn't sure I could handle more heartache in my life. On the contrary, you took my case as an "angel case" and solved it without a penny of compensation, without notoriety or a big production or even an audience. These are the acts of kindness that weave the threads of heaven and I want you to know that to me, you truly are angels. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me and wish you much success and happiness in your future, both professional and personal. Please take a lesson from me--in your final hour you will find that the successes and failures of life blend together and in the end, all that matters is being surrounded by those you love. Thank heaven for second chances!

(Written by Mica Burton on Samantha's behalf.)

Client ID# 265902

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This year is a little bit different because Chelsea is not a child anymore--she is 19 years old. She has grown into a beautiful young woman but has been struggling with difficult questions in the recent years. Chelsea knows that the man who raised her is not her biological father. She knows she was conceived from a brief relationship I had with her birth father while we worked together in a restaurant in Milwaukee. Over the years she has asked questions about him and I am have done my best to answr honestly, though I am embarrassed to say that I really know very little about him. His name was Robert and he worked part time at the restaurant and full time as a computer technician and I can remember him showing me pictures of his beautiful children--a son about 14 years old and a daughter about 4. He was estranged from his wife when we met, and our relationship ended when he got back together with her. He never knew I was pregnant, and I made the choice to walk away from the situation rather than disrupt his marriage. I am not proud of the past, but I have never regretted the miracle that brought Chelsea into my life. I have always felt that honesty was important in our relationship, and I have not kept any secrets from her.

This year for her Christmas gift, Chelsea asked for something out of the ordinary--she asked me to find her birth father. At first, I was shocked by the request and a bit taken aback when I realized she was serious. We sat down and cried together as she opened up and shared her struggle to find her true identity without knowing her father or her half-siblings. We talked about the best and worst case scenarios and to her credit, Chelsea understands that this search may turn out badly. Robert may not acknowledge her as his child or may not even remember me. But together we decided that for Chelsea's peace of mind, it is better to know one way or another.

After doing some research on the internet, I decided to contact Search Quest America. They put me at ease right away and assured me that cases like mine are solved every day. They let me know up front that the search could take 6 months or more, might be un-solveable, might end in rejection, or that Robert may even be deceased. I appreciated their honesty and immediately felt that Search Quest America is a company I could trust.

I was not disappointed!! My case was solved in only 4 days. Julie Jones is a genius and she tracked down Robert living in Oakland, California living with a friend of a friend. I still don't have any idea how she did it since Robert doesn't own a home or have a phone number published in his name. I didn't have an exact birth date or social security number. Julie used his family members and known associates and found him through the grapevine. When she called to give me the news, I asked to make the first phone call myself. I thought it was only fair that I face him for the first time to tell him I have been keeping a secret from him for 19 years.

Thankfully, Robert remembered me. In fact, he did not deny being Chelsea's father, but asked if he could meet her. I am overwhelmed by the fact that against all odds, I have been able to give my daughter the most memorable Christmas gift of all--the chance to know her father, and in so doing, discover herself. I have arranged for Robert to call on Christmas morning and I am nervous, but SO excited to see how it all turns out. My husband has been supportive every step of the way, and I could not ask for a better experince. Thanks so much to SQA for helping me make this Christmas the best ever for my little girl!

(Written by Mica Burton on Patricia's behalf.)

Client ID# 261445

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My father was married and had children. I am not sure how many but I am told that I am one of the youngest. My father's wife knew about my mother and I and they wanted us to stay with them. My mother refused. However, my mother has told me he is a good man and that I had seen him only once in my life in January of 1991. I was only a couple months old and don't have any memories of him. We met him at Corrugated Replacements Inc. and my mother said he held me and walked me around the company. She said I looked just like him then. I have always wondered who he is and how he is and how many other siblings I have. I need to know his side of the story since I have only known one side. Even though my father has not been in my life up to this point I am hoping that maybe if I could just finally meet him and fully understand what happened nineteen years ago I can finally feel at peace. I have tried before to find him and didn't have any luck. It was just a few months ago when I was talking to my boyfriend about how I wanted to find my father and he encouraged me to start looking. It is my dream to have my father in my life. I want him to see who I have become and learn all there is to know about what I have never known about him and myself. Someday I want to walk down the aisle with him by my side, thats every little girls dream.

In fact, I know I might be dreaming all around since theres no guarantee that he will want to meet me. But somehow I just know that I need to find him and that the time has come in my life where I need to know where I come from. I am mature enough that I can accept a complex situation, but I cant sit around anymore waiting for him to find me. Its time to act.

I contacted Search Quest America on December 11, 2009. My case was assigned to Julie Jones and I still cant believe it, but she found him in less than 48 hours. I got the call on December 13, 2009 in the morning. Julie said, "are you sitting down? I have some news for you," and then she told me what I have been waiting to hear my whole life, "I found your father, and he wants to talk to you. Write down this number" For the first half hour after getting the news, I was in total shock. All of a sudden I couldnt think of a thing to say to him. Julie told me that he has 2 girls and a boy (23, 21, and 18) from one wife, and he recently got remarried and had another 2 kids, both under the age of 5. All I could think when Julie told me that was that I have siblings! I have a father who wants to meet me!

My first conversation with him was actually more relaxed than I expected. When I heard his voice for the first time, my anxiety melted away and I found myself chatting easily about my family, my interests, my plans for the future, etc. I am so grateful that thanks to SQA he will get to be a part of my future and a grandfather to my children. Thank you so much SQA, you solve my case SO fast and I couldnt ask for a better beginning!

(Written by Mica Burton on Victoria's behalf.)

Client ID#258059

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I tried to find his biological parents by going through all the proper channels. We went through the County of Los Angeles Department of children and family services, but had no luck. What they did was send us a letter stating when they first met his birth mother and that was March 2, 1959.They said her pregnancy was secret. It was a private adoption. His birth mother was German, French, Dutch and they think his birth father was English. The birth mother had a brother and sister. She was 14 and he was 17. At the end of the letter they noted that Law permitting meetings between adult adoptees and natural parents was vetoed by Gov. Brown and no such meetings were possible. This letter was dated 10/02/97.

All these facts are black and white, but on a personal level I know my husband would love to know his birth mother and father if possible. He tried to find them in 1976 and basically he had the same response I got. I am just a woman who wants a new beginning and a chance at life for her husband. Finding Louis biological parents is not just a search for piece of mind, it is a search for concrete answers that will help the doctors save his life.

Thats why I contacted Search Quest America. I had already exhausted all of my own efforts and I knew it was time to trust a professional. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and she found Louis birth mother within 48 hours of our first conversation.

When Julie first told Sharon who she was and that Louis was searching for her, she declined contact. She said that the pregnancy was a distant memory that she had never shared with her husband and children, and she preferred not to rock the boat by making contact with Louis. Thankfully, Julie was persistent. She explained that Louis is dying and he has a wife and family who depend on him. She convinced Sharon that information about her medical background could make all the difference and be the key to saving Louis life. Finally, Sharon agreed to speak with me in secret, without Louis knowledge, and speak with Louis doctors regarding her medical history.

I am still in shock at how things turned out. Of course, I could not keep the secret from Louis for long, and it broke my heart to tell him that his birth mother loves him enough to want to save his life, but is not willing to talk with him, even once, over the phone. I personally am torn between gratitude that she provided medical information and anger that she was unwilling to provide the most important medicine-love and reassurance that Louis was, and has always been loved by the woman who gave him life. I think that as Sharon ponders over her decision, she will reconsider and invite Louis to be a part of her life. I just hope she comes around quickly because none of us know how much time Louis has left.

One of the lessons I have learned from this situation is that there are many factors in life that I cannot control. I cant bring Louis back to good health. I cant make the mass in his brain go away. I cant force Sharon to open her heart to Louis and take the time to answer his questions, I cant even guarantee that my children will grow up with a mother and father at home. In this uncertain situation, I am so glad that I did the right thing and trusted SQA to take our case. Their services were something I could count on, and both Louis and I learned so much in the process of the search that I would not change it for anything in the world. Thanks SQA for all your help and for helping a bad situation be more tolerable for everyone involved. You are all life savers!

(Written by Mica Burton on Charity and Louis behalf.)

Client ID#263907

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I have finally come to a point in my life where I can look back at my past with frankness and honesty. I can admit that I made mistakes and that in many ways I was a victim as well. I can make a conscious choice to stop punishing myself for circumstances that are beyond my control. I can sit down and have an adult conversation with my sons and let them know that somewhere in the world they have a brother.

Surprisingly, they took it very well. In fact, they are the reason I decided to take the plunge and search for my son. Rather than judging my past or calling me a hypocrite for the morals I tried to instill in them, they simply moved forward ready to welcome a new member of the family. I had been quietly doing research on the internet over the past several months and decided that if anyone could find my son, it would be SSearch Quest America. My cases was assigned to Linda Strength, who contacted me right away to verify my information and get started on the case.

My first phone call with Linda was on the seventh day of November, and she called me on the 1st of December to tell me she had found my son. I was prepared to wait months, perhaps even a year for the results of the search, so I was shocked to receive an answer so quickly. I instructed Linda to make first contact, and it felt like I was walking on eggshells waiting for her to report back. I was thrilled when she called to report that Adam's sons name is Adam!! He is excited to meet me and his half brothers. Words cannot describe the joy in my heart and the peace I have found since learning that Adam is healthy, happy, educated, and successful. I know now that I made the right choice for him as well as for myself, and I am grateful that he will let me into his life to share his successes and triumphs. Thanks so much to Linda and SQA for solving the case so quickly! I could never have done it without you. May you continue to bless the lives of many others as you have blessed mine!

(Written by Mica Burton on Marys behalf.)

Client ID# 228847

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I have decided that I deserve the right to know my true birth father. What keeps me up at night is the fear that when I find him, he may be unwilling to meet me because of my life choices. Yet I wonder if there are family members out there looking for me. I wonder if I may even have met them on the street without knowing it. This doesn't eat at me all the time, but it is always there, I feel like there is a part of me missing. I'm getting to the age that it is quite possible that he has passed away, but I still want to try.

I have written to every talk show and reality tv show out there, including Oprah, Maury, Montel, and Steve Lasko, and none of them even replied to my emails. These rejections left me feeling alone and insignificant. Finally I found the website for Search Quest America and after spending time reading through testimonials and success stories and employee bios, I had a good feeling about the company and really felt like I could trust them. Those feelings were confirmed from my first conversation. I spoke with Linda and she helped me feel validated by really listening to what I had to say. She reassured me that my case was solve-able and offered all the resources I needed to put the pieces together.

My case was assigned to Julie Jones and it was solved in only 5 days! I never expected it to happen that fast! And even though I watched reunion after reunion played out on TV, I wasnt prepared for the powerful emotions I felt when Julie told me she had found him and was planning to make contact that night. I kept busy scrubbing my house and doing laundry until finally I got the call.

When Julie explained who she was, my father simply said, "Im gonna be honest with you maam. I was a partier back then and I dont remember that womans name, but anythings possible, so I aint gonna deny it. Id be happy to meet her if thats what youre asking." I spoke with my father, whose name is Chuck, that same evening and it turns out we have more in common than I ever imagined. He has accepted me for who I am and we look forward to getting together before the end of the year to meet in person. I set out on this journey because I wanted to have a life-changing experience, and SQA really came through for me. I thank you all for your hard work and for being true to your reputation! I knew I could trust you, and you didnt let me down. Thank you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Shelleys behalf.)

Client ID# 237194

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I decided to contact Search Quest America one Tuesday afternoon when I was going through some old documents left by my adoptive mother when she passed away. She wrote me a letter and in that letter she let me know that "the time will come when you have the desire, even a need to search out your birth parents. Please know that you have my blessing. If I dont live to meet the woman who gave birth to you, please give her a hug from me and thank her for giving me the joy of motherhood. If Im not here to hold your hand on that day, Ill help you from heaven." I didnt realize until that moment that I had been somehow waiting for her blessing all along. I wept over her letter and then I did what she taught me to doI got up and went to work.

I contact Search Quest America on October 2nd and my case was assigned to Patricia Lawrence. I received a voicemail on October 4th while I was at church. Patty said she had found my birth mother and that I should check my email and then call her as soon as possible. With trembling fingers, I pulled up my email account and read the following:

"Good morning! I thought I would get this off to you before I left to run errands today. I will be home later this afternoon, but this is what I have found so far. I am 95% certain that I have the right family, according to your non-id. It appears that birth mom's family came from Louisiana and settled in California. I find her siblings as: Andrew, Mildred, Mary, John, Pearl, Geraldine, Evelyn, Henry, Velma, Lucy, and Sharon. Your birth mothers name is Genevive (goes by Jennie).

Jennie married Claude in 1954 and she had several children, including Claudell, Michael, Donald and Anthony. Their son Donald is deceased, but both Jenny and Claude are alive and well. Both of them and the majority of your half siblings are in the Bay area living just a few miles from you!!! Call me back so we can talk about the details!"

I called Patty in shock, not just because she was able to find my birth family so quickly, but because I actually recognized some of the names of my half siblings. My daughter actually goes to school with her first cousins. A few months ago I hired a painter to paint my house, and he turned out to be my half-brother! I have actually met my birth mother on several occasions as we have planned school functions and I am shocked to say that I never noticed a resemblance or had any inkling that we were related in any way. I have heard about crazy situation like this on TV, but I never expected that when Patty found my birth family, they would be my neighbors and friends. Thank you so much to Patty and SQA for solving this mystery for me. I really do feel like my mom helped from heaven, and Im grateful to have all the pieces and the joy of knowing who I am and where I come from.

(Written by Mica Burton on Sonyas behalf.)

Client ID# 236083

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I first contacted Search Quest America in September looking for my sisters birth family. I was the oldest daughter in our family, and when my parents were unable to have more children, they adopted my sister, Susan. I have always seen our family as a close-knit, happy bunch, but Susan has always felt a little out of place. As a teenager she used to lament the fact that in a family of fair-eyed, fair-skinned people, she was the only one with dark hair and eyes. She used to hate the shape of her nose and wonder about her nationality. As she grew into adulthood, she worried what might lurk in her medical history that could cause complications for her children and grandchildren. Today, she is about to turn 60 and she has never had any contact with any of her birth relatives. We have thought about searching for them many times over the years, but we never knew where to start, except with her birth name, Jo Ann Howard.

Once we decided to pursue the search, we followed the advice of a friend and contacted Search Quest America. I was contacted a few days later by my researcher, Julie Jones. She walked us through the process of requesting additional information from the state of California, including Susans original birth certificate. This gave us her original birth date, October 9, 1048. This also gave us her birth mothers name, and we were excited to learn that Susan's birth mother's surname is very unusual. After all, how hard could it be to find someone with an uncommon last name?

Julie was able to find short list of individuals by the same name and age in our country. From there, it was an arduous process of elimination to track down Susans birth mother. Julie wrote letter after letter, sent email after email, made phone call after phone call methodically until she crossed off all the names on the list except one. Through the whole process we held our breaths and followed Julies instructions.

As we got closer and closer to the end of the list, Susan surprised me by getting cold feet. She started to think about what would happen when she actually found her birth mother. She was worried that she might be deceased, or worse not have any desire to make contact with Susan, even by phone. She worried that she might not want to know the circumstances behind her birth. What if the pregnancy resulted from rape or abuse? What if her birth mother was a felon, a con-artist, or just a bad person? It took some convincing, but I persuaded Susan to press on for just a little while longerwe had not come all this way to quit just before the finish line.

Finally, on a Tuesday morning, we received a phone call from Julie. She had discovered the whereabouts of Susans birth mothera cemetery in Victoria, Texas. Susans birth mother died at an early age from unknown causes, and without even an obituary in the paper. The trail goes cold at this point with no records of living relatives, no evidence that she ever married or had other children, not even a cause of death.

When Susan received the news she let out a deep sigh and I saw the emotions run across her facedisappointment, relief, curiosity, sadness, tears, and finally peace. Julie assured us that the search wasnt overshe would continue searching for a blood relative who could provide more information and she would not rest until Susan had the answers she was looking for. We talked about it for hours and in the end, Susan actually decided to end the search. She had the most important piece of the puzzle. She knew her mothers name, knew that she had no siblings, and she knew that her birth mother was deceased without a close living relative. For Susan, this was enough.

After the disappointment passed she realized that she already knows who she is--she is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend to tangible people who have been by her side every day of her life. She doesnt need to meet her birth mother or father to define her personality or identity. At the end of the day she is happy with who she is. I could not possibly be more proud of her. This journey took many twists and turns, but Susan came out on top a stronger person for all of it. Thank you SQA for walking us through every step of the way and helping us search out the answers to Susans life-long questions. In the end, she discovered that everything she needed was already inside her, and that is a lesson all of us can learn.

(Written by Mica Burton on Lindas behalf.)

Client ID# 225599

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Over the years she told us all kinds of stories about him. She had me believing that he was an ex-con, a bigamist, a liar, and a cheat. She told us we were better off without him and that he would only hurt us if he found out where we lived. For a few years, I was actually afraid of him and thought of him more as the bogey man than my dad.

As an adult I can understand that her purpose in telling these stories was to put our questions to rest and discourage us from idealizing him or seeking him out as we grew older. In fact, as I matured I began to question her version of my history and I wondered if any of the things she told me about him were true. I never received a birthday card or Christmas gift, but I wondered if she kept them from us out of spite. She refused to tell us anything about him or provide solid names or old addresses. I thought about finding him many times over the years, but did not want to be disloyal to her in any way or risk tarnishing our relationship to chase a ghost. I decided to respect her wishes for the time being, but in the back of my mind I planned to search for him when she passed away.

My mother has been gone for about a year now, and my siblings and I feel that the time has come to seek out our father. I hired Search Quest America after thoroughly researching the companys background. I asked hard questions about success rates, contacted the Better Business Bureau, and did all my homework before taking the plunge.

My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and to my disbelief, I received a call back only 19 days after the search began. The news was bittersweet--Julie found my father, but he died of cancer in 2002. She contacted every known relative and associate and was able to put me in touch with my father's brother, my uncle Charles. Of course, we are all disappointed that we did not have the opportunity to meet our father in person, but we are grateful for the opportunity to get to know him vicariously through the riotous stories our Uncle Charles tells about him.

It turns out that my father was a good man. He served in the navy for many years and though he certainly had a temper, he was never involved in any of the crimes or schemes our mother mentioned over the years. He and my mother had a falling out and she picked up and left one day with us kids and never returned. They were never married and he did not have the resources to find her. He thought she would simply come back when she was ready, and he eventually moved on with his life, was remarried, and had 4 more sons of his own. Uncle Charles tells us that he thought about us throughout our lives, especially on our birthdays. To his dying day, his biggest regret in life was losing touch with us, and he would be so happy to know that we found our way back to the family after all was said and done.

Do I have regrets? Sure I do. I wish I had searched sooner or pressed my mother for her blessing while she was alive. I would have loved to meet my dad, but I am content with having photographs and finally knowing that I look like someone. Meeting my brothers is an obvious perk, and whats more, I can finally fill in my family tree with names and faces. My siblings and I want to thank the people at SQA for keeping their promises and helping us find the answers we have needed for so long! We will definitely refer your services to our friends and neighbors--even complete strangers if need be--to help others on their own paths of self-discovery. Just send them our way and we will tell them our story. In the mean time, best of luck to you and yours this Holiday Season and may the coming year be filled with lots more cases solved and families reunited!

(Written by Mica Burton on Scott's behalf.)

Client ID# 261478

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"Marsha, I love you. If you are reading this letter, it means my time has come and you find yourself wound tightly in grief. I want you to know that you have been greatest joy of my life--I have so loved watching you grow and mature into the beautiful woman you are today. I thank you for being such a wonderful daughter and friend these many years. You will miss our afternoon chats and warm hugs, but I hope above all you will remember that you had a mother who loved you deeply and prayed for you always.

I have pondered long and hard on the decisions I have made throughout my life, and there is one that has pained me since your childhood that I feel you should know. Marsha, you are not an only child. When your father was killed you were only five years old. It was a very dark time in my life, and during that time I conceived a baby boy from an affair. I was ashamed of my pregnancy and went to Austin to stay with friends and deliver the baby. Perhaps you remember how Sharon used to bake cookies with you in the afternoons while I napped. One thing you will not remember is that I carried the baby to term and he was delivered by cesarean on a quiet afternoon July 3, 1948. The doctor arranged the adoption to a professor by the last name of Martin. I held your brother for just a few minutes before they took him away, and I have never spoken of him since. This will no doubt come as a great surprise to you, but I hope you will be able, in time, to forgive me. I have born this heartbreak silently for many years, but you are a far braver woman than I have ever been. Should you decide to search him out, you have my blessing. Please tell him that he had a mother who loved him enough to let him go."

When I read this letter my reaction was shock. I remember living in Austin as a child, but I truly have no recollection of my mother's pregnancy--not even a hospital stay or an illness of any kind. She never once alluded to having another child or loving any man besides my father. I could not imagine my mother having an affair, let alone having a child out of wedlock. After pondering the letter for a few days, I decided to take action and fulfill my mother's wishes that I find my brother. I contacted Search Quest America and my case was solved by Julie Jones in only 2 weeks.

I was hopeful that I might get the opportunity to meet my brother and become friends. However, Michael passed away in November of 2005. He is survived by his ex-wife and 2 estranged children, all living in Colorado today. They tell me that he simply collapsed on the bathroom floor one morning, and the cause of death was a fatty liver. Sadly, I will not have the opportunity to meet my brother in person in this life. I will never be able to take him in my arms and tell him about the remarkable woman who gave us life. But after all is said and done, I am grateful to know the truth. I only wish I had learned it sooner so that I might have met Michael.

To all those individuals who are in my shoes and deciding whether or not to search for their lost loved ones, I urge you to take advantage of the opportunity right now, while you can. Once the opportunity vanishes, it is impossible to retrieve. Don't wait another moment or it may be too late!

(Written by Mica Burton on Marshas behalf.)

Client ID# 238742

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As far as information goes, all we know is that her name is Candice Tubman. Her birthday is in March of 1979 and her home town is Akron, Ohio. She was never married to Cornelious but was the mother of his children. Her mother's name is Vivian Rivers and she lived in Las Vegas. Candice has two brothers named Lawrence and Michael. At one time she was married to a man named Clarence and had a daughter with him named Nautica, who would be 13 years old today.

I never thought that would be enough information to solve the case, but Julie proved me wrong. She solved the case in only 3 weeks! What I loved most about the whole experience is that she kept in touch with me every step of the way, letting me know as she made progress and even as she hit dead ends. The breakthrough in the case finally came when Julie ran across the obituary for Candice's step-father, Eugene, who passed away this past September. This obituary led Julie to Candice's half-sister Jasmine. Julie emailed Jasmine, and said the following:

"Hi, Jasmine. First of all, I'd like to say I'm so sorry about the death of your father. While looking for Candice, I came across your dad's obituary which lead me to you. I am a private investigator who was hired by Candice's son's paternal aunt to locate her for them. Her kids would really love to have their Mom back in their lives. Hilary wanted me to emphasize that this has nothing to do with child support or money, just the need for her nephews to know their mom. They are willing to pay for a plane ticket for Candice to go visit her sons, or for them to visit her. I have attached photos of the boys, and as you can see they are wonderful! Do you have any contact with her or her Mom, Vivian? If you could either write back, call me or forward this message to Candice, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much and, again, I'm so sorry for your loss!"

After receiving this message, Jasmine called Candice and put us in touch with one another. We never talked about what happened that caused her to leave, we simply focused on the future and what is best for the boys. Candice is going to be coming out at Thanksgiving to surprise the boys, and I am grateful for the part I have played in putting them back together again. Thanks SQA and especially Julie for making this whole thing possible! May you continue to bless the lives of others as you have blessed ours!

(Written by Mica Burton on Hilary's behalf.)

Client ID# 258774

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Betty still aches for him, and we both find ourselves somber on holidays and special occasions, especially his birthday. As each Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner passes by with the rest of the family nearby, someone inevitably says "we're all here, lets eat!" and I watch my wife bow her head quietly remembering that we are not all here as a family should be, and we haven't been for many years now. We have often talked about life after death and we imagine heaven to be like a banquet table laid out for the holiday. Betty often says that she won't stand for any empty chairs and that it is time to put aside our wounded pride and not only forgive our son, but plead for his forgiveness in return. We want to know what kind of man he has become and if he ever settled down with a family of his own. We know that he has lived everywhere from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts, that he has been married and divorced. He used to work for a cable company but we have no idea what career he settled on or even if he is still alive.

We contacted Search Quest America to solve this mystery for us once and for all. We were not disappointed. In only 24 days our researcher, Julie Jones, called to tell us that she had found John living in Colonial Heights, Virginia. He gave Julie permission to give us his email address only, not his phone number.

That night my wife and I sat down at the computer to draft a letter to our prodigal son. How does one begin that conversation after years of silence? We wrote, "Son, we love you. We miss you. I was foolish to be so hard on you all those years ago. It is time to put aside our differences and be a family once again. Your mother still prays for you every night and I have regretted my harsh words almost since the day they were spoken. Your mother is ill and her greatest wish is that she may see you again before it is too late--please call. We love you. I love you."

John called a few days later and we wept together. He is planning to come home for the holidays and bring his lovely family with him. I am proud of the man he has become and have recommitted myself to never let the sun set on my anger. Pride cost me too many years with my son and grandchildren, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to make amends. Thank you for giving me that opportunity. We could not have done it without you.

(Written by Mica Burton on Bob's behalf.)

Client ID# 258357

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When I started this journey I had no idea how much a search like this would cost, or if I could even trust any company with this kind of dream. One day as I was talking with my mom, I found out that my dad had a son before me named Dakota. How could I have gone my entire life without ever knowing I have a brother? What if I passed him on the street or watched a football game he played in or something? Not knowing where my father went or who my brother is drives me crazy, so I decided that I would pursue the search for better or for worse.

I am so relieved to say that hiring SQA was the right decision! They were up front and honest with me from the very start, no tricks at all. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and she was so patient in answering all of my questions and walking me through the search one step at a time. There were ups and downs along the way. The most bitter moment of the search was when Julie found an obituary that appeared to be my father's. The man was the right age and had lived in the right town and I was heartbroken to think that my father may have passed away only in July of this year. Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm, and my father (whose name is identical to the man who died) is still alive and well and living in Indiana.

Julie found him by contacting a friend of a friend who agreed to give him a message. I am told that when he first heard that I was looking for him, he was shocked and didn't know what to say. He was worried that I might be angry at him, but when he called me a few days later, both our fears melted away and we got off to the start of a great relationship. It turns out that he is American Indian, which helps me understand not only my facial features and complexion, but my cultural heritage as a person. I am just beginning to get the answers I was searching for and I am so grateful for all of your help! If I have any friends who are also searching for their lost loved ones, I will definitely recommend your services. You have all been wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

(Written by Mica Burton on Jasmyn's behalf.)

Client ID# 229542

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Now I am left to wonder how my life would have been different if I had been raised with my biological father in my life. I set out on a search to find him and one day I found the phone number for a Frederick Budge living in Reynoldsburg, Ohio whom I believe to be his brother. I contacted him and he gave me the impression that the two of them were estranged because they did not keep in touch. Or maybe all of this was too much to take, and he was just protecting his brother. I know it sounds strange, but I do not want anything from himI just want know where I come from. No, I need to know who I am! This is more than a mid-life crisis, I have to find out where I come from so I can make sense of where I'm going. I feel like my whole life was a lie, and I prefer the truth no matter how painful.

I contacted Search Quest America to find answers. My case was assigned to Julie Jones and in only 30 days she had the answers I was searching for. She tracked down my father's brother, and even his neighbors. She finally got in touch with a neighbor named Jesse in Orlando. She is still in touch with my father Clyde, who goes by Tom and lives in Orlando with his wife Christy. She took all the info and agreed to pass a message along to him.

Julie tells me that when she finally got in touch with Tom and Christy, they were jumping up and down excited! Tom was thrilled to learn about me and in the weeks that followed, he has introduced me with pride to members of the family. I wouldn't wish this whole ordeal on anyone--it hasn't been pleasant to learn that I was lied to as a child and into adulthood, but at the same time I wouldn't trade this opportunity to know the truth for anything in the world. I am so grateful for Search Quest America for bringing me peace of mind and helping me discover where I come from. Its a great new beginning!

(Written by Mica Burton on Thomas' behalf.)

Client ID# 257887

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A friend of mine suggested that I hire a private investigator to find him, but I imagined that the search would be way out of my budget. As a family, we decided to contact Search Quest America to see what could be done. Our case was assigned to Marilyn Rose and we held our breath hoping for the best. We were so surprised when she called us just over a week later to tell us she had found him. Imagine! I spent 30 years searching for him and it only took Search Quest America 10 days to find him. I am so grateful that we decided to ask for professional help because it made all the difference.

I am so proud of Mark--he turned out to be a wonderful young man, educated, with a promising career and a beautiful family. When I saw a picture of him for the first time I wept with the resemblance. Seeing him is like having my son back again. I am so grateful to be a great-grandmother and to close the family circle around Mark and his family. As much as I wanted to find him and truly believed that it would bring closure to his life, I have not yet begun to understand how this search has effected Mark. Throughout his life his mother has been reluctant to discuss any aspect of his father's life. She remarried and went on to live a full life, but Mark has always had a hole in his heart wondering about his father and his family. Learning that he has always been loved and missed has filled that emptiness and helped him feel good about himself. He knows now that he won't repeat the mistakes his father made because they weren't mistakes at all. His absence was not his choice and was not Mark's fault--it was a simply a tragedy. I feel like our family is complete for the first time in 30 years and I owe it all to Search Quest America. I know that this is exactly what my son would have wanted. Thank you!!

(Written by Mica Burton on Kathryn's behalf.)

Client ID# 258108

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My mother was relatively easy to find because she has lived in the same place nearly her entire life. However my brother Michael James proved to be a much more difficult challenge. 12 years ago he dealt with our family's challenges in a different way--by finding approval and friendship on the streets. That led to a life of misdemeanors, felonies, and drugs. My mother hasn't seen her son in 9 years and doesn't know whether he is alive or dead, leading a happy life settled down with his family or rotting in a prison cell somewhere. There is a part of me, however small, that doesn't want to know. But after all this time, I think I am ready to see my brother again and put the past behind me.

Search Quest America was just the team I needed to bring my search to an end. Julie Jones was my researcher. All I have to say is that her skills are exceptional and she solved my case in record time. She found my brother living in Jacksonville, Florida. He has a lengthy criminal record, mostly misdemeanors, but he served his time and recently put his life back on track. He even has a family of his own. Julie called to tell me she had found him on a Thursday. She asked me if I wanted to call him myself, but I was too nervous, so she agreed to break the ice for me. Michael called me a few days later and we have talked every day since. I honestly don't know if we will ever get to be best friends, however. There are so many things that have happened in the past to leave deep scars for both of us. But I couldn't let another day pass without doing my part to make amends. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to put my brother and my mom back in touch. I watched her weep tears of joy when she spoke with him again for the first time. That makes it all worth it. Thanks for your help!

(Written by Mica Burton on Stacy's behalf.)

Client ID# 257879

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Everyone I spoke with at the company was not only helpful, but genuinely interested in helping me find answers. It seemed like everyone was somehow personally invested in helping me find my father, and I was reassured by their compassion and empathy for my situation.

My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and it only took 27 days before it was solved. When I started this whole process, I was hoping to meet my father and form some kind of relationship with him. I was speechless when Julie called to tell me that she found him, but he passed away in May of 2006. She found out that his birthday was March 24 and that he died on May 31 of 2006 in a car accident. He and his family were living in Chicago at the time. His wife's name is Dorothy and to my surprise, I learned that I have two siblings, Porcha and Robin. When I got all this information, I had such mixed feelings. Of course it is a joy to learn that I have siblings, but it is heartbreaking to learn that I waited too long to search and lost out on the opportunity to know my father.

Julie was able to put me in contact with his family and so far it has been a positive experience getting to know them slowly over the internet and by phone. The reason I decided to come forth with my story is to teach others the valuable lesson I learned. If you have someone that you have lost touch with or never knew, don't wait as long as I did to start searching. Don't waste time and energy and hopes trying to find them on your own. Hire a professional company with licensed investigators who will get the job done in a timely manner. I can't help but wonder what would have happened if I had decided to hire Search Quest America 5 years ago. I would have had the opportunity to know my father, and that would have been worth ten times what I paid for my search. Please take my advice and search for your father/mother/sibling TODAY. You won't be able to find a more professional, compassionate, or legitimate company out there, so make the phone call today!

(Written by Mica Burton on Mike's Behalf.)

Client ID#260369

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Looking back, it is hard to imagine myself writing that email. On the one hand I was so nervous that I was wasting my time and money contacting Search Quest America, but something told me this was a company I could trust. I am so glad I did! I am 23 years old and for the last 10 years or so I have had an ache in my heart when I think about my birth parents. All I know is that I was born in Oklahoma City, daughter of Gayle Point and James Dair. I have no idea how old they were or what motivated them to put me up for adoption. Throughout my life I have gone through stages where I have alternated between anger and resentment at them for giving me away and gratitude for the wonderful opportunities I was given through my adoptive family. They have always loved me, but that love has not filled the hole in my heart or given me answers about who I am or where I come from.

I know it sounds cheesy, but Search Quest America was literally the answer to my prayers. My case was assigned to Julie Jones and I actually read stories about her on this website when I heard that she was assigned to be my researcher. I never imagined that she would solve my case in the time period mentioned by other people, but I got a call back from her three weeks after we first spoke. She had found my birth mother living in Las Vegas and my birth father living in Houston. She left a message for my birth mother and got a hold of my birth father right away.

The day I first heard my birth father's voice was October 27, 2009. The first thing he said to me was, "I've been hoping you would call me some day." All at once I was filled with warmth and love and knew that even from a world away, my birth father has thought about me and cared about me. He told me all about how he met my birth mother and the reasons they decided to give me up for adoption. He encouraged me to write a letter to my birth mother, which I did. I am still waiting to hear back from her, but I couldn't wait to tell my story and tell everyone out there what a blessing it is to have found this company that actually delivers on its promises. This whole experience totally exceeded my expectations, and I know there are even more happy surprised to come. Thanks so much to SQA and Julie--you really have changed my life for the better!

(Written by Mica Burton on Casey's behalf.)

Client ID#257875

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About a month ago Thomas turned 18 and came to me asking hard questions about his father and his heritage. I don't know the answers to his questions--all I know is that Mylo was headed down the wrong path and I wanted to spare both of us the heartache of going with him. That isn't enough for Thomas. He wants to know the whole truth. He wants to know who his father is today and whether or not he has half brothers and sisters. And I suppose the time has come that I need to answer those questions for him.

I decided that the best way to find answers for Thomas is by hiring Search Quest America to locate Mylo. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, who solved it in less than 30 days. As she tracked down one clue after another, she ran into individuals who warned us to stay away. One of Mylo's old drinking buddies told Julie, "he's a rough character with a checkered past and maybe its best not to find him." Even this report did not change Thomas' mind, so we persisted. Julie eventually found him working as a ranch hand in Buffalo, Montana. He recently got out of jail for assault during a bar fight, and didn't have a valid phone number or other means of contacting him. Julie put me in touch with Mylo's ex-wife Cheryl, who put us in touch with Mylo for the first time.

We are planning to meet him in person at the end of November and I am grateful to give Thomas the opportunity to meet his father and ask him all the questions he has stored away in the back of his mind. I have finally come to the realization that I cannot keep the two of them apart, and even if I could, it wouldn't be worth the resentment Thomas would eventually harbor towards me. I am not sure how the whole story will play out, but I am thankful that we searched and thankful to Search Quest America for making Thomas' reunion possible. Thomas cant wait to met his half siblings and I am anxious to see how everything turns out. Even if everything blows up in my face, I am happy I kept my promise to my son.

(Written by Mica Burton on Suzzet's behalf.)

Client ID# 249842

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I contacted Search Quest America in May and at first, I kept it a secret. I didn't want my dad to dissaprove. As it turned out, his input was the key that unlocked the mystery. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and for 5 months, Julie plugged along trying to solve the case piece by piece. She found one woman after another who fit the profile--all born in July in the right year and right place, but each lead turned out to be a dead end. Finally, in October, I gave Julie permission to speak with my father. He remembered my grandmother's name, and that piece of information allowed Julie to narrow the list down and find my mother. She asked me if I wanted to make the phone call myself, but I was too nervous to pick up the phone.

Words can't express how I felt when Julie called to tell me that my mother was overjoyed to meet me. She has been searching for me for years, and has always ached at the thought that I might harbor hard feelings or blame myself for the falling out between her and my father. We bawled together the first time we spoke about a week ago. It was my pleasure to tell her about my fiance and the life I have made for myself. I felt a little shy when I invited her to my wedding, but she accepted my invitation with gusto and I can't wait to meet her. I know I am a grown woman, but I feel like a little girl! We have a lot of catching up to do, and I can't wait to get started. Thank you Search Quest America for making my dream come true!

(Written by Mica Burton on Rosa's behalf.)

Client ID# 236829

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Amanda's case was assigned to SQA researcher Patty just days before Amanda's graduation. Today, Amanda's birth mother, Clarisse, lives in Fargo and is still in contact with Amanda's birth father. Clarisse was very surprised to hear from Patty, but was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet her daughter.

"I never thought that my daughter would find me so soon. I hoped that one day she would want to find me, but since she is only 19 I expected it to take longer. When I found out that she already has a baby of her own I was so surprised! I can't seem to process the fact that I am a grandmother already. Amanda's adoptive parents asked me to call her at a specific time the day of her graduation. I took the day off work to collect my thoughts and then waited anxiously for the appointed time. My hands were shaking as I dialed the number and my heart almost beat out of my chest as I listened to the phone ring on the other end. Our first conversation was joyful! I was proud to tell her that her birth father and I are still together. Not only did she find her birth mother, she also found her birth father at the same time. I am so impressed that her adoptive parents love her enough to give her what she really needs. They have raised her well and stood by her even through the hard times, and even as she gave birth to a child out of wedlock. My parents were not as understanding, so I know how much it must mean to Amanda to have them. I am sorry I wasn't able to be there for her through the years, but I am thankful that they were there for her instead and that their hearts are open wide enough to let me be a part of her life. I am truly blessed to know her."

(Written by Mica Burton on Amanda's behalf.)

Client ID# 245918

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I provided Julie with all the informatio I had. My ex-wife's name was Teri and we lived together in Brooklyn in the late sixties, early 70s. Our son was born in December of 1969 and was last seen in the summer of 1974. The only other information I could remember was that Teri had a sister named Susan, and her mother's name was Grace. When Julie first started searching, she had trouble finding Teri anywhere. However she did find Susan, and that connection led her to Joseph. After she confirmed Joseph's identity, Julie found information and a current picture of him on classmates.com.

My son is all grown up now! He is a body builder, works as a mechanic, is divorced, and has custody of his 6 year old daughter. Seeing a picture of him for the first time was like looking into a mirror. I was instantly filled with pride as I saw how much he looks like me. When I found out that he has a family of his own, all I could think was that I have a granddaughter!! I waited nervously as Julie made contact with them for the first time. She left several messages on Joseph's cell phone, with no response. I started to get worried that he wouldn't want anything to do with me, but Julie took action and contacted his Aunt Susan. When Susan first spoke with Julie, she was skeptical of the situation, afraid that it was some sort of scam. She did agree to forward Joseph my information, but was adamant that she made no guarantees. For days I worried that my search would end in disappointment, and tried to be patient as I waited for Joseph to call me.

Finally, 4 days later, I received a call from my son for the first time. He literally flipped out, he was so excited to hear from me! All of my fears had been for nothing because Joseph said he always wondered what happened to me, and dreamed that someday I would track him down. He told me all about my granddaughter and his life growing up. I expressed my regret for so many years lost between us, and we made a promise to keep in touch and slowly build a relationship together. I could not be more satisfied with my experience with Search Quest America. Everyone I have spoken with has been so understanding, and most importantly, they followed through on their promises and put me back in touch with my son. I am so grateful to have a second chance to be the dad Joseph deserves. Thank you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Carlos' behalf.)

Client ID# 246394

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That was only in July of this year, and my head is still spinning from all that has transpired since. Susan Friel-Williams, SQA's CEO and lead investigator, took my case. The first day of the search, Susan discovered that there were only two children born in Evanston the day I gave birth--one boy and one girl. Records confirmed that the baby girl was given up for adoption, and Susan discovered that her name today is Maresa and she was adopted by a family living in Long Beach, New York. From there, my case was solved so quickly that it took my breath away! Susan asked me to contact the adoption agency to confirm the date of birth, which I did. They would not give me any other information, but their confirmation of the birth date confirmed that Susan had indeed found the correct adoptee, living in New York. I held my breath as Susan contacted her for the first time, telling myself to be cautious and not get my hopes up too high.

When Susan spoke with her for the first time she was guardedly optimistic. She had tried searching for me several years prior, but had given up because she lacked the resources and expertise to find me. She filed a release of information with the adoption agency, but for one reason or another, the Agency failed to notify me of that fact, even though I contacted them several times.

Our first conversation was unforgettable! We cried together as I explained the circumstances of her birth and that I have loved her since the day I found out I was pregnant. I found peace as she told me about the family that raised her. She had the life I hoped for through the years, and both of us are whole now that we have found the other. Thank you Search Quest America for making this dream come true for both of us! We could not have done it without you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Ruth's behalf.)

Client ID# 237426

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That was the email Greg sent SQA in June. His case was assigned to Julie Jones, one of SQA's most experienced investigators. She worked the case around the clock for 15 days, tracking down every lead and ruling out several individuals by the same name in the California area. Finally, after only 2 weeks, Julie emailed Greg with Gail's contact information. Today, Gail lives with her family in Moorpark, CA. Her life was completely ordinary until she received the phone call from Greg out of the blue.

"I explained rather abruptly that I was contacting her about her father. She was cold at first, but when I explained that he has terminal cancer and isn't expected to last much longer, she went silent and when she spoke again, her voice was softer. This is never the circumstance you hope for when you contact someone you haven't seen in 20 years, but I suppose it was better than calling to invite her to his funeral."

Gail reflects, "Of course I wondered about my father from time to time. Occasionally I thought about contacting him to bury the hatchet, but after so many years of estrangement, how do you even find the words to start over? How do you even find it in you to want to? When my cousin told me my father was terminally ill, I didn't know how I should feel. How do you mourn for a man you hardly know? How do you reconcile the bitter memories with the picture of a man on his deathbed? With my family's encouragement, I agreed to pick up the phone and talk with my father for the first time in 20 years. At first our conversation was stiff, and when silence fell I realized my father was weeping on the other end. I cried with him, told him I loved him, and agreed to put aside our differences. A few days later I booked a flight from California to Arkansas and had the opportunity to hug my father before he passed away. It was a healing experience for both of us. I am so grateful for Search Quest America! I can't believe you found me so quickly, but I am happy you did--you have saved me a great deal of regret and sorrow, and gave me the opportunity to forgive and obtain forgiveness. That is a priceless gift and I thank you."

(Written by Mica Burton on Greg and Gail's behalf.)

Client ID #246112

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Theresa sent this email to SQA in May of this year. Susan Friel-Williams, SQA CEO and head researcher, took the case personally. Within 15 days, she located the adoptee, whose name is Scott, living in California. This proved to be an unusual situation, however, because Scott had just been released from jail. His current phone number was not yet a matter of public record. Theresa was unprepared to receive this news, but handled the situation with resolve.

"He's my nephew, and the fact that he was in jail doesn't change anything for us. It only shows that he needs us just as much as we need him. He needs to know that he has always been loved and that love is unconditional--mother to son," Theresa said.

Theresa took the bull by the horns and contacted Scott's probation officer, who supplied contact information for Scott's parents. She contacted them the same day, and they agreed to facilitate a meeting between Scott and his birth family. It was an emotional experience for everyone involved, especially Scott and his birth mother. "They have a lot of catching up to do, but I can already see that healing is taking place for everyone involved, and I am grateful to have a part in making this happen for my sister and her son. Thank you SQA for living up to your reputation and not only solving our case, but doing it with professionalism, compassion, and grace. God bless you all!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Theresa's behalf.)

Client ID# 244387

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Luis sent this email to Search Quest America in May of this year. He lives in San Jose, California and has been searching for his little sister for several years, to no avail. His case was assigned to SQA Researcher Rosemary Harklerode, who solved the case in only 30 days.

Diana was adopted in 1986 and raised by the Lopez family of Long Beach, California. When Rosemary contacted her adoptive parents, her mother was very protective and refused to give out any contact information. Rosemary convinced her to relay a message Diana and let her know that her big brother was trying to contact her. Diana's mother did relay the message, but the news came as a shock to Diana.

"I had no idea I even had a brother, and had never even thought about trying to contact my birth family. I was perfectly happy with my life the way it was, and to me it was a little strange to be contacted by a complete stranger who said he was my brother. Nevertheless, curiosity got the best of me and I picked up the phone and called him. It was great! We hit it off right away and I discovered that Luis is funny and outgoing--exactly the type of person I would have chosen for a friend had we met under other circumstances. I have had to tread carefully to avoid offending my adoptive parents, but they are happy for me and willing to support me any way they can. Luis and I have become friends on Facebook and MySpace and we talk on the phone almost every day. We have exchanged pictures back and forth and look forward to meeting in person for the first time for my birthday next month. I will be going to the Bay area and it is the perfect time to get together with Luis for the first time. I am disappointed that I will never have the opportunity to meet my birth mother, but I feel like I am staring to get to know her from the stories my brother tells about her. This whole reunion came as a shock to me, but I am grateful for the opportunity to know where I come from. Thank you Search Quest America!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Luis and Diana's behalf.)

Client ID# 245426

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I contacted Search Quest America for the first time on July 29, 2009. My case was assigned to Susan, SQA CEO and lead investigator. She called me back the same day to tell me that she had learned my sons identity. His name today is Michael! Within a few weeks, Susan found his current address in San Diego and a telephone number where he could be reached. I asked Susan to make the first contact for me, and held my breath as she left messages on his machine. I was on edge for days, and slowly my excitement turned to disappointment when he failed to return the phone call. I cried my heart out, and finally accepted the fact that Michael must not want to reunite with me.

Susan did not give up so easily. She encouraged me to write Michael a letter, and I followed her advice. Susan instructed me to wait at least 10 days, and then follow up with a phone call. The month of August passed agonizingly slow, and still I received no response from Michael. I decided not to call him, but tried to develop patience and respect for his wishes.

Yesterday afternoon out of the blue I received the phone call I have been waiting for. Michael started by saying "I think I am the son you have been searching for for 48 years." Over an hour later we finally hung up. Of course I had told my children and ex about writing to him, so I notified them. Today, Sunday, I am still trying to take it in. I felt so bold in taking the first step to ask for help, then to find him and write a letter was more difficult than anything I had had to do for a long, long time. I just gave him time to reply and he finally did. He works out of town and his mail was just stacked up for him. He picked it up and my letter fell out. He said that he had not cried as he did then since he was little. Of course we exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses. My sons are going to write and send pictures. A mere thank you is not enough I know, but it is the best I can do. Susan and Search Quest America, I will not hesitate to refer you to others if they need services such as yours. This was certainly the right time to pursue this quest. Thank you for all you did. Much love, Kate.

(Written by Mica Burton on Kate's behalf.)

Client ID# 251142

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My sister and I decided to contact Search Quest America because a reunion with our father would mean everything to us. Right away we knew that SQA was a company we could trust. We were not disappointed. Our case was assigned to SQA researcher Laura Bartling, who found my father in about two months. She discovered that he lives in South Dakota with his family.

When Laura called to give me the news, I was filled with joy! I also felt a knot in the pit of my stomach that I wasn't expecting. I wondered, will he want to make contact with us? What if he rejects us? I was abandoned by my father once, could I handle being rejected again? My sister and I thought about it for a few days, and we finally decided to send him a letter. We sat down one evening and poured our hearts out to him in writing, but in the process we forgot our fears and decided just to pick up the phone and call him.

The first time we called, we got his voice mail, and heard our father's voice for the first time. It gave me chills! We left a message asking him to give us a call back, and a few hours later he did! We explained who we were and waited anxiously for his rely. "Mis hijas! Mis hijas!" he exclaimed, meaning "my daughters, my daughters!" That first conversation went better than we ever expected, and the family has welcomed us into the fold as if we had never been removed. One of the most touching experiences so far was speaking with our Abuela (grandmother) over the phone for the first time. She wept tears of gratitude to have us back in her life, and insisted that we make arrangements to come see her and the rest of the family. We were so worried about interrupting their lives, but they have reminded us that by searching for them, we have made their family whole again. We plan to meet everyone in a few months, and I am proud of my decision to search for my family--it took real courage to pick up the phone, but I am a stronger person because of it. Thank you Search Quest America for helping my dream come true!

(Written by Mica Burton on Marias behalf.)

Client ID# 247565

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Joan Caruso contacted Search Quest America in May and at first, her case seemed ordinary. The case was assigned to Julie Jones, who recalls, "one of the hardest things to do as a researcher is give a client bad news. Almost immediately, I discovered a death certificate for Joans father, Alvin. He owned a pizzeria called Alvin's Pizza in Brooklyn in the 1960s and 1970s, but died in an accident in the late 1970s."

Most clients are devastated to receive such news, but Joan replied, "Oh, I was afraid that might come up! I found that myself, but then I ran into a woman who claimed to be his sister, and she said she saw him alive and well at a funeral in 1993. He was living in California, was married, and had 2 sons between the ages of 18 and 22. My aunt wouldnt give me his exact address, but she did say he was in the Witness Protection Program.

Julie replied, "Well, if he's in the Witness Protection Program, his name will have been changed, and lengths taken to protect his identity. It will be very difficult to find him. "

"I know. That's why I hired you!" Joan replied. Incredulous, but persistent, Julie set out on what seemed like an impossible task. She contacted friends, neighbors, and relatives of the family one after another until finally, she hit pay dirt. She contacted Molly Rizzo, Alvin's first wife, who confirmed that Alvin is alive, living in the Witness Protection program somewhere in California. She refused to give Julie his exact address or current phone number, but agreed to speak with Joan directly and provide the information. Since then, Joan and Alvin have been reunited and this very unusual case is officially solved.

"I guess the stories are true, then. Search Quest America really can work miracles!! I didn't mention Alvin's past up front because I was afraid they wouldn't take my case. Thanks, Julie, for solving the mystery and putting me back in touch with my father. No one else could have done it!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Joan's behalf.)

*Special Note: All names and locations have been changed to protect the parties involved.*

Client ID# 237998

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When I contacted Search Quest America, I was skeptical of their services, but willing to invest my time and emotions to solve what has been a life-long mystery for me. I know that time is running out since my birth mother was born in April of 1928. I am fortunate to have access to several key pieces of information, including my original adoption papers with my birth mother's full name and birth date. One of SQAs most experienced researchers, Julie Jones, took my case. She found my birth mother still living in St. Petersburg, Florida. Today she is 81 years old and still very much aware. She has never forgotten me over the years, and wept as we spoke for the first time. She remembered the events leading up to my birth with perfect clarity, and described to me her experiences in another era.

After that first conversation, I was thinking late into the night and I back tracked to a 1950 calendar. Eva had her bridal shower on a Wednesday and three days later she was married. That was Saturday, September 30, 1950. I happened to call her for the first time one day after what would have been her 58th anniversary. I did the calculations of the pregnancy and she would have gotten pregnant right around the second week of September. I think the timing of all of this is too ironic and a little scary to boot.

During my conversation with Eva yesterday she spoke at length about the unspeakable atrocities of WWII and that she suspected her husband had been exposed to chemical warfare while he had served and ultimately maybe killed him. She felt that the Jews had gotten all the publicity and the rest of the occupied countries had not been really recognized in their suffering. I responded that some experts feel that the losses in the Baltic countries were totally ignored and that some claim that Baltic countries individually suffered even more losses than the Jews but records were not kept. She also spoke about a recent case in the news of a boy killing his parents because they would not give him money. I responded that there are too many crazy stupid people who populate this earth. Then I changed the subject to something else but I can't remember what. It dawned on me today that she witnessed WWII first hand. I can only assume but she may have been forced into a camp or forced labor. Lithuania was occupied in early 1939 by Hitler.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to speak with my birth mother for the first time. Learning about her and my family heritage does not diminish the life provided to me by my adoptive parents. It enriches my personal identity and helps me appreciate the trials that led to my birth and adoption. I think I have always loved my birth mother, but each day I am gaining a new respect for her. Thank you Search Quest America! I could not have asked for better service, or expected to have made such good friends!!

(Written by Mica Burton on Karen's behalf.)

Client ID# 224827

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I first contacted Search Quest America about 2 months ago. Everyone I spoke with was so understanding and empathetic. From the first conversation I felt like they understood my concerns and would handle my case with more than just professionalism, but with compassion as well. My case was assigned to Julie Jones and the first step was to find the records of my father's first marriage. Once Julie had his first wife's full name, she found a friend of the family, who happened to still be in touch with my father's first wife. Billie reported that my sister, Joanna, got married several years ago and moved to Utah. Thankfully, she remembered her married name and the name of her husband. Julie combined this information with Joanna's birth date, and found her living in California with her husband and family. When Julie told me she had found my sister, I asked her to call and make the first contact--I wasn't sure I could handle the rejection if she hung up on me! Julie called me a few hours later to report that Joanna was surprised, but thrilled to be found! She promised to call the next day, a Sunday, and I waited by the phone wringing my hands all morning.

Finally, around noon, I received the phone call I had been waiting for. The first thing surprise was how alike we sound--our voices are very similar and before long I felt like I was catching up with an old friend. She told me about her life growing up--her mother remarried and she was well cared for by her step-father. She admitted to harboring some resentment toward our father for not playing a more integral part in her life. However, she was very open to the possibility of getting to know me and our siblings, and I couldn't ask for a better beginning! Thank you Julie and Search Quest America!

(Written by Mica Burton on Charlotte's behalf.)

Client ID#228531

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"My name is Jeanne and I was abandoned. Do you have any idea what its like to grow up wondering what did I do wrong? and why didn't he want me? My mother keeps telling me I'm better off without him because he was abusive. How can any child be better off without a father? I feel like half a person. His name is Chuck Kiper. He was born in Illinois and was last seen in Arizona. Please help me find him so I can get some answers and confront him for abandoning me as a child."

Jeanne first contacted Search Quest America in April. Recently, her case was solved, but not the way she expected. Charles Edward Kiper died at 62 in his home in Pine City, Minnesota on November 4, 2002. After his service in the military, he made a living as an electronics professional, repairing televisions and radios for his neighbors and friends. Prior to his death, he suffered from cancer for many years and was wheelchair bound because of it. From his obituary, Jeanne learned that he had six children, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and a large extended family.

Instead of planning what to say to him when she meets him in person, Jeanne is struggling to cope with his death and planning to visit his gravesite in Minneapolis. "Somehow, I just never expected him to be dead, thats all. I have played out our reunion and over and over again in my head and I always imagined getting to ask him WHY he abandoned me and never tried to find me. Now all I can do is hope for a good relationship with my siblings and maybe get some answers that way. My entire life I have imagined him being a difficult, even abusive man. I never imagined him sick with cancer and wheelchair bound. Somehow I will have to reconcile my disappointment and content myself with getting to know him vicariously through my half-siblings. This definitely isn't the ending I was hoping for, but I'm still glad I searched."

(Written by Mica Burton on Jeanne's behalf.)

Client ID#243155

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When I first contacted Search Quest America, all I knew was that my father was in the service in the mid and late 1970s. He met my mother in the Philippines when he was stationed there, and they were married. He brought her home with him to the United States, but they were divorced in Kansas City, Missouri in the early 1980s and we never heard from him again. My mother remembers that after the divorce, he returned to New Jersey where his family lived. I know his full name--Michael Dimino, and that he was born in the mid 1950s. Besides that I had no information about his profession, interests, appearance, or family relationships. For all I knew he could have 10 children, be in prison, or a millionaire, or a military man.

I can't even describe the feeling I got in the pit of my stomach when Julie called to tell me that she had found my father. He is alive and still lives in New Jersey. When Julie called his home number, his wife answered the phone. She actually refused to give him the phone thinking that Julie was some kind of telemarketer or something. She did take the message and Julie sat back to wait. Finally, he called back, and was willing to reunite with me. Somehow I expected him to be more excited about the prospect, but I think he's still getting warmed up to the idea of meeting his grown-up daughter and digging up the past he never talks about. Our relationship is progressing slowly, but steadily. I hope to one day be able to meet my half-siblings and meet my dad in person, but for now I am content with the weekly phone call and emails we share.

He sent me pictures of him and my siblings, and I actually share a lot of his features. I work for FedEx and one of our biggest jokes is that he owns a few UPS stores. Its kind-of ironic that we both ended up in the mailing business, but on opposite sides of the line! From what I can tell my father is a good man, someone I can look up to and be proud of, even if it means putting a lifetime of forgotten birthdays behind me. Ultimately I have had to choose what matters more to me--the bitterness of abandonment or the hope of a new beginning. I choose hope and forgiveness.

(Written by Mica Burton on Cathy's behalf.)

Client ID #246633

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Heinz Simoniet contacted Search Quest America to help him locate his birth father. He considered all the possibilities--that he might be dead, in prison, a deadbeat, or unwilling to reunite with his son. He imagined the worst alternatives, and never dared hope for a joyful reunion. That is, however, exactly what he got.

Heinz' case was assigned to SQA researcher Julie Jones. Julie called to introduce herself to him one morning, and explained that the case might take a while to solve. Heinz was prepared to wait, but was unprepared for the phone call he received that same night from Julie. She had already located his birth father, Paul Harder! Julie started by finding his current address in New York, then his parents address in California. Finally, she located Ruby, Pauls ex-wife and gave her a call. An unidentified man anwered the phone and took a message. He asked, "Can I know what this is about?" Julie replied, "No, its a personal matter. Just tell him its about Schotze. Do you need me to spell it?" Schotze was Heinz' nickname growing up. The man replied, "SHOTZE? I know all about Schotze. Paul has been looking for him for years! I'll call him right now."

A few hours later, Paul called back. He was overjoyed to be found and a few minutes later he was speaking with his son for the first time. He wasn't the toddler he remembered, but a grown man with a family of his own. Paul had been searching for Heinz throughout the years, but never knew if he would be welcomed back into his life after such a long separation. His biggest regret in life was losing touch with his son, and he vowed never to repeat it. So far, he has been good to his word. This summer he planned a family reunion to celebrate Heinz' return to the fold. For both of them, it is a new beginning.

(Written by Mica Burton on Heinz's behalf.)

Client ID#238487

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Two weeks from today I will have a lot of wonderful information. I won't say closure, because its like a new birth. I hired Search Quest America about a week ago to solve my case. After searching diligently on my own for the last 35 years, my case was solved in only seven days! It has been a difficult road. During the course of my search I have worked closely with two very special people, Linda and Patty. Linda explained SQAs services, recorded all of my starting information, and a few days later my case was assigned to Patty. Within 5 hours of Patty calling me for the first time I was talking with my niece and a sister on the phone. Fortunately I provided dates which were quite solid and able to be verified along with descriptions of my mother (our mother), Charles a half-brother, and Ethel, (actually Carly) my half-sister. I do quite a bit of family history and it usually comes in just a little dribble. Now its a torrent!

I can hardly believe that in two weeks I will be traveling to California. The first time I spoke with my sister she said, "there are so many people who want to meet you." The fact that they want to meet me is the first miracle. The second miracle is that Mom is still living at 97 years old. She is apparently quite sound, as well, which will allow me to gather information and get the answers I have been seeking these many years.

When I was born, my mother was married, but they had separated after having 2 children--he was at sea. I am told that my mother had an affair with another navy man and I was conceived. During the pregnancy my mother was reconciled with her husband, and they decided that for the sake of the other two children, it would be better to put me up for adoption. I have the relinquishment papers singed by them, she in Modesto and he in San Francisco. Sadly, though, they never did get back together.

Growing up I have memorized the description of my mother provided by the adoption agency. "Good health, no medical or mental defects. Birth mother married, but separated. Rel. terminated. Birth father back to sea. 5 foot, slender, light hair, blue eyes blond type attractive, dainty, nice looking. Caucasian, French/bohemian German/Jewish descent." Through the years, I have watched my daughters and granddaughters grow into that same description. The idea of one day reuniting with my birth mother was never far from my mind.

My sister said, "Oh we wanted you so badly, we just kept looking and looking until we finally found you." To me it is strange to imagine that throughout my life I have had relatives who cared about me and thought about finding me! My mother was not able to have children due to a horse-riding accident when she was younger. I was absolutely cherished and raised as an only child. I had what I needed but never lavished upon. I grew up advantaged, but never lavished. Throughout the past few days I have wondered what my new family will think of me. Will they be proud of my family and my faith--the two move important things in my life? It is so strange to suddenly be called "sis" and "Aunt Peggy."

There are many subtle connections between us that I cannot doubt that we are family. My sister is a cancer survivor, and is very encouraging to me and my youngest daughter, who has stage 4 cancer and recently decided she doesn't care to go through chemotherapy. I have 3 daughters, and they are all so very excited about this! We've always kidded about being bohemian and gypsies and all these romantic things. Yet they loved their grandparents for as long as they knew them. Now we are learning about our new family and it is wonderful!

I was born the day of the great earthquake, and the day prohibition was repealed. My mother took my siblings and sent them back to their grandpa in Philidelphia. They were separated for a number of years, and when Carly was 12, she and her mother passed through Venice, California where I lived at that time! Later they went to the Philipines, and were put in a prison camp for 2 years in world war II. This was 1941 and they tell me that they learned about two extremes of people, either extremely good or extremely evil. They would either give you the shirt off their back, or kill you for a scrap of bread. Heaven and hell all under the same roof. I don't know what I'm in for but it sounds like there's an awful lot of love--just the fact that they were looking for me proves it. I can't wait to meet them!

(Written by Mica Burton on Peggy's behalf.)

Client ID #250872

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When I first contacted Search Quest America I expected the search to take months to solve. I was shocked when Julie Jones, SQA researcher, called me back just a few weeks later to tell me that Bill had been found, alive and well, living in Oklahoma. First, Julie found Bill's ex-wife's phone number. When she called the number she was caught off guard--BIll answered the phone! He was visiting his daughter for the weekend, and though he had no idea he had a son, he was very open to write him a letter or drop him an email. He provided Julie with contact information and when Bill went home a few days later, he gave me a call. We arranged for him to call my husband's cell phone at 6 pm on his birthday. I gathered the whole family around and told my husband I had a special surprise for him. You should have seen the look on his face when his phone rang and he heard the words, "Hi Tim, this is your father. I hear you've been looking for me." Tim's face went pale, then flushed, and he got more emotional than I have ever seen him. Needless to say, it was the best birthday present ever.

I'm not sure where things will go from here. I anticipate that they will have a wonderful relationship and that Tim will be welcomed into the family at long last. Either way, this is the beginning of a new adventure for both of them--Tim doesn't know what its like to have a father, and Bill doesn't know what its like to have a son. I can't believe it was so easy to find him! If I had known it would be so quick I would have done this years ago. I am grateful for Search Quest America--everyone I talked to was so genuine and helpful. Thanks so much for giving Tim the best birthday present ever!

(Written by Mica Burton on Kay's behalf.)

Client ID# 233375

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I was born in 1950 and have been told that my mother's name was Armilda Rose. She was 19 when I was born out of wedlock, and in those days she had little choice but to put me up for adoption. The woman who raised me told me that my grandfather's name was Patrick and he spoke with a thick Irish accent, but I couldn't find her or her family anywhere in the 1930 census. The adoption agency, St. Elizabeth's, gave me all the information they could, but today, Armilda would be 77 years old and I know we are running out of time to find her alive. I have so many questions I need to ask her! If miss this opportunity to search, I will regret it for the rest of my life.

I contacted Search Quest America for the first time in April and my case was assigned to Julie Jones. She put me at ease, wracked my brain for every little piece of information I had heard over the years, and walked me through the steps to request my non-identifying information. Meanwhile, she worked her magic and found 11 women by the name of Armilda who would have been the right age at the time of my birth. Then, through good old-fashioned detective work, she contacted them one by one and through a process of elimination, found my birth mother's family.

Denise, the daughter Armilda Patricia, now deceased, was intrigued by Julie's phone call. At first, she denied that her mother had ever put up a child for adoption. But from the information Julie provided, there were too many coincidences to dismiss outright, so she agreed to speak with her aunts and see if she could get to the bottom of it. Armilda's sisters could not confirm it either, but Armilda's best friends name was Rose, and her father's name was indeed Patrick. Also, she did work for the Globe American, as confirmed in Denise's non-ID, and she was listed as Patricia Rose in the city directory. Julie suggested that before we made contact, we exchange pictures and look into maternal DNA kits. Denise was unsettled by all the coincidences and we both decided it was worth finding out for sure.

A few months later, we received the results--a MATCH. For me the news was bittersweet. Those test results meant that I have a sister who wants to meet me and an extended family who will welcome me into the fold. But it also means that I will never have the opportunity to find out for sure the circumstances behind my birth, or the name of my birth father. Armilda, or Patsy, as she was called, took the secrets of my birth and adoption to her grave with her. When all is said and done, I haven't lost anything, I've gained a sister!

(Written by Mica Burton on Joanne's behalf.)

Client ID# 241921

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When I started this search, all I knew about my identity is that at birth I was known as baby girl Neumann. I had the original adoption decree, and my birth mother's name at the time of my birth--LaDonna Neumann. I was born in Des Moines in 1962, but never thought I had enough information to find her.

Julie, SQA Researcher, proved me wrong practically overnight! First, Julie found my birth mother's sister, Jeannette, who passed away at the age of 81. The information in her obituary was the key to solving my case. The obituary revealed that Jeannette was survived by her sister, LaDonna Cleveland of Shakopee, Minn. These five words gave Julie my birth mother's married name and her current location. From there it was a simple phone book search and Julie was on the phone with my birth mother for the first time.

I was so relieved when Julie called to tell me that she had spoken with my birth mother, who was not only still alive, but eager to meet me. I steeled myself for the phone call Julie promised would be coming that night. The first thing my mother said to me was, "Hope, that's the perfect name for you." It seems so strange that the woman who carried me for 9 months could live 47 years without knowing my name. Our conversation was life-changing. I hadn't realized the depth of the hole in my heart until it was filled. I told her all about my life, my career, my family, goals, and dreams. I assured her that I had a wonderful life and thanked her for making the decision to put me up for adoption. She told me she was proud of the person I have become--I realized that I have been waiting to hear those words my entire life. I never knew that one conversation could change me so much, and though I imagined it a hundred times over the years, the reality was so much better than imagination! I am excited to meet my brother, Jim, and expect that this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Thanks, Julie and Search Quest America, for making this dream come true for both of us!

(Written by Mica Burton on Hope's behalf.)

Client ID# 247219

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Nancy contacted Search Quest America in July with the following request. She wrote, "My adopted daughter has been struggling so much. She had a brain tumor when she was only eight which left so many residual effects. It hurts me to watch her struggle to figure out who she is and I want to help her any way I can. I believe that locating her birth mother might help to heal the giant emptiness she carries around with her. As much as I wish I could, I can't seem to fill it. Please help."

Nancy's daughter Kelsey was born in San Antonio, Texas in November of 1989. She was put up for adoption through ABC Agency. Her non-identifying information reports that her birth mother was Hispanic, but provides little other information.

Nevertheless, Julie Jones, on of SQA's most experienced researchers, was able to locate Kelsey's birth mother in just over a week. She and Kelsey's birth father are still together, and they have three other children. Their 2 sons and 1 daughter are Kelsey's full siblings, and by reuniting with them, Kelsey has been able to answer many of her lifelong questions.

"Somehow it just helps to know where I come from. There's nothing like looking into the faces of your biological parents and getting to hug your full siblings for the first time. I can't believe my mom did this for me--it was such an unselfish thing to do and it proves to me that I am blessed with two moms who both love me enough to do what is best for me."

Nancy is also glad she decided to search. "I just spoke with Kelsey's birth mother for the first time the other day and she is just lovely. Kelsey has a little sister who cannot wait to meet her. I am so glad that I did this and I cannot thank you enough. I think that this will help to heal the emptiness that Kelsey has had for so long. Some of my friends have asked me why I did this. 'Aren't you afraid of losing her?' they ask me. Of course, the thought has crossed my mind. But if you think about it, I was already losing her to her doubts and insecurities. Finding her birth mother was the key to bringing my little girl back to me. At the end of the day I want what's best for my daughter, and if that means letting her go and make her own decisions, I'm ok with that. Every day for the last twenty years, I have said a prayer of gratitude for the scared, pregnant woman who gave me my miracle child. The choice she made to put Kelsey up for adoption has been the key to my every happiness. With that perspective, how could I NOT allow her a little piece of the same happiness?"

(Written by Mica Burton on Nancy's behalf.)

Client ID# 251082

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"Since my half brother is 8 years my senior, I've always had the impression that he knew about me and my brother Kurt. I felt he could have contacted us if he'd wanted to know us. I also had some hesitation because we heard that when he was in his 30's, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name or perhaps a step-father, if she'd remarried. I've tried off and on over the years to find information about him, but without success. Last September, my brother, Kurt, was killed in a motor scooter accident in Texas near his home. My mother is 89 and lives with me in Oregon now, and now she understands why I am becoming more anxious to find out if my half-brother is alive, and what kind of person he is. I don't have very much family - I was only briefly married once, and have no kids. Other than my brother's widow, Karen, and her son Max, I really have no other close family, and they are not really 'close' in some ways. I guess I'm feeling pretty alone and vulnerable, and time keeps marching on."

When Ilona decided to make her search a priority, she sent this email to Search Quest America. Her case was assigned to Julie Jones, who solved it in only a matter of days--that was Ilona's first surprise. The second was to learn that contrary to what she had believed her entire life, her brother had no idea she existed. What she perceived as rejection of her father's attempts to reach out to him was in fact ignorance of his existence. Throughout his childhood years, his mother shielded him from his fathers attempt to contact him. He never received a single one of the birthday cards or Christmas gifts his father sent over the years. When Julie contacted him, he was thrilled to learn that he had a sister, and eagerly called her that same day. Recently, Ilona sent the following update:

"Just thought I'd get back to you. Thank you so much for finding my brother! Bud (he has had that nickname since he was little) and I have talked on the phone many times now, and he flew here to Oregon from Colorado Springs June 1 - June 9 and stayed with my Mom and I. We had a great time, and I now feel I really have a lot more family! I've got another 'sister', and I'm an aunt and great-aunt! He and his wife will have been married 40 years this coming November. All my friends say they can see a definite resemblance between us. I think this has been really good for him, too, because his mother never told him anything positive about our Dad, and in fact, led him to believe that Dad had no interest in him after his divorce from Bud's Mom. He had no idea that my mom and dad tried repeatedly over the years to establish contact, and sent gifts/cards, etc. on birthdays, Xmas. He was never aware of any of their attempts. So I think a lifelong wound inside him finally has a chance to heal now. Thanks for all your help Julie, I couldn't have done it without you!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Ilona's behalf)

Client ID# 242279

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I cannot thank you all enough for the time and effort you put into solving this case. I am still amazed that you found them! When Julie spoke to Leah for the first time, she said, "I am looking for a Leah Howard who was in the Navy stationed in California in the early 1980's. I am a PI and I have a client by the name of Patrick that is looking for his daughter, Angela, who he had with Leah Howard." Julie told me she responded, "Oh my God, Patrick is stepping up to the plate 27 years later. My daughter is downstairs, she will be thrilled. He's a grandfather."

Truly, solving this mystery has put so many questions to rest. I have a beautiful, successful daughter and I even have grandchildren! I can't thank you enough for making my life totally complete. I went to Connecticut a few months ago. We spent a week together getting to know each other for the first time. Now Leah and her family are here in South Dakota visiting me for two weeks. They leave on Tuesday and I am amazed that even after all this time we have had no problems connecting to each other. I introduced Angela to her grandparents, a great uncle who is 82, and several other relatives. Angela doesn't have any grandparents on her mother's side, so she is thrilled to have grandparents for the first time in her life. She will meet the rest of her aunts, nephews, and nieces this May or sooner. Julie, you have taught me that DREAMS ARE FOR REAL and sometimes life really does give us second chances. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

(Written by Mica Burton on Patrick's behalf.)

Client ID#244332

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Nevertheless, I decided that the time had come to search for my biological family. All I knew was that I was born in 1959 in Tuskegee, Alabama to Mary Louise Davis, who was a 24-year-old African American woman born somewhere in Alabama. My original birth certificate says that I have an older brother, who was a toddler when I was born.

I contacted Search Quest America with this information and my case was assigned to Julie Jones. She was wonderful! She got to work right away, contacting Tuskegee University to find out if my birth mother had ever been a student there. She even contacted my father, who is in his seventies, to find out if he remembered any other details about my adoption. He recalled that my birth mother was born and raised in Tuskegee, but never went to the University. She gave me up for adoption because she had no vocational training, no job, no education, and no hope to care for a second child. He also remembered that her son's last name was also Davis, that her father was a farmer, and that she eventually moved to Connecticut. When Julie told me she had extracted all this information from him, I was shocked! She put all these pieces together and found my birth mother after just two months. She is alive and well at 73.

Julie also offered me helpful advice about how to make contact with my birth family for the first time. Since we had no way of knowing my birth mother's medical/mental condition or whether or not she would be receptive to meeting me, Julie contacted my older brother Bobbie instead. He confirmed that his mom had given a baby girl up for adoption, and all of the pieces of the puzzle fit into place perfectly. He couldn't wait to talk to me, and he agreed to break the news to our mom. When he talked to Mary for the first time, she was hesitant to make contact with me. My father has always been an intimidating man and even after all these years, she is afraid of my him. I decided that after waiting 50 years, I can afford to take the reunion slow and go at the pace that is comfortable for her.

My first conversation with my half brother was incredible! I always knew I had a brother out there somewhere, and I have been dying to find out if we have anything in common or whether we look alike. How can I even describe what it feels like to finally hear his voice and solve the mystery behind my birth and adoption? We are planning to get together for the first time in August and I can't wait! I truly feel like a lifetime of prayers have been answered all at once and I feel blessed to be able to meet my birth family. I know that not every story turns out this way.

Thank you so much for all your help and assistance. Search Quest America is awesome and genuine. Again, thank you! God Bless, Paula.

(Written by Mica Burton on Paula's behalf.)

Client ID# 244000

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I was born in July of 1970 in San Antonio, Texas. My birth mother, Nancy, was only 16 when she put me up for adoption through Buckner Baptist. Back in 1990, I hired the agency to find her. At that time she was living in Corpus Christi, but she told the agent that she wasn't in a position to reunite with me at that time. The agent did not give me copies of the information they found, but they told me that Nancy got married quickly after I was born and had several children with her husband. When Buckner met with her back then, she was taking care of one of the grandbabies because one of my half brothers was in jail. Obviously it wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, but I never gave up hope that one day we would be reunited.

Today, nearly twenty years later, I finally have all the information I was looking for. I hired Search Quest America to find her again. Julie talked me through the process of applying for my non-identifying information. After two months of searching, she located Nancy living in Odessa, Texas. She gave me information about Nancy's history, including her criminal background, and painted a picture about the lifestyle Nancy and her children are leading. I can't deny that at first it put me off to find out that Nancy herself has a criminal record. No one imagines their birth mother being in jail, and when I got the news I needed some time to figure out how to proceed. It has been a month since Julie first gave me the news, and I think I am ready for Julie to contact her.

I have a lot of questions. What situation led her to put me up for adoption? Who is my birth father and what is his situation/lifestyle today? What medical issues should I watch out for? Has she told her family about my birth and does she want to meet me? I am so grateful that I have Julie who will make the contact for me and be able to get this information. Even if she isn't willing to meet me, I'll at least have the answers I need for my family. If she hasn't told her family or for some reason doesn't want to relive the past, I am prepared to walk away and put it to rest. If she is willing to reunite with me, then I'll keep in touch with her for the rest of my life. I'm still a little leery but I'm willing to proceed with caution.

I really made the right choice when I contacted Search Quest America. I have always felt like they were on my side one hundred percent, and Julie has been my guide through the whole process. I couldn't have done it alone, and it has been so nice to know that with SQA I don't have to. I'm still not sure how my story will turn out, but I am finally ready to open a new chapter.

(Written by Mica Burton on Artie's behalf).

Client ID# 227401

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When I contacted Search Quest America I was impressed by their professionalism and something about the company told me I could trust them. I was not disappointed--Julie Jones called me one morning to introduce herself as my researcher, and she called me that same afternoon to tell me my case had been solved. She found my birth mother, Rose. She appeared to be living, and Julie and asked my permission to contact her. I waited by the phone and reflected on the information Julie had provided.

When I was born, Rose was 24 and unmarried. When my birth father found out she was pregnant, he made it clear that he didn not want anything to do with her or the financial responsibility of having a child. At the time, Rose was living with her sister, Virginia, in San Francisco. Virginia was also a single mother, bitterly struggling to raise an infant. Faced with the reality of single parenthood, Rose decided to give me a chance at a better life by putting me up for adoption.

Julie called me back a few hours later and I could tell by the tone in her voice that something was wrong. Julie had spoken with Chuck, the man Rose married, and found out that Rose recently passed away from esophageal cancer. What was worse, Chuck had no idea Rose had given up a child for adoption, and he was not interested in speaking with me. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Julie gave me his address and told me to write him a letter, which I did. Meanwhile, Julie found Virginia, Rose's sister and called to speak with her. Virginia also refused to speak with me, and hung up the phone. That was another harsh blow.

Finally, Julie got in touch with Virginia's daughter Wendy, who was excited about meeting me. She called me a few days later and I began to learn about my birth mother through her. We corresponded for months through email and little by little she sent me photos of my birth mother and the rest of the family. It was not the happy ending I had hoped for, but I accepted the situation, case closed.

Nine months later, Chuck responded to my letter. He wrote that he had thought about me for months, and finally remembered that years ago, on a sunny afternoon, Rose did mention that she gave a baby up for adoption. He and Rose never had children of their own, and he apologized for reacting negatively when Cindy called. He asked if I would still be willing to talk with him over the phone. I laughed out loud, grinned for days, and picked up the phone to try again. Since that day, Chuck and I have spoke several times; for both of us it is like having a part of Rose back again. Just the other day he sent me an email and said, "I am so happy that Rose decided to have you."

This whole experience has been life-changing. Months ago I was resigned to the fact that I would never have a relationship with my birth family, but now I am blessed to have a relationship with Chuck and Wendy. Maybe one day I'll get to meet them and my story will come full circle.

I guess it just goes to show that patience is a virtue. From this experience I have learned that everything happens for a reason and in its own time. Maybe if I had contacted Rose while she was still alive, she might have refused to dredge up that part of her life. One way or another, I'm glad I finally made the call to Search Quest America.

(Written by Mica Burton on Cindy's behalf).

Client ID#228822

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That was the email Lisa wrote to Search Quest America in March of 2009. Her daughter, Christy, has known about her father her entire life. Members of her family continue to debate about whether or not James Robert knew about her birth. Lisa sent him a letter when she gave birth, and Christy herself sent him letters periodically throughout her childhood, but received no response.

Lisa's case was assigned to Julie Jones, who solved it in two weeks. Today, James Robert lives in Tennessee with a family of his own. He is married and has several children, the youngest being only 10 years old.

First, Lisa sent him a detailed, heart-felt letter asking him to contact Christy. She received no response. She sent letters to all the addresses provided, but still nothing. After waiting over a month, Lisa contacted James' family, beginning with Christy's grandmother. She was overjoyed to receive the first phone call, and said, "I have wondered about this for thirty years!! When can I meet my grandbaby?" James' sister was also excited to get in touch with Lisa and Christy, and began corresponding through email and providing pictures of the family. She also revealed that they heard a rumor that James had a son, and they encouraged him to seek Lisa out. James refused, denying paternity. He has been married several times throughout the years, became a heavy drinker, and demanded that a DNA test be performed before he would acknowledge Christy.

Lisa and Christy were devastated. Lisa says, "We have been living this dream for thirty years, and we hoped that the reason we had not heard from him was because he never received our letters. The reality is so much worse. He did receive our letters, but didn't even have the courtesy to respond. Christy is heartbroken. I started this search because I wanted to give her closure and a chance at a relationship with her father. Instead he ended up hurting her. She's a big girl and tries not to show it, but I know that deep down it hurts. Even my little grandchildren ask when they can meet their grandpa. We still have hope that after the DNA test confirms his paternity, he might come around. And we are still glad to have closure. Being a single mother was very difficult, but it made me into the strong woman I am today. I am sad for him because he missed out on Christy's childhood, and he might miss the chance to be a part of her adult life.

After we contacted his mom, he googled me on the internet and sent me an email. He said "look, she's not mine. Sorry but you have the wrong guy." To me that was like adding insult to injury. We loved each other once. I responded and said, "She IS yours. You know there was no one else. You can deny it for the next thirty years if you want to, but it doesn't change the fact that you have a daughter who loves you and prays every day that you will pick up the phone and invite her into your life. The choice is yours but I will warn you--if you wait too long you will lose the opportunity to get to know a wonderful woman and your own grandchildren. They look like you."

Lisa and Christy are still waiting for the results of the DNA test. In the mean time they have formed relationships with Christy's grandmother and aunts. They are still waiting for James Robert to come around.

(Written by Mica Burton on Lisa and Christy's behalf.)

Client ID# 229625

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"When I was only 20, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and then gave him up for adoption. Although adoption is right for some people, I have been tormented by my decision ever since. I ask myself every single day what kind of life he had, and if he turned out to be somebody, or if he is still alive."

For Carol, finding for her son was the key to forgiving herself and moving on with her life. For years she has been weighted down by guilt and unanswered questions. "I never allowed myself to get pregnant again, I felt so guilty." Through the years she did everything she could to try to find her son--she spoke with the attorney who handled the adoption, visited the hospital where she gave birth, and even wrote letters to the doctors who delivered him--to no avail. Finally, she turned to Search Quest America. Susan, SQA's CEO and Head researcher, located him in Washington after only 4 days.

Carol was worried he wouldn't want to talk to her, but when Susan contacted him, he was so receptive that he booked a plane ticket to meet Carol the following week. Matt has led a very well-adjusted, happy life and is educated, intelligent, and full of class. He is a very successful software programmer and is president of a company that employs over 200 other programmers. "He's incredible," Carol says.

He brought with him photographs of Carol's two grandchildren, 15 and 17. One of them is even graduating high school this year as valedictorian. Carol couldn't be more proud.

"Dear Susan, I just want say thank you because I cannot find any other words to truly express the happiness that has been brought into my life. Finding my son is one of the greatest gifts that I ever received. It all happened so fast and with such grace that it still does not seem real. I still sit down every once in a while to shed a few tears and to try to grasp it all."

"My son flew in from Washington to meet us. We spent magical days together. We now have tickets to fly out there to meet the rest of the family. Again, thank you so very much for all you have done. Linda and yourself have been wonderful to work with. I have called other web sites and felt like I had called a used car lot, but working with you has been a very positive experience. The decision to find someone is a very emotional decision and needs to be treated as such. I am living a fairy tale! It is absolutely unreal."

This January Carol received her own birthday card in the mail. He wrote, "thank you for tracking me down. Love Matt."

(Written by Mica Burton on Carol's behalf.)

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I am 51 years old now, and my parents passed away 13 years ago. Right after the funeral, my aunt came to me and said, "I promised them I wouldn't tell you until they were dead, but I guess I can tell you now. You were adopted, and your brother isn't your brother, he's your uncle." My aunt revealed the whole story. My mother gave birth to a baby boy who died a few days later. She and my father were acquaintances with a woman who was married to an abusive man. She had several children, and when she gave birth to a baby boy at the same time as my mother, she had compassion on her and let my parents adopt him. A few months later, she found out that her 15 year old daughter was expecting as well, and since my parents had provided a good home for her son, the woman forced her daughter to let my parents adopt her baby girl as well. So we were raised as siblings, when in reality my brother is actually my uncle. My aunt provided the original adoption papers, non-identifying information, and encouraged me to seek out my birth family. For me it was a joy to finally know the truth about my adoption, but my brother was devastated and felt betrayed that our parents never told him the truth. I am still angry at them for all the lies they told over the years, but now they are dead and I can't even tell them. My mother doted on my brother because he represented the baby she lost, but I never felt like she loved me the same. In truth I feel like I grew up without a mother, and after all these years I need to find the woman who gave birth to me so that I can feel like I belong to someone.

Two months after I contacted Search Quest America, Julie Jones solved my case. She called me on the phone one day and said, 'I found your birth mother alive and well. She lives in Missouri. She's waiting for you to call." I was shocked. I dreamed of finding her for years, but never visualized how the first conversation would go, or even decided what kind of relationship I was really looking for. Wary, I called her and we had a pleasant, but brief conversation. A few days later I received a long letter in the mail and she told me the whole story.

Supposedly, she was raped when she was 15, and I am a product of that rape. She says that my birth father and one of his friends went to jail over the situation, and though she wanted to keep me, her mother was ashamed and forced her to give me up. How was I supposed to react when I received that news? I never imagined that I was conceived violently, yet at the same time I am not sure how much of the story I can believe. I don't know for a fact if what she says is true, and I am not inclined to trust the mother figures in my life. She also said in the letter that she plans to visit me at my home in Indiana in 2 weeks. I do not feel ready to meet her or to face this new information. I feel like I opened Pandora's box and I am torn between wanting to slam it closed again and wanting to embrace my birth mother and her version of my past. One thing is for sure, I am definitely going to take this reunion slow.

I responded to her letter today. I explained that I am happy to finally know who I resemble. I am grateful to be able to identify myself and know who I belong to. But I am not a scared little girl anymore, I am a grown woman. I do want her in my life, but she can't smother me. I never really had a mother, and I will have to learn all over again how to love and trust her, birth mother or not. But I want to. So we'll take it slow. I am satisfied to finally have all the secrets revealed and the mystery solved. For me it brings closure, peace, and new hope.

(Written by Mica Burton on Peggy's behalf.)

Client ID#241764

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For several years I tried to search for him on my own. I was told he remarried and started a new life, and with only a name and birth date it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Every time I asked my mother for more information about him, like what he did for a living or where he lived the last time she saw him, she would get very angry and tell me, "Drop it. He's not a nice man." But for better or for worse, he is my father and I need to know where I come from. Several years ago she threatened to disown me if I pursued the search, so when I contacted Search Quest America I did so in secret.

My researcher, Julie Jones, made me feel so comfortable. She has handled many cases like mine and she offered valuable counsel about how to approach the reunion without scaring him away. I was so afraid that he might have passed away by now, that he might not want to know me, or worse, that the things my mother told me might be true.

I expected the search to take several months, and I was overjoyed when Julie called July 3rd to say that she had found my birth father alive and well living in Missouri, and he was anxious to speak with me. Hearing his voice for the first time was like a dream. He told me he had always wondered about me and hoped that one day I would find him. He freely admitted that when I was born he was a heavy drinker and an angry drunk, but he has been completely sober for the last 25 years. He did remarry and have a family, and he is excited to introduce me to my three half-siblings, two brothers and a sister. For the first time in my life I feel like a complete person. I told him, "Dad, it has been a long, lonely road without you." He assured me that I never have to be lonely again, because he won't lose touch with me ever again.

To others in my shoes, I encourage you to never stop searching. There is no guarantee that life will turn out the way you want it to, but sometimes it is even better. I am so happy to have found my father after all these years and I hope that Search Quest America will keep helping other people like me to find the missing pieces in their lives. We plan to get together next month to meet in person, and I look forward to our first daddy-daughter hug. I would not trade that experience for anything in the world!

(Written by Mica Burton on Billy's behalf.)

Client ID# 248274

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Robbie's case was assigned to Search Quest America's CEO researcher and lead investigator, Susan Friel-Williams. Just a few weeks after receiving the case, Susan called Windy and Robbie to tell them the names of Robbie's birth mother and siblings. Unfortunately, contacting them directly was more difficult than anyone expected. Robbie's sister, Claudia plays pool at a well-known hall in California, but when Susan called the pool hall to get a message to her, the owner insisted that they didn't know anyone by that name. Windy and Susan tried over and over again, calling at different times and talking to different people who all denied knowing her.

Next, Susan helped Robbie and Windy write a letter, which they sent to Claudia's address. It was returned unopened. Windy says, "We ran into brick walls right and left. But Susan kept in contact with us, which made it a lot easier to trust her. The whole process was very discouraging for Robbie. He would come to me every day and it broke my heart to have tell him 'no, I haven't heard anything yet.' But Susan reassured us that she wasn't going to give up, and she used creative ways to find more information."

Meanwhile, Claudia was going through a difficult divorce. She grew up without ever knowing that her mother gave a child up for adoption, and every time someone called for her she assumed it was related to the divorce. She still lived in the same town and played pool at the hall on a regular basis, but she had instructed all of her friends to deny knowing her if anyone called. She kept her personal number unlisted and her friends were very loyal. Finally, six months after the initial attempt, the phone number for Claudia's son Jeff became available. Susan called him and convinced him to pass the message on to his mother that she had a brother who wanted to talk to her.

Windy recalls, "Susan called June 27th to tell us that she had spoken to Jeff, who then called Claudia to transmit the message that she had a brother she didn't know about. Wanting to know more, she had Jeff call and give Susan her unlisted telephone number. I called that evening. She and Robbie talked through me. It was like a miracle. Robbie's whole demeanor changed. We were disappointed to learn that Robbie's mom passed away in an ATV accident when Claudia was 14. But at least they have each other, another sister who lives in Holland, and a younger brother living in L.A. He has a big old family now, complete with a past and a history and a connection. He came to me the other day with a goofy grin and signed, 'I have a family now!' I can tell he is so happy. Every morning when Robbie wakes up, he texts Claudia, 'good morning sister' and she always responds, 'good morning brother.' Truly, you have all given us a wonderful gift, and we can't thank you enough! We have been telling all of our friends about your company and we hope you will continue to help others like us for many years to come. I would never go anywhere else!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Windy and Robbie's behalf.)

Client ID#227885

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First, I went to the adoption agency, and I was told that my birth mother tried to contact me when I was seven years old. Unfortunately, she didn't leave any contact information. I did learn that her name was Alice Ferrell. My adoptive mother remembered that one of my siblings was a beauty queen, and had won the title of Miss Oakland a few years before I was born.

Next, I requested my non-identifying information, which stated that my birth mother was one of 8 siblings and was born in California. Prior to my birth she had four older children, one of whom had mental health issues, which run in the family. I also learned that I was conceived from an affair and that I am biracial, born to a white birth mother and a black birth father.

When I found all this information, I felt like I had more questions than answers. Was I given up for adoption because of my mixed race? Why did my birth mother decide to give me up, but chose to raise my siblings? At that point I knew I needed help. In September of 2008 I contacted Search Quest America. My researcher, Patty Lawrence, was wonderful. She kept me informed every step of the way and she didn't give up when she hit dead ends.

Finally, in May of 2009 I received the phone call I had been waiting for. Patricia had located my birth family. All of the information seemed to fit--my birth mother was one of 8 children, had been born in California, and raised four children, one of whom had mental health issues and another who had been Miss San Pablo. All the pieces fell perfectly into place. Unfortunately, my birth mother passed away in 2004 after a stroke. I was disappointed to learn that she was deceased, but I really had never expected to have a close relationship with her.

The first call I made after I hung up with Patty was to my mother. I told her that the case had been solved, and asked, "Now what do I do?" She warned me to proceed with caution. "Be careful," she said, "they're still strangers."

At first when I met them I had to agree. We finally connected in June of 2009 and even though they are my blood relatives, we were still raised differently and the age difference makes things interesting. I didn't have much in common with my sisters, but I really hit it off with my brother, who has an outgoing, fun-loving personality much like my own. For a first time in my life, I saw a picture of my birth mother. She seems like a sweet woman, and I have come to understand why she gave me up. When I was conceived she was in the middle of a divorce, was unemployed, and had no education or job skills. She was in no position to take care of a newborn and didn't have anyone to help. Later on in her life she also developed mental issues, and I have come to appreciate the sacrifice she made to give me a better life. I know she had other options, and I'm grateful she gave me life.After all is said and done, I am so grateful to have found them and grateful to Search Quest America for bringing my story full circle. Everyone I talked to was caring and understanding of my needs and my fears, and they made it possible for me to connect to my birth family. What greater gift could I receive? My search has turned out so much better than I expected! My siblings actually want to have a relationship with me. I have several cousins who are my age and I keep in constant contact with my brother. Now that we have finally connected, they aren't strangers anymore, they're friends.

(Written by Mica Burton on Andrea's behalf.)

Client ID#225808

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We need to know the real story of why we were thrown into the foster system. We have no ill feelings toward our mother; we feel that she was going through a very hard time in her life and possibly also suffered from medical problems. My sister, her daughter and I all suffer from migraines and we understand how debilitating they can be. It stands to reason that we probably inherited them from our mother. We just want to meet her and let her know we all turned out okay. I really believe that she felt she was doing the best thing for us.

All I knew about her when I contacted Search Quest America was her name--Nancy Lee. I also knew that she would have been about 23 when I was born in 1961. My case was assigned to Julie, who turned out to be much more than my researcher, but a dear friend. She held my hand through the whole process. She might not have known exactly where I was coming from, but I knew she was on my side every step of the way. I can't say enough about how she went above and beyond to solve my case--she even called me from the hospital one day while she was waiting to have surgery. There she was enduring trials of her own, and she called ME to let me know she would be out of touch for a few days and that she didn't want me to worry. From the very first phone call I received from your company, I knew that you must all really love your job. Each one of you is professional, but so caring and kind at the same time. I can tell you really love solving puzzles for people.

The first piece of my puzzle was a cousin, who told Julie the whole sordid story from my paternal family's side. My father's death was supposedly caused by a heroin overdose. Nancy Lee had a boyfriend who supplied the drugs, and when my dad was killed she ditched the kids and ran off with him, never to be seen again. The family has wondered what happened to us for all of these years, and at every holiday when someone would say, "Ok, everyone's here, we can eat!" my grandmother would quietly remind them with tears in her eyes, "No, not everyone."

I was first put in contact with my paternal family about a month ago, and the reunion has been amazing! They used to live on the same block as my mother, and when she abandoned us, she simply disappeared. They never knew we grew up in foster care and were never given the opportunity to adopt us. They are kind, caring people and have welcomed us into their family with open arms. My siblings and I were invited to a family reunion in Reno where we met tons and tons of cousins, aunts and uncles, and people came from far and wide to meet us. Unfortunately my grandmother died four years ago, but we all know she would have been so happy to know that finally, were all together again.

Julie also found my birth mother alive and well in Louisiana. Not all the news I have received has been positive. Learning that my mother had a heroin problem was shocking, but also made me grateful that I was spared that life. I have spoken with her over the phone a few times, and in a few weeks we will be driving through her town and getting together for coffee to talk. I honestly don't know how much of the story I've heard is true. She swears that she has never had a drug problem and that my father's death was not caused by drug overdose. I am looking forward to setting the story straight once and for all. I never knew a person could be so full of hope, yet wary at the same time. I hate the word closure, but that's exactly what it is. You know the saying, "you can't have peace until you have all the pieces?" Thats where I'm at right now. It doesn't matter how it turns out from here, it just matters that I have the answers I was looking for. I know who I am and where I'm going in my life, but at the same time it brings great peace to know where I come from.

Linda, Julie, Search Quest America, I can't thank you all enough for the service you have provided. I am telling everyone I know what a great experience I had. I know you probably have hundreds of cases, but I always felt like mine was the only one. Thank you for giving me my family back.

(Written by Mica Burton on Johnel's behalf.)

Client ID#237646

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That day, my husband Chuck and I set out on a quest to discover this man's identity and in doing so, to understand my past. It turned out to be a ten-year journey and each time we found another piece of the puzzle we drew one step closer to the truth, but never quite found what we were looking for. At one point Chuck even called the police department in Sacramento, California and asked them to track down the old address. An officer was sent to the home, but the family who lives there now has no information about the previous owners. We pored over old directories, performed internet searches, and wrote letters to several people by the name Jewell Stiell--all to no avail.

Finally, we decided to contact Search Quest America. Our case was assigned to Cindy, SQA researcher, and she has been absolutely fantastic through the whole process. We talked on the phone almost constantly and after just a few months Cindy found the man she believes to be my birth father living only 25 miles away from her home in Washington. She asked me to FedEx photographs of myself, my birth mother, and even the old apartment in Germany where my mother used to live. She called Jewell on the phone prior to visiting him in person. When she saw him for the first time, she could already see a resemblance in our features. At 82 years old, Jewell's reaction was total shock.

"Why couldn't this have happened 50 years ago?" he asked. "I don't remember his woman, but how many Jewell Stills born in January of 1928 would have been in Heidelburg, Germany in 1952?"

Jewell accepts that I am probably his daughter, but he is having trouble figuring out what to do now. "I have several children who are grown now with families of their own. Should I tell them I have another child?" Cindy was wonderful and reassured him that everything will turn out alright. He requested my phone number and asked to keep the pictures I had sent, but so far I have not heard from him.

I agree that this case is probably solved, but I don't feel the emotions I expected to feel when the case was solved. I want to believe that this 10-year quest is finally over, but there is a part of me that still has doubts. I understand that Jewell is 82 years old and that his memory is probably faulty, but I would have felt better if he had remembered my birth mother. Unfortunately she passed away several years ago. We have decided to use the resources at our disposal and perform a DNA test to confirm that he is indeed my father.

I put his picture up on my computer at home and I find myself staring at it from time to time. I think he's the right man, but I have decided to reserve my joy and excitement and relief for the day I get the positive test results back. When that happens, we will meet in person and I will put my arms around him and thank him for giving me life. We will discover the similarities between us and joke about our big noses and maybe I will even get to meet my half-siblings. For today, I'm just grateful to Cindy and Search Quest America for helping bring peace to our family by solving this decades-old mystery.

(Written by Mica Burton on Susan's behalf)

Client ID#240872

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Darlene first wrote this email to Search Quest America on May 25, 2009. She hoped that she would finally be able to find the answers she has sought her entire life. She was not disappointed. Just three weeks later, when her researcher, Julie first called to introduce herself, her case had already been solved.

"The first time I ever spoke with Julie, she explained that she was my researcher and that even though I was prepared to wait up to six months for my case to be solved, she had already found my birth mother! I was shocked, and so grateful," Darlene said.

Darlene's birth mother Joyce lives in Nebraska. Unfortunately she recently went through a series of strokes and has trouble communicating. "I am just so grateful that I found her before her health failed even more. I'm relieved that she's still alive for me to put my arms around her and tell her that I love her."

Darlene has been blessed to become part of a very large extended family with siblings, aunts and uncles, and over 30 cousins. "My mother's sister was the first person to contact me. We cried together and she told me that the family has thought and prayed about me every day since I was born. They have always wondered what happened to me and prepared themselves for the day I would find them. I didn't have really high expectations going into the search because I know it was possible that my birth mother and her family may not be excited when I showed up all of a sudden. I could not have been more wrong. They have welcomed me with open arms and I am just so pleased with the way the search has turned out. I talk with my brother on the phone almost every day, and even though my sister doesn't want anything to do with me yet, I know she will come around in time and that is enough for me."

Darlene has been telling all of her friends about her positive experience with SQA. "I just had a good feeling about your company from the beginning. There's just something really honest about you all." Honesty and integrity are increasingly hard to come by these days, and Darlene is grateful to have found those qualities in SQA, "I knew I liked your company from the beginning. My expectations were surpassed tenfold!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Darlene's behalf.)

Client ID#245608

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Just a month ago I spoke with Search Quest America for the first time. My case was assigned to Julie and she found my husband's birth father in just over a week. Unfortunately, Ted committed suicide in 1990 and I will never have the privilege to meet him. Julie found photographs of him and I was shocked to see that he is the spitting image of Wayne. She also discovered that Wayne had a half-sister, Heidi.

Our first conversation was very emotional. We both wept for lost opportunities and shared our joy at finally finding the answers we had both been seeking. Heidi was 16 when she first learned she had a brother, but she thought his name was Dwayne and was never able to find him, despite repeated efforts.

We made plans for Heidi to visit me in California, and when we met for the first time she shared a remarkable story with me. The day before she got the phone call from Julie, she woke up in the middle of the night from an unusual dream. She saw a tall man with a mustache and goatee. He approached her silently, smiled, and enveloped her in a warm embrace. Heidi startled awake and was perplexed--she had never seen that man in her life.

When she saw Wayne's picture on our mantle the first thing she said was, "Oh my God! That is the man from my dream!" We share our faith in God and believe that we will all be reunited one day. Even though Wayne and Ted never met during this life, we believe that someday they will enjoy their own remarkable reunion.

My only regret is that we waited so long to begin the search. I know Wayne would have been overjoyed to learn about Heidi, and to know that he was the spitting image of his father. Now that I have found Heidi, I won't waste another moment. To others in our shoes, I would say to absolutely search for your lost loved one, and do it now! If they don't want to meet you at least you will know and it gives you closure. Something good will come out of it no matter what.

The most remarkable moment of this whole process happened one afternoon when I opened my mailbox to find a postcard from Heidi. She signed the postcard the same way Wayne used to, saying simply, "Loving you....Heidi." Reading the same words Wayne used to sign brought tears to my eyes. There are so many remarkable similarities between them, and finding Heidi is like having a little piece of Wayne back in my life. I am grateful to Julie and Search Quest America for this gift. I miss Wayne every single day, but at the same time I know that by finding Heidi, I have opened a whole new chapter of my life. Thank you.

(Written by Mica Burton on Libby's behalf.)

Client ID# 238656

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I never thought much about the color of my skin, but it seemed that everyone around me did. People would look at us strangely wherever we went. It was the fifties, and even in the grocery store they would give my mom dirty looks--she was a dark-skinned woman holding a pretty child with curly blond ringlets and olive skin. I can remember in elementary school I used to get in fights all the time. The white girls wouldn't play with me, and the black kids said I wasn't dark enough to be black. I felt like a fish out of water all through my adolescent years. I often wondered what my birth parents looked like, and began to dream of being reunited with them one day. By the time I reached early adulthood, I had learned to make true friends who were both black and white.

I did well in high school and was accepted to Boston College to study accounting. I received several scholarships and grants available to minority students. Unfortunately during my freshman year I became extremely ill with what we now know is Ileitis or colitis. At that time the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, but I would collapse on campus from extreme abdominal pain caused by the disease. I was hospitalized for over a month and one day my mother called me and demanded to know what was really happening. She thought that I was just like my mother and was actually having an abortion, which would have contradicted everything she had tried to ingrain in me throughout my childhood. In that moment I understood why she had always been so harsh and cold--deep down she was worried I would turn out to be just like my birth mother, or worse, my birth father.

A few years later I met and married my husband Chet, who served in the navy for many years. We have been happily married for over 26 years and we have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren. I got that same look in the grocery store when my first son was born with bright blue eyes. Everyone questioned his paternity since they didn't think it was possible for a half-black woman and a Creole man to produce a blue-eyed baby. I always told my son to tell people he got his blue eyes from his mom and Jesus, and to leave it at that. But deep down I wondered about my heritage and dreamed about finding my birth mother.

I spoke with Linda at SQA for the first time last November. I knew it was time to move forward and finally find the answers to my questions, good or bad. Julie Jones solved my case in less than a week. I was amazed at how efficient she was, but shocked at the answers she found.

My birth mother Charlotte is in her sixties and in an assisted living facility in Georgia. She had a troubled childhood, and was one of 4 children. When she was 15 she got pregnant, not as a product of rape, but from a consensual relationship with my birth father. Her parents got a divorce, and her mother decided to keep her two sons and give the custody of her two daughters up to the state. Charlotte was placed in foster care, and then into an unwed mothers home where she was forced to give me up for adoption. Her father died soon after that, and from the trauma of being abandoned, losing her boyfriend, her baby, and her father all at once, she had a mental breakdown and was placed in an asylum. To this day she remains a ward of the state. She never married, never had other children, and never lived what I would consider a normal life.

Right after Julie gave me the news, I took a road trip with a girlfriend of mine and we went to see my mother. We spent 4 days with her, taking trips, spending time together, and asking questions. One moment she has the mental capacity of a child, and another moment she seems almost normal. I asked her about my birth father many times during that trip and since, and she insists that she was not raped, and that my birth father was not black. She says he wasn't as white as she was, but that he was not black. In fact, my original birth certificate says he was white, and since my skin is only olive, I am assuming that he was Italian or something.

Imagine, I am 51 years old and I have considered myself black my entire life, only to find out that I am not actually biracial! All the prejudice I endured, the scholarships I received, and the cultural heritage I adopted--it was all a mistake, perpetuated by someone in the adoption agency who rewrote my story and influenced the way I have been perceived by myself and others for five decades.

Finally I know that my son's bright blue eyes come from my mother. Sometimes they are a little glazed and blurred by age, but they reflect the love she feels for me and her hopes for our future. We talk on the phone frequently and I call the nursing home to check on her from time to time. I am so grateful to Julie and SQA for giving me the answers I needed. I also found out that my mother shares my health problems, and I am grateful for the medical information she has provided. Just to be positive that she is indeed my birth mother, I went to Walgreens and bought a DNA test. When the results came back it was 99.9% positive that she is my mother.

The only part of the puzzle that is still missing is my birth father. At first I was excited because she told me his name, but then I realized it is very similar to the name of the doctor who delivered me, so I think she may be confused about his identity. I hope that I will be able to find him some day because I would like to know if I have any siblings. My mother's sister, who is deceased, did have two children, one of whom is my cousin Edward. Edward and I were also reunited, and he is the one who helped me understand Charlotte's childhood and the circumstances that led to her mental state. Even though my search did not turn out anything like I expected, I am still glad I found my mother. For better or worse, she is the woman who gave birth to me, and I am grateful to have her in my life.

(Written by Mica Burton on Tina's behalf.)

Client ID#227542

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Jay believes that after he left, his father remarried and had other children. He knows their names, Jennifer, Patricia, Anthony, and Timothy, but has never been a part of their lives. He wants to know why. We recently had our first child, a beautiful baby girl named Gabriella who is about to reach her first birthday. She was born prematurely and spent 6 weeks in the hospital. Jay needed his dad during those hard times, and wanted nothing more than to introduce his little girl to her grandpa. A month ago I mentioned that we should try to find his dad, and Jay broke down and cried like I have never seen him cry.

So even with all the hospital bills piling up, we decided to make the sacrifice and contacted Search Quest America. My daughter is a miracle, and we figured we would ask for just one more--the chance for Jay to be reunited with his father.

Our case was assigned to the best researcher ever, Julie Jones. Almost right away she discovered that Angel moved to Illinois after leaving Jay and his family. He was working as a truck driver out of Omaha, Nebraska and worked there until just a few months ago. Julie found Angels brother, Luis, and when she couldn't get a hold of Luis, she found his ex-girlfriend, Eva, who provided his cell phone number. Unfortunately Luis' cell phone was turned off with the mailbox full. She gave us Luis' address and asked us to write him a letter, which we did. We were disappointed when it came back to us--he had just moved and left no forwarding address. But Julie didn't stop there. She put us in touch with a neighbor, who put us in touch with one of Angel's cousins, who passed a message along to Angel. The next day Jay received the phone call he has been hoping to receive for the last 15 years.

"So I hear you've been looking for me, son. Well here I am," Angel said. They talked for hours and I saw the relief and peace settle over Jay. They laughed and cried together and finally Jay has closure. Angel never gave a straight answer about what happened 15 years ago or why he never came looking for Jay. They still haven't met face to face, but Angel is going to come visit us in New Jersey to celebrate Gabriella's first birthday. We are hopeful that they will be able to have a good relationship from here on out, but even if it doesn't work out, Jay is so grateful just to be able to tell his dad that he had a good life and grew up to be a good man. Of course he wants his dad to be proud of him and to be a part of his life, but he is satisfied just to have the opportunity to say, "I love you dad, and I forgive you."

To other people in Jay's shoes, don't give up. Don't be afraid to hope for the happy ending you deserve. We asked for a miracle and we got two of them. Julie and the team at Search Quest America are miracle workers. Julie was excellent and professional all the way through. Our case was solved much sooner than we expected, and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

(Written by Mica Burton on Danielle's behalf.)

Client ID#230272

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My parents told me I was adopted when I was very young. They tried to communicate that I was special and chosen, but I always wondered why my "real" mom didn't want me. I learned early on to keep these questions to myself, however. The few times I mentioned wanting to find my birth mother, my mom made it clear that she would not support me in that decision. So I left it alone.

But the void I felt as a youngster has only grown with time. A few months ago my wife and I were watching an episode of The Locator and we decided to pursue the search for my birth mother in secret. It was a challenge to keep it from my mom. She is 93 years old and since her health is failing, we have been caring for her in our home for several years now.

I provided Search Quest America with all the information I had. I knew I was born in Pennsylvania in August of 1951, and that my birth parents were Jelen Mae Frayer and Earl Elrich. I knew nothing about the circumstances that led to my adoption, and could only infer that my mother was unmarried at the time of my birth. I was still trying to figure out how to break the news of my search to my mother when I received a call back from my researcher, Julie Jones. She had already located my birth family!

Unfortunately my birth mother Jelen Mae passed away from a heart attack several years ago. Julie did find out that I have a half-brother named Richard. With my permission, she contacted him on my behalf. Richard had no idea his mother had another child. He was so convinced to the contrary that he hung up on Julie when she first called him. When she called back he said, "I don't know what kind of scam you are trying to pull, but I am an only child."

Julie calmly outlined the facts. She described my birth mother in detail, using names and dates and facts that Richard could not deny. He agreed to discuss the matter with his family and then get back to her. In the meantime, Julie contacted Jelen's sister, my aunt Martha. For several years Martha has worked at a Walmart just a few minutes from my home. Coincidentally my wife also works there, and they have spoken on more than one occasion. She was also shocked to learn that her sister had had another child, but after speaking with Julie she was eager to meet me.

I called my wife right after I got off the phone with Julie, and she approached Martha. They cried together right there in the store. Since that day we have gotten together many times and I was able to talk to Richard on the phone. Seeing photographs of my mother is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I look just like her, and for the first time in my life, my void has been filled to know where I came from. I can't believe we have all lived so close together for all these years and never knew we were related! I wonder if I ever met my brother, passed him on the street, or ate in the same restaurant at the same time.

Unfortunately, there are still several mysteries that will remain unsolved. My birth mother hid her pregnancy from the world. She must have given birth alone and although she was very close to Martha she never confided in her or discussed her decision to place me up for adoption. Richard was six when I was born, and since Jelen was unmarried, she may have felt that she did not have the resources to raise another child. No one knows who my birth father was or if he knew about me. I will continue searching for him and hopefully find a few more answers.

For now I am content to get to know my brother and make up for lost time. Thank you Search Quest America for making this reunion possible. Your services have by far exceeded my expectations and I wholeheartedly recommend your company to other adoptees who are searching for answers as I was.

(Written by Mica Burton on John's behalf.)

Client ID# 224216

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December 13th I was in a terrible car accident and I was reminded that life is short--you can't wait around for dreams to come true, sometimes you just have to make them happen. I used the settlement from the insurance company to pay for the search, and after researching Search Quest America's reputation on the internet I knew I was in good hands.

Susan found my birth mother in less than a month. She was living in a small town in California just 35 minutes away from my home. She has lived there for over twenty years and when I got her address I almost didn't know what to do with it. I originally planned to send her a letter first, but when I told my daughter the news, the first thing she said was, "Road Trip!!" She and her fiance got in the car that day and drove to my birth mother's home and rang the doorbell. When she opened the door, my daughter burst into tears.

When she composed herself she asked, "did you give a baby girl up for adoption on October 27, 1952?"

"Yes, I did. Why do you ask?" she replied.

"Because that was my mother. I think you're my grandma!"

Ruby stood there in shock for a moment, and then said, "Oh my God!! Come in, come in!"

The rest is history. My daughter took a moment to calm down and then called me on the cell phone and I was able to speak with my birth mother for the first time in my life.

I have always longed to find her. In fact when I was younger, my mother tells me I used to say, "I want my real mom!" whenever I was sick or particularly upset. It has been my lifelong dream to get to know her and that moment was so unreal. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged to someone and there was a purpose to my life. Don't get me wrong, I had a great life. But it's like you're walking around all your life with this big hole in your heart and then all of a sudden it gets filled up. You feel complete for the first time ever, and for me it felt better than I ever imagined it would.

I also finally got the answers I needed to the medical mysteries that have plagued me my whole life. I have had heart trouble since I was a child, and you can't imagine the frustration I felt every time I would go to a new doctor and have to explain that yes, I understand these problems are hereditary, but no, I don't know my family medical history. Now I know that my mother has these same issues along with a few others I need to look out for. Plus I learned my true heritage. I always knew that I am part Indian, but I thought I was also English. It turns out that I am a mix of Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian, along with Irish and German. There isn't an English drop of blood in my body, and for some it might be a small thing but for me it means the world to know my true heritage.

We also have a lot of little things in common that I wasn't expecting. I never knew that little mannerisms could be inherited. For example we both cross our ankles and always run around barefoot. I hate to wear shoes and so does she, isnt that crazy? Both of us have the attitude that "what you see is what you get, if you like me you do and if you don't you don't." I never even considered that I might get that from my birth mother.

When I was born she never saw me, but she did know I was a girl. She named me Glenna Louise after my dad, whose name was Glen, but the funny thing is that my middle name today is also Louise. It is a happy coincidence. You know I always watched The Locator show and worried that when I found my birth mother she might be dead or not want to make contact. I couldn't have been more wrong. She says that the day my daughter rang her doorbell was the happiest day of her life.

A few months ago she came and spent the weekend with us. She met her three granddaughters and six great grandchildren. We are the first family that she has had in her life in a long time. I was able to make contact with her four children, who are my half-siblings, but after a family dispute, she hasn't spoken to them since 1985. I can't imagine what could make me let her go now that I have her back, and I'm trying to be the middle ground to get everyone back in touch again. Even my adoptive mom is happy for me, and I am just determined not to let any more time pass without my birth mother in my life. Ruby says she thought about searching for me many times throughout my life, but out of respect for me, she waited--she didn't want to disrupt my life. She always hoped that one day I would come looking for her, and we are both so happy I did.

Thank you Search Quest America for helping my Christmas wish come true. It might be June, but I will always remember it as the best Christmas gift I could ever have received. You are angels, all of you.

(Written by Mica Burton on Maggie's behalf.)

Client ID# 234180

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That is the email Jeanette sent to Search Quest America in February. A few weeks later she received a call from SQA search consultant Andy. "Andy was very helpful. He explained my options and helped put me at ease. I researched SQA on the internet and then decided to pursue my search. I'm so glad I did!"

Jeanette's case was assigned to SQA researcher Patty Lawrence. Patty kept in touch with Jeanette as each clue was uncovered over the next two months. Like many adoptees, Jeanette had more information than she realized. After talking with Patty she remembered being told that her birth mother already had other children when she was born. She also knew that her birth father was an attorney and was married at the time of her birth. These clues were vital in solving her case, and finally, on April 27, 2009, Jeanette received the phone call she had been waiting for.

Unfortunately, Jeanette's birth mother Adrienne Cooke died in December of 1969 from an accidental drug overdose. But Patty did find two of Adrienne's sisters, Catherine and Karen, who found out about Jeanette's birth shortly after Adrienne's funeral. When Patty contacted them they were overjoyed to find the missing piece of their family. After only a few months of searching, Jeanette was reunited with members of her birth family.

"Of course it was disappointing to find out that my birth mother passed away. But I knew that was a possibility when I started the search, and I feel blessed to be reunited with my aunts. At least I have been able to get to know her through family photos and by listening to the stories my aunts tell me about her. The only down side is that because my aunts did not know about my birth until after Adrienne died, they don't know who my birth father is. That is a mystery that went with my birth mother to the grave."

Catherine and Karen were able to provide information about Jeanette's half brother, who was given up for adoption shortly after Adrienne's death. She now knows his name is Sean C. Cooke Teeter and was placed for adoption with an older couple in Arizona. Jeanette is about to begin another search for Sean, and hopes to find the last piece of the puzzle.

Jeanettes advice to other adoptees is, "prepare yourself for any kind of outcome. If you recognize up front that things might not turn out perfectly, it will be easier in the long run. Just be patient, take it day by day, and be grateful just to know one way or another. Even though my search didn't turn out exactly as I hoped it would, I'm still so happy I searched."

(Written by Mica Burton on Jeanette's behalf.)

Client ID# 236968

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The brightest part of the whole pregnancy was the birth. I was older than most of the other girls, and because I was more mature they actually let me hold him for a few minutes. I counted his fingers and toes and marveled at how beautiful he was. Then I had to hand him back to the nurses and watch them take him away forever. It was a difficult decision, but the best thing I could do for my beautiful son. He deserved two parents who loved him and could take better care of him than I could.

I have lived the last forty years of my life with all these questions in the back of my mind. Is he ok? Is he happy? Is he healthy? As the years passed I wondered what his first day of school was like, if his first girlfriend was pretty, if he played sports or went to college. As the years passed I saw young families and wondered if he had settled down and started a family of his own. I ached to know if he knew he was adopted, if he ever thought about finding me, or if he harbors feelings of resentment for my decision to give him up.

I am almost sixty now and decided that it is time to find the answers to these questions. I eventually married and had a set of twins, a boy and a girl. I have kept the knowledge of their brother secret all these years. I told my daughter first and she encouraged me to contact Search Quest America after seeing an episode of The Locator on TV. We sat down and sent that first email together. All I wrote was, "I had to give my son up for adoption. I was a 19-yr-old college student with no means of support, and from a large Catholic family. I have prayed for him every day for the past 40 years, and want nothing more than to hold him in my arms and tell him that I have always loved him. Please help me."

I got a call back from Search Quest America a few weeks later. I decided to pursue the search and my case was assigned to Linda Strength. About a month after opening the case, Linda called me and told me she thought she had found him. I decided I wanted to call him on my own, and felt crushed when I found out that he had just moved from that address and the phone number had just been disconnected. But it wasn't a dead end. Since we had his name, Linda and I turned to the internet and found his current whereabouts on Facebook of all places.

The moment I saw his face on that tiny photograph, I knew it was him. He looks just like his father, and there was no doubt in my mind that this was my son.

So I sent him a message. I asked, "Were you born April 7th, 1969 and put up for adoption?"

He wrote me back five minutes later and said, "Yes I was. Why do you ask?"

I typed back, "Because I think I'm your birth mother and I have been waiting 40 years to hear your voice. Please call me." I provided my phone number and waited by the phone for about an hour, until finally it rang. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life. We spoke for over an hour and it was a dream come true. I explained the circumstances of his birth and found out that he never had hard feelings towards me, but also never thought about finding his birth parents. He had a good life and was raised by great parents and never wanted to rock the boat. He told me about his family--he has a wife and a little girl named Parker Ann. All I could think was, "I have a granddaughter!"

I told him about his brother and sister and expressed my desire to have a relationship with him and his family. But as we hung up I left the decision up to him to figure out if he wanted to correspond on a regular basis. He went home and talked to his family. Since I am the one who did the searching, it was really quite a shock for him to hear from me out of the blue. But it was also exhilarating for both of us. The next day I got an email and he said that after talking it over with his family, he would like to meet me and his siblings and is open to having a relationship with all of us. I couldn't be happier!!

Since that day he has talked with his siblings over the phone and on Facebook. He created a private website and every day he uploads new pictures and videos of his family. Every day when I wake up I look forward to seeing Parker Ann's sweet smiles.

The other day he asked me, "What made you search for me now, after all these years?"

I pondered on the question for a while and then replied, "I turned 60 last December, and I decided I didn't want any more years to pass before finding out if you were ok. You have been in my prayers every day for 40 years. I finally decided that I deserve the peace of knowing you had a good life. Thank you for giving me that gift and for letting me be a part of your life. I love you."

(Written by Mica Burton on Jean's behalf.)

Client ID# 154602

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I found out I was adopted at an early age, but my childhood and youth years were turbulent to say the least. I had a great father, but I lost my mother when I was 16. I didn't know who I was or where I came from and I ached to know both of my mothers. I am now successful with two children, one girl 25 who is a medical student and a boy 16 who is working towards getting his pilot's license to pursue a career as a medivac pilot. I have reached a point in my life where I need to find the answers. Who is my birth mother, what were the circumstances behind my adoption, and does she care to know me and her grandchildren?

Two weeks after I first spoke with my researcher Patricia, my case was solved--or so we thought. Patty found the woman listed on my birth certificate, whose name is Eileen, along with her sister, Marna. First, she contacted Marna and asked her questions to verify that she had found the right Eileen Smith. Marna answered Patty's questions but seemed a little cryptic. She insisted that Eileen had never given a child up for adoption and left it at that. Patty was sure she had found the right person, so she tracked down Eileen's two daughters and gave me their phone numbers.

I thought it would be less of a shock if I contacted my sisters first, so I mustered my courage and picked up the phone. They were open to the idea of reuniting with me, but never knew their mother had given a child up for adoption. They called her right away and asked her about it.

Soon afterwards, I got a call from Eileen. She said she had never given a child up for adoption, and she was not my mother. However, she did drive her sister Marna to the hospital the day I was born. It turns out that my mother forged her (Eileen's) name on my birth certificate. This woman wasn't my mother, she was my aunt. Patty had already spoken to my mother Marna, but she did not come clean about her true identity.

I found out from Eileen that Marna is almost 70 years old and is suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. She takes care of her husband who has severe dementia, and she has had a hard life. Before I was born she was engaged to a young man and pregnant with his child. One day when they were walking down Main Street, a car jumped the curb and came straight for my mother. Her fiance pushed her out of the way and was hit by the car himself. He did not survive the accident, and she never got over it. When the baby boy was born out of wedlock, she decided to give him up for adoption. That little boy was my half-brother.

A few years later, she fell in love with a married man. They had an affair and during that time I was conceived. My birth father's wife knew about the affair and confronted my mother. One day they all sat down at a nice diner, and holding hands with her husband, she asked my mother if she would let them raise the unborn child, me. My mother was a staunch Catholic and did not believe in birth control or abortion. But she was also a jealous woman, and out of spite gave me up for adoption to a stranger. My birth father simply said to his wife and his mistress, "I love you both, don't make me choose."

The affair continued for ten years. She conceived another baby, this time a son. Again, my birth father's wife approached her and asked to raise the baby, and again, Marna gave him up for adoption. As I listened to this story I began to form a picture in my mind of a passionate, yet cold woman. The first thing I did was call Patty and say, "Guess what, my mom isn't really my mom. She's my aunt."

I called Marna a few days later. She didn't seem surprised to hear from me. She knew the phone call was coming after she spoke with Patty. She told her version of the story and said, "Unfortunately, I got pregnant from the affair. Please forgive me, but I thought it would be better if you were raised by a family that wanted you." She was never good with babies, and never intended to be a mother. At first I was hurt when I heard these words, but I realize that she gave me life in an era when she had other options, and I am grateful to her for that. I told her that I love her, and that I forgive her for giving me up. She was very emotional, and I could tell she was relieved to know that I harbor no ill feelings toward her. I said, "in your own time, just let me know and maybe sometime we can meet. I have no expectations whatsoever, and if we never meet that is ok too. I just want you to know that I love you."

Although Marna eventually got married, she never had other children. This left me with another responsibility--to find my older half-brother and my younger full brother, both given up for adoption. This is where Patty really went above and beyond. Technically, my case was solved because she found my birth mother, who was the original subject of my search. But instead of closing the case and marking it solved, she did a little extra research and found my half-brother.

His name is Charles and he is a private investigator. If he had wanted to find his birth family, he could have done it on his own, but he was content with his life and never cared to know more about his birth family. In fact, when Patty first contacted him and explained who she was, Charles said, "Im not interested" and hung up the phone. When she called me the next day and told me what happened I was very discouraged. But she gave me his contact information and I found him on Facebook. I sent him a message, explained that I am his sister and just wanted to give him the opportunity to know me and find out about his mom. I didn't really think he would contact me, but a few days later I got the call.

He explained that after stewing over it for a while, he decided that "my parents are my parents, and I don't care to meet the woman who gave birth to me. But you are my sister. You are an innocent part of this just like I am. Plus you are the only blood I have in the world and I would like to get to know you." I was thrilled that he had a change of heart. We have been talking over the phone and on the internet a few times a week and we are forming a relationship. He is happy to know the circumstances behind his birth, but still has no desire to meet our birth family.

I, on the other hand, am planning to get on a plane in just a few days to head out to Washington and meet my aunts and uncles and several of my cousins. They have welcomed me with open arms and after corresponding on the internet and over the phone for the past few months, I feel like I already know them. I can't wait to meet them in person. I won't be meeting my birth mother this trip, however. She lives in California and I don't think either of us is ready for that yet. I also found out that my birth father passed away a few years ago, and his wife is also deceased. He died of a heart attack, and though I am disappointed that I will not get to meet him, I will eventually meet my other siblings and learn about him that way.

The one missing piece in this puzzle is my brother. I don't even know his name yet, and Patty and I are working in partnership to find him. I hope one day I will get to meet him and see if we look alike. We are full-blooded siblings, after all. For now, though, I am overjoyed with the progress I have made.

To Patty and Search Quest America, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. To others in my shoes I would say... don't discount the possibilities. If you are like me and feel that searching for your birth family is like taking a shot in the dark, do it anyway. It boggles my mind to think that a few months ago, all I knew was my birthday and that I was born in San Jose, California. Patty has truly been a miracle worker, and without the help of Search Quest America, my reunion would still be just a distant dream. Move forward with optimism and you will be surprised what comes your way. Sandy.

(Written by Mica Burton on Sandy's behalf.)

Client ID#238713

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It brought up a lot of unresolved feelings for me because my mother committed suicide when I was 3 years old. I started thinking, "gosh, we are talking so much about how this woman died. I wonder how she lived." I also began to wonder how my mother lived, and what ever happened to my half-brother, Robert.

I was raised by my mother's family and my brother went to live with his father, who is from Persia, the country that is today known as Iran. I knew that after my mother's death, Robert's father took him there and my family never heard from him again. After the revolution, they returned to the States and lived in Arizona, but we never heard from them again.

I have always loved my brother and longed to get back in touch with him. I even named my 20-year-old son after him. I contacted Search Quest America in March and the only information I had was Robert's name and approximate birth date. He was seven when my mom died. After talking with a search consultant, I decided to pursue the search. My case was assigned to Julie Jones, and she found Robert in just a few days. He is still living in Arizona, and Julie says that when she called him he was thrilled to get back in touch with me.

He still remembers me, and he has always loved me. He calls me his "baby sister" when we talk on the phone and for both of us it is like having a little piece of our mother back again. I don't remember anything about her, but in his childhood memories he sees her as a fun, loving woman who always tried to make us smile. We have exchanged photos and are building the relationship we always longed for. For the first time in my life I am starting to know how my mother lived, instead of focusing just on how she died. I know she loved me, and it is wonderful to know that I have a brother who still loves me and who never forgot about me.

We talk on the phone every day and I have been telling all my friends that if you are searching for someone, the reward is much greater than any chance of disaster. I know I got lucky because he was happy to be found, but even just for the sake of closure it is definitely worth searching. It is always better to know than not to know, and what you can gain is so much better than anything you might lose. We are going to meet over Memorial weekend this May, and I get a silly grin when I think about it. Thank you Search Quest America for helping me find my brother! You have given me the opportunity to know not just my brother, but my mom too. Thank you! Yvette.

(Written by Mica Burton on Yvettes behalf.)

Client ID# 237816

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"My sister and I were abused as children. When she was 13, Rebecca became pregnant as a result of the abuse and she was moved to my grandparents' house to live during her pregnancy. She delivered a baby during the summer of 1975. The baby was whisked away and she was never allowed to see it or know the sex of the child. I ran to the nursery and got a glimpse of the baby to see what the sex was. It was a baby boy.

"The baby was given up for adoption, and we went on with our lives in a different city and different school as if nothing had ever happened. Years passed and as adults we began to wonder what ever happened to that little boy. We tried to find him, but have not had any luck.

"My sister is my role model in so many ways. She is so kind-hearted that she donated her kidney last year to her half sister. I know that this part of her life causes her pain. She rose above a terrible situation and then her baby was taken from her--she needs to know that he is ok. Our step-father adopted both of us when we were in junior high. We do not know whether our parents used her real name or her adopted name at the time of her birth.

"I realize that you may not be able to help us, but we hope that you will at least give us some direction. The child was born in the summer of 1975 at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, Ca. My sister has the Doctor's name somewhere in a file. We tried to get information and sent a request form to Sacramento, but no records were found. My name is Sandra and I want to do this for my sister. Please help us."

That was the email Sandra first sent to Search Quest America in February. After Becky decided to pursue the search, her case was assigned to Susan, who found her son Rhett living in Idaho two weeks later.

Rhett always knew he was adopted. From time to time he toyed with the idea of finding his birth mother and learning the circumstances behind his adoption, but he was happy with his life the way it was and never pursued the search. When Susan first called his home, his younger brother answered the phone. Since he was also adopted, he knew right away what was going on when Susan explained that she finds missing friends and family for a living. He gave her Rhett's cell phone number.

When Rhett received the phone call he was on the highway somewhere between North Dakota and Idaho. He drives truck for a living and goes to school part time at Idaho State University.

"When Susan first contacted me I thought she was pulling my leg. But she came down with the facts. She knew a lot about me and the circumstances of my birth. I had to pull over at a rest stop and call her back after my hands stopped shaking. I mean, I always knew this day would come. I have 2 siblings who are also adopted and sometimes we talked about how crazy it would be to receive a phone call out of the blue one day. Well this was my moment, and I didn't know what to say. It was so sudden.

"But I was open to meeting my birth mother. My parents raised me to know that my adoption was the best thing that could have happened to me. I never felt any resentment towards her. I knew she was very young when I was born, and that it must have been a very painful situation for her.

"Susan asked me if it was ok to give Becky my phone number. I said go right ahead, let them call me. I don't have any hard feelings. I was a nervous wreck for the next 3 or 4 hours. Finally, Becky's sister Sandy contacted me first. We had a good talk, but I was a mess for 2 weeks after that. I don't know why, really. It was just strange to think that I went 33 years without knowing the details and secrets of my past, and then in one phone call its like BAM--here you go.

"We met face to face 2 weeks after that first phone call. She lives in California. She flew to Salt Lake and she came up to Idaho and got to meet my whole family. It was a little strange for me to see my birth mom and my adoptive mom get together and talk like old friends. But I was happy it went so smoothly.

"Mothers Day is coming up soon and I've already spent several hours in different grocery stores trying to find her the perfect card. We talk every day. My four kids got to meet her, and were excited to welcome her into our lives. It's a great beginning, and I'm happy she found me."

(Written by Mica Burton on Sandy, Becky, and Rhett's behalf.)

Client ID# 231515

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I started my search 40 years ago by joining a registry in Louisiana where I was born. But beyond that I never knew how to go about finding her. As the years passed I realized it was becoming unlikely that I would find her still alive. But I never gave up because I at least wanted to know my siblings.

I fell in love with The Locator show from the very first episode and thought about writing in to the producers. But week in and week out I sat through new episodes and never took the time to fill out the inquiry online. Finally when the second season began my daughter twisted my arm and we sat down and did it together.

I received a call from Search Quest America, who decided to take my case. The case was assigned to Cindy and she was marvelous!! I was dumbfounded when she solved my case in only three days. She found my birth mother still alive and well at 97 years old. She has a bit of Alzheimers and lives in a nursing home. Incredibly, she only lives 300 miles away from our home in Louisiana.

Yesterday I took my son and daughter and we drove out to meet her for the first time. She can't speak, but you can see in her eyes that she is very much alive and aware. She can answer questions with the nod of her head. We walked into the room and said hello. We introduced ourselves and finally I decided to ask her the all-important question.

I asked her, "did you ever give a baby up for adoption?" She nodded yes.

"Was it a little girl?" I asked. She nodded yes again.

"Did you name her Patricia Ann?" This time she started crying and nodded yes over and over again.

I had tears in my own eyes as I explained, "Well I'm that little girl, and I just want you to know that I'm doing just fine. Thank you so much for giving me a great life. I love you."

She might not have been able to talk to me, but I learned everything I need to know just by looking in her eyes. It meant so much for me to be able to give her a hug and tell her I loved her. We chatted for a while as I rubbed her back. I told her about her grandchildren and their accomplishments and about my life growing up. When it was time to leave, I gave her one last hug. I noticed that there was something different in her eyes. The loneliness we had seen when we first entered the room was replaced by peace.

I also feel that peace in my own heart. I have two half brothers and a half sister. I am still waiting to hear back from my siblings and other members of my family, but I know it will come in time.

My advice for others is don't ever give up. I never thought she would still be alive. Hire a professional and then work with your investigator--the little things you think don't make a difference might be the breakthrough in your case. My researcher tells me that my birth mother is the oldest person the Search Quest America team has ever found alive. I'm grateful for their help and definitely recommend their services to others. It feels like I have a part of the puzzle that was always missing from my life, and I feel whole for the first time in many years. I am so happy I searched! Elaine.

(Written by Mica Burton on Elaine's behalf).

Client ID# 239262

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I was watching The Locator one day and got on the internet and filled out the application form. I got a call from Search Quest America three weeks later and they were willing to take my case. The day after Cindy opened my case, she solved it! First she located one of my aunts. My aunt confirmed that Cindy had found the right family, and said "we wondered what ever happened to you!"

So far we are handling the whole situation with kid gloves because I don't know these people or what the situation was at the time of my birth. I have been told that my mother tried to find me several times over the years, but didn't have the resources to do it. At one point years ago when my siblings were 8 and 10 years old she sat them down and told them about me. They have always wanted to get to know me, and now that I found them they have accepted me with open arms. I couldn't be happier!

We're planning a secret get together for Mother's Day. Mom doesn't know anything about it. It has been 7 or 8 years since everyone was together, and we are all going to get together and surprise her in Tucson.

The one piece that is still missing is my birth father. She told me his name and a little bit about him, but she doesn't have very much information. My wife and I live in Washington, and on the way to Tucson we are going to go look at high school yearbooks and see if we can find my dad. Mom says that right before I was born he joined the navy and went to Korea. A few months after he left, my mom found out she was pregnant. This was 1952 and she was 18 years old. She didn't have much choice in that era but to find a husband and get married as soon as possible, but the man she married didn't want anything to do with me. He made her give me up for adoption, and she never even saw me the day I was born. She went on to live a productive life, but her husband was a mean man and my siblings tell me that family relations have always been strained.

Looking back I am grateful to have been adopted. I ended up with some people who really wanted me. It was the best thing for me. I got a good dad. My birth mother is 75 now and I am looking forward to meeting her, but I also want to meet my birth father and bring this whole story full circle. One interesting thing is that just like him, I was also in the navy. I wonder what else we have in common, and if I look him.

My only regret in this situation is that I waited so long to hire a professional. My wife and I have been looking for ten years, and although we made progress, we were never able to put the whole picture together. If I had known how positive my experience would be I would have hired Search Quest America sooner. I couldn't believe how attentive my researcher was--we were informed at every move she made. After all is said and done, it was well worth hiring a professional and I think the cost was very reasonable for the service provided. We are very happy, and we definitely recommend Search Quest America to others in my position.

After we all get together in May I will send pictures. I expect it will be a life-changing experience, and I'm grateful I found her before its too late.

(Written by Mica Burton on Bills behalf).

Client ID# 239595

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I was five the last time I saw her. She was a drug addict and my sister and I were taken away by social services. I was the oldest, and even at five years old I felt like it was my responsibility to take care of my baby sister. It tore me apart when I couldn't protect her. We weren't adopted until I was 12 years old, and for years I prayed that my mom would come back for us, but she never did. I just want to know if she is still alive and if she thinks of me on my birthday.

I have been looking for her since I was 19, but my search was going nowhere. When I contacted the agency that handled my adoption they told me the records were destroyed in a fire. One day I was flipping through the channels and I saw the show The Locator. I honestly never thought anyone would call me back, but I filled out the form online hoping they would. I got a call back a few weeks later and Search Quest America agreed to take my case. I was amazed when my investigator, Julie Jones, found my mother in less than a month.

It has only been 2 days since I first talked to my mom on the phone. Over the years I painted in my head this perfect picture. I thought for sure that she would have turned her life around and made a good home for my younger brothers. But unfortunately that is not the case. 24 years after I was taken away, she is still using drugs. She even had a stroke recently, but it didn't stop her from living her current lifestyle. Of course I am disappointed, but I knew this could happen. I did not start my search with blinders on and I understood I might not like what I found. I prepared myself for the worst and even recognized that by the time I found her she might be dead.

At least she's alive. I have several relatives who have welcomed me with open arms, and I look forward to getting to know them. I think the real victims are my other siblings, who never got out of the situation. One of my brothers has been to prison, and it's obvious that their environment made life hard for them. I am grateful that I got adopted by a good family and had a good life.

This year my birthday will be very different than all the rest. I am going to New York to meet my cousins and aunts and uncles, and of course, my mom. It is truly the best birthday present I could ever receive. Knowing where I come from helps me figure out where I'm going and be grateful for the blessings in my life. I have a beautiful daughter who will get to know her family, and be a part of their lives. She will never have to wonder who her biological grandmother is, and that is a blessing in itself.

Thank you Search Quest America for making my reunion possible. You have given me a great birthday present and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Tamekia.

(Written by Mica Burton on Tamekias behalf.)

Client ID#238399

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"I never wanted to give you up. But I had to." She had 2 other children and was divorced, and this was the early 60s. She was struggling financially as a single mother. She met a man and planned to get married when she got pregnant with me. No one knew she was pregnant and about a month later, he left her. She didn't know where he went and when I asked her about him all she would say was "he was scum; he was a rat." When she found out she was pregnant, she left her other two children with her parents and came Mississippi where I was born. One day when she went to see her doctor, he convinced her to give her baby up for adoption. He promised her I would go to a good family and be well cared for. My adoptive mom worked in his office and she adopted me.

Loretta thought about me over the years but it was a private adoption and she thought she would never be able to find me. My adoptive parents didn't want her to have any contact with me growing up. They took me away the moment I was born and she never even saw me.

So she went back to her life trying to raise her kids. Life went on for both of us until I got sick in my early thirties. I had a lot of problems we couldn't explain and one day my mom approached me with a manila envelope. It was my original adoption papers. She thought it might help to find my mother and get my medical history. I knew that was a great sacrifice for my mother. She loved me so much she was willing to risk losing me, even though she had adamantly refused to talk about the adoption over the years in fear I would search for my birth mother and replace her.

It turns out my mom was friends with the attorney who drafted the adoption papers. Most people don't get copies of the adoption decree, but my mom got a copy and kept it all those years. I was grateful for the information, but at the time I wasn't in a place in my life to search for her, so I let it go.

Ten years later I started getting sick again, and this time I decided to find her. I never knew my birth mother's name until I read the adoption decree. Loretta Smythe Staley. I repeated it over and over again in my mind, trying to picture the woman behind the name. I had often thought about my birth mother when I was younger, but I never talked about it or asked questions because I didn't want to hurt my adoptive parents.

First, we got a court order to open the rest of the files for medical reasons to see if there was anything else in there. You aren't allowed to take the papers out of the courthouse, but you can walk in and they open the file and let you read it. The day I read the papers I was ill and didn't digest much of the information. But I knew her name, and a few other details, so I contacted a private investigation firm.

My first search started with a company out of California, but they didn't find anything. They let me linger for 2 years, like a carrot just out of reach, and then sent me a letter saying that my case was closed because Loretta Smythe Staley was a fictitious name and there was no one in the United States by that name. I was devastated. I had been waiting for 2 years with the hope that they would find something, and then my case was closed and they couldn't give me one shred of information about her. I was back to square one, and out several thousand dollars.

Then a few months ago a friend of mine saw Troy The Locator. At her insistence, I put in a request at the website. I kept submitting requests until finally I got a call back from Patty at Search Quest America. I started talking to her and one thing led to another and here we are. And it was definitely worth it! I first signed the papers in December and by April I received the phone call I had been waiting for.

Julie explained that she had found my mother, and had spoken with the man she lived with. Unfortunately, she had a brain aneurism four years ago, and she has good days and bad days. She's not quite the same woman she was, but she has lucid moments when her old self starts coming back again. Gordon says she wept when she found out I was searching for her. She called on one of her good days.

It turns out there are no medical skeletons in the family closet. I don't have any answer for the problems I've been having, but I do have answers to all my other questions. I just got off the phone with her and if you ask me how I'm feeling I don't know what I would even say.

We talked for a long time, and when she said "I have to go," I started crying. When she said those words something snapped in me and I felt like she was saying goodbye forever. But she said "don't get upset because I have to go. Now that you have taken the time to find me, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I won't lose you again."

She and Gordon are going to arrange everything for me to fly to Tennessee in June. I have been telling everyone, if you are serious about your search and you have exhausted all your resources, put some money aside and do it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

After all is said and done, I'm happy I searched. Ever since I started 10 years ago I have wondered about it. I want to say I'm happy, but I don't know how I feel, really. I'm glad that its over and I don't have to wonder anymore. But I don't know what to do now or what the future holds. I am excited to see photographs of her and find out if my three daughters favor her.

But I still haven't told my adoptive parents that I searched. How will I tell my mom I found her, and will it break her heart? What will I say when I see her in person? I can't figure out why I'm still crying, as I type this. I think it's a relief to finally know, but I'm scared it won't turn out like I've always hoped it would. But I'm praying it will,and I will try to have faith and be patient in the whole process. At least I know she always loved me. Denise.

(Written by Mica Burton on Denises behalf.)

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In the last 18 years my life has taken many wild turns. I was hooked on drugs, ran away from home several times, and defied my parents at every turn. Looking back I realize that I was trying to fill a void in my life. I grew up as an only child and my adoptive parents treated me well, but all I could think about was that my real mother had given me away. For many years I felt worthless, and that despair turned to rebellion. I defied both my parents and the law. I pushed away everybody that ever loved me and wanted nothing to do with my family. After all, I kept reminding myself they weren't my real family--and my real mom didn't want me anyway.

My life took a dramatic turn this past December when I was nearly killed by someone I believed was my friend. I was shot four times in the neck and barely survived. I am grateful to have a new lease on life, and as I lay in the hospital bed I took a hard look at my life and decided to turn it around.

I am sure that many would agree based on my past that I was very lucky, but I am full of guilt for the things I have done. I wonder why I survived with all odds pointing against me. I'm currently back living with my adopted parents. I realize now how much they do love me and that they have always wanted the best for me and given me all they could. The hate that I had for my parents is gone and I'm so full of regret for my past.

My biggest regret is not appreciating all that my family has done for me. I realize now that I have a purpose and I am trying to figure out what that purpose is. The main reason I decided to search for my birth mother and siblings is to understand and appreciate my life and all those involved. I have tried to cross the bridge to forgiveness and understanding many times, but haven't quite been able to make it across. I need to meet her and look her in the eyes and ask her why she gave me up.

I understand that she may have her reasons for not wanting to contact or meet me--in that case all I ask for is closure. I am a strong believer now that everything happens for a reason and I believe that my mother put me up for adoption looking out for my best interests. If I could just tell her one thing, I would like for her to know that I love her and I wonder every day if she ever thinks about me. I have an old photograph of her and I cannot believe our resemblance. I constantly wonder about her personality, interests, hobbies, and whether or not she had other children. I want to know if she has ever regretted the day she signed the adoption papers, and if she will let me into her life now that I am an adult.

When I contacted Search Quest America all I knew was her name and that she was 22 or 23 in 1991 when I was born. My parents were one hundred percent opposed to my search--they didn't think that finding her would bring me peace, only heartache. Nevertheless they respected my wishes and turned over the original adoption papers. They even agreed to pay for the search and my dad went with me to fax the contract. I expected the case to take several months to solve, but Patty called me only two days after the case was opened to give me my birth mother's phone number. She is still living in Oklahoma not far from where I was born.

I have waited so long to ask her all these questions, but now that I have the piece of paper in my hand with her phone number written on it, I can't seem to pick up the phone. I keep replaying my parents version of the story in my head. She was a single mother with 2 young kids. She wanted to go back to school and couldn't afford another child. So she put me up for adoption. But Patty tells me that she finished school, got remarried, and had other children. Patty called her home and left a message with her husband. He knew about me and promised to give her the message. Patty waited a few days and called back--he said he gave her the message and left it at that. She never called Patty back, so finally Patty gave me her phone number directly.

It has been one week since I first received the information from Patty. I still haven't called her. I keep thinking the worst--what if the reason she never called is because she wants nothing to do with me? I think the best thing to do is to write her a letter.

"Dear Kathy. My name is Liz, but you probably remember me as Lisa Ann. That's the name you gave me on February 1st, 1991. I'm 18 now and an adult, and for 18 years I have wondered why you gave me up for adoption. I am not angry, but I need to understand why you did it, and I need to know if you ever loved me. You see, I've had a hard life, mostly because of my own bad choices, but I'm trying to turn everything around. Finding you is a big part of the process for me. I'm sending this letter because I don't want to interrupt your life, but if you are willing I hope you will write back or call me. I want to know if I look like you and if I have siblings. I grew up as an only child and it would mean the world to me to know that I belong somewhere. I paid a lot of money to find you, and the way I see it the ball is in your court. Here is my address, email, and phone number. I hope youll call. I've always loved you. Liz."

I am going to put this letter in the mail today and then I am going to wait. I hope she will find it in her heart to write back to me. Worst case scenario I will at least know that I tried. But I'm hoping she will write me back and it will be a new beginning for us both.

(Written by Mica Burton on Lizs behalf.)

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When I was just a child, I said goodbye to my mother for the last time and watched her drive away. She thought my dad's sister would take care of us, but she didn't have the means or the inclination to do so. At first she pawned us off on other relatives until finally there was no one left and we were placed in foster care. After several months, my dad found us and got custody. He was an ex-marine, flipped out and loony. We were terrified of him growing up, and abused as no child should be.

Somehow we overcame our circumstances and grew into happy adults. I got married and had a family of my own and could never understand how my mother was able to just walk away one day and never look back. I heard over the years that she remarried and moved on, and I was angry that she had forgotten us. I also knew that she was an alcoholic and had grown up in difficult circumstances herself, but I still struggled with feelings of bitterness.

There comes a time in everyones life when open chapters need to be closed and old wounds put to rest. For me, a large part of the healing process was finding my mother. I wanted to look her in the face and see what kind of woman she had become, and deep down I needed to know if she ever loved me.

For me personally, it was a matter of prayer. I believe in a divine creator, and I believe that he hears and answers me when I pray. One day I sat down to talk to him and said, "Ok, God. You know where she is. If you're such a big God, then tell me how to find her." I asked for what I needed, and kept asking until finally I was pleading for that connection and for answers to my lifelong questions.

First, I hired a private detective to find her. After paying several thousand dollars I was told she was not interested in making contact with me. When I tried again to contact her a few months later she had moved and I felt I had reached a dead end. Finally, I contacted Search Quest America and purchased a comprehensive database report. I found out that over the years, Mom remarried and moved several times. I received an address, but no phone number.

The first thing I did was send her flowers. It was her birthday, and it seemed like a good way to break the ice. I called a local florist and had them delivered. On the card I wrote, "Happy birthday, Mother, from your daughter Karen. I've always loved you." We waited for weeks, and never heard anything back.

My husband and I prayed and prayed to know what to do. Finally he stood up and said, "I feel like were supposed to just get on an airplane and go out there." That day we booked a flight to Washington. We rented a car and drove to her small town, all the while practicing what we would say. We even typed out 3x5 index cards. "Hello, my name is Karen. I am your daughter." What do you say to a woman who abandoned you a lifetime ago?

When we pulled up to the small, quaint house we saw that the next door neighbor was outside doing yard work. We got out of the car and approached him. His yard was separated from my mothers yard by a large hedge, and he gestured that direction and said, "Marge has Alzheimers. She's nice enough most days, but she won't remember you tomorrow. So don't expect too much. She's been an alcoholic all her life, and it doesn't look like she'll last much longer."

It's hard to explain what I felt in that moment. I had conjured up in my mind the image of strong, independent, hard-hearted woman. In my mind she was still the woman who turned her back on my brother and I fifty years ago. I never pictured her as an ailing or elderly woman, nor had I considered that I could find my mother and still never find the answers I sought.

The next moment, we heard a frail voice from the other side of the hedge. My mother walked right up to us and looked me square in the face. I thought, "I'm 50 years old and this is the first time I'm ever going to see my mother."

She said, "Hello, could you come over here and help me? My back is hurting and I need to sit down." Such a simple request, but I froze to the spot. After a moment I came to my senses and took her by the arm, leading her back to her porch and easing her into the chair by the door. It was surreal. We sat on the porch chatting for a few minutes as if we were complete strangers. Then she said, "I'm getting cold. Could you help me inside the house?" she invited us in and we sat down. We heard a shower turn off in the back of the house and her husband Larry joined us a few minutes later.

We couldn't forget that we had come for a reason. Marge left the room for a moment and I asked, "Larry, do you know anything about Marge's past? We have a few things to tell you that might surprise you."

"Lately, after what I've been through, nothing surprises me," he said. "I know she was married before, and at one point she had 2 children. She used to wonder about them. You know, before. She said she had to get away from that man, but she always felt bad about leaving her kids. Drunk herself near to death over it," he muttered.

Marge was off in the kitchen fussing over something, and we explained to Larry, "I'm Karen, and I'm her daughter. I came to find out who she is, and how she's doing, you know. I don't need anything from her. I have a wonderful life. I just needed to know what had ever happened to her."

"Well she isn't doing so good right now. Not sure what kind of shock it would be to know who you are if you know what I mean. We got the flowers you sent, but she was detoxing at the time. You know she's an alcoholic. I didn't tell her who sent them. All those years she ran away from what she did and tried to forget about it. Now she's an old lady and the Alzheimers did it for her. You really want to bring it all up again?" I understood what he was asking--that I turn around and walk away and leave the past alone.

I didn't know what to do. The scene in front of me was so different from anything that I had been expecting that I had no idea what to do or say.

So we didn't do anything. We spent a few minutes on a chilly afternoon getting to know a lonely old woman. We smiled at her jokes that didn't quite make sense, patted her on the back and said "Goodbye for now." We snapped a few pictures and she never even asked why. As we walked out she said, "it has been a nice visit. Why don't you come back tomorrow?" But her husband shook his head behind her and his message was clear--don't come back, and don't tell her who you are.

On the airplane my husband asked if I was disappointed. "You seem very serene," he said. "Are you ok?" I thought about that question for a long time. Was I ok? I had asked and pleaded for the opportunity to meet my mother just once. I felt like God was saying to me, "here it is. You wanted this. I always knew where she was. Now you do too."

Meeting her gave me answers and truly, it changed my life. It also gave me hope. It closed chapters of my life that have always been hanging open. Even just to know that she's alive settles something in me. So I just laid my head on my husband's shoulder and I said, "I know I'm not alone in this world. That's enough for now."

That was last September. I've done a lot of soul-searching since then. I have decided that I'm going to visit her again in the spring. This time I'm going to tell her that I'm her daughter, and that I love her. Then I'm going to wrap my arms around her and tell her that I forgive her, and God does too.

This isn't a tragic ending--it's a happy one. I don't pity her because I know she chose her life. She wallowed in it every day. I dont hate her, I forgive her. Life is about choices, and that was hers. This is mine.

(Written by Mica Burton on Karens behalf.)

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Eric grew up happily and joined the military as an adult. In February of this year, he contacted Search Quest America in search of his father. "My name is Eric and I would love to meet my father one day. I often wonder what he looks like and if I have other brothers and sisters. I am currently in the United States Air Force and I'm married and we have a beautiful daughter who often asks about her grandfather. It hurts me to tell her that I don't know my father. I'm at a point in my life that I need to know who my father is and my daughter needs to know her grandfather. Can you help us?"

After speaking with Linda, SQA search consultant, Eric's wife and mother decided to pay for the search as a gift to Eric. The case was solved just thirty days later, thanks to SQA researcher Julie Jones.

Today, Eric's father Rodney lives in California. With over 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry and a wealth of experience with youth development and community service, he has dedicated his life to educating, enriching, enhancing, and empowering the youth and young adults of inner city communities. He is a well-known spiritual leader and activist, and is married with a large family. Unfortunately, he didn't know he had another son, and the revelation came as quite a shock to him and his family.

After receiving Julie's report, Angela decided that the best way to make contact with Rodney was through email. She sat back and waited for several days for a response.

A few days later Angela wrote, "Julie, you will not believe all that has happened! I emailed Rodney directly last Sunday. I told him the story of what happened between us, and I gave him the website to see pictures of Eric as well as myself.

"In the meantime, Melinda went on Facebook to see if she could find anything, and--you're not going to believe this--she found Tim, his oldest son on Facebook! She sent him a message asking if Rodney is his father. Tim said yes and asked why. Melinda told him about Eric, and who he is. Needless to say Tim was shocked, but he listened. Melinda sent him pictures, and told Tim about his late uncle. Tim listened and then said 'well I guess there are six of us now.'

"Since that time, he and Melinda have corresponded regularly, so much so that it seems as though they've known each other for quite some time. Tim's wife Veronica has also come on board. She has accepted Eric, and she and Melinda speak frequently.

"Rodney called me for the first time this past Tuesday. He claims not to remember me and he requested a DNA test. That was no problem, and I even offered to pay for the test because I can understand his skepticism. But since Tuesday, I heard nothing else from him.

"But through the correspondence between Tim and Melinda on Facebook and by phone I've learned the following: Rodney's wife was quite upset when she heard the news, and I am told she cried inconsolably, but she always had a feeling that there might have been another child out there. The sisters are just finding out, and the youngest one was mad at her father, but not with Eric, and all the sisters wanted to know if their father knew about Eric all the time. He did not. I had told him that I was pregnant, but that I didn't know what I was going to do, and then he never saw me again because I told him that I didn't want to see him anymore (mind you I was only 19 and had never been in a situation like that before).

"Anyway, Melinda never believed that Rodney would go through with the DNA request, and so far he has not, especially after seeing the pictures of Eric. The resemblance is strong, and Eric looks like his late uncle. Tim sent Melinda and Eric pictures of the family, and Eric looks more like Rodney than any of his siblings. Tim met with Rodney and during that time Rodney told Tim that he's 99.9% sure that Eric is his son.

"All of this happened this week, and because of the information you obtained for us, Melinda and I were able to find the second brother on My Space. As it stands right now Tim and his wife Veronica accepted the situation immediately, and they correspond with Melinda and Eric. Tim joked with Eric that he's still the older brother. Rodney knows about Eric, but so far he has not contacted him.

"Thank you Julie for locating Rodney. I never would have known to look for him in California. In the past I had concentrated in Michigan. I never thought he'd be found, never, and for this to happen, and for Eric to have an opportunity to know his father as well as his siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc, is more than I could have ever imagined. And if there are a few blips along the way regarding the family's adjusting to this new knowledge regarding Eric, well that's a small price to pay for Eric's knowing who his father is. Thank you soooo much Julie, and thanks Search Quest America. Sincerely, Angela"

In the past month since Angela sent this email, Eric and Rodney took a paternity test and are still waiting to receive the results. Meanwhile, Eric is about to be re-stationed and hopes to have the opportunity to meet Rodney before possibly being moved overseas.

Eric's advice to other individuals in his shoes is to "have faith. Have patience. Something will happen. I went all of my life without knowing my father and I never thought I would find him. Somewhere in the back of my mind I hoped I would, but with patience and faith it all worked out."

(Written by Mica Burton on Erics behalf.)

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"I was 16 years old when I got pregnant. I lived in an abusive, alcoholic environment and did not want to raise a child in that environment. I have been searching for her on my own for several years, but I hit a dead end. I feel like a part of me is missing and would really like to be part of her life if she will let me."

Through the years Kathleen wondered if her baby was healthy and happy with her new family. She wondered what her name was, and thought of her as "Amanda" in her mind. For years she yearned to fill the hole in her heart, yet worried that she had given up the privilege the day she signed the adoption papers.

Kathleen first spoke with SQA search consultant Matthew on April 4th. Matt explained to Kathleen that at Search Quest America, we make every effort to be forthcoming with our clients and only take cases we feel are "solveable." Kathleen decided to pursue her search, and forwarded the signed contract right away. She was shocked when a few hours later, Matt called back and said that SQA head researcher Susan had already found her daughter. "It was just mean to be," Susan recalls. "I was just getting started with the preliminary research and everything fell into place."

Kathleens first question was, "Will you tell me her name?" She wept silently when Matt replied, "Allison. Her name is Allison." A few minutes later after the emotion sank in, Kathleen opened her email account and saw a photograph of her daughter for the first time. "Shes beautiful! She has my red hair and my eyes."

Yet through the emotion, Kathleen was able to keep a clear head and proceeded with caution. Instead of picking up the phone and calling Allison right then and there, she waited until Susan called Allison as a third-party intermediary.

Susan recalls, "I called and left a message on Allisons cell phone. I said Hi, this is Susan with Search Quest America. This is the phone call you have probably been waiting 32 years to receive. Its about March 18, 1977. Call me." When Allison got the message, she happened to be in the middle of the airport. She had just arrived in New York City for a weekend getaway with her girlfriends. When she called Susan back and discovered that her birth mother was trying to contact her, she was in shock. Next, she felt excited. Finally, she felt cautious. She was unprepared for the reunion, but willing to talk to Kathleen as long as she agreed to move forward at Allisons pace through email.

Susan called Kathleen back right away and provided Allisons email address. Kathleen spent hours trying to find the right words for that first contact. She wanted to express her love and explain her reasons for giving Allison up for adoption. Yet she also wanted to communicate her respect for her privacy and her hope that they would be able to build a relationship, albeit slowly.

Kathleen and Allison have been corresponding via email for just a few weeks now. Kathleen plans to visit Allison in Washington this summer, but in the mean time they correspond regularly through email. "Im glad it worked out this way, instead of just running out to Washington to see her. This way we get to know each other."

Most importantly, Kathleens heart is finally at ease knowing that "Allison is grateful I didnt put her through the things I went though. She had a happy life, and thats what matters. Plus, she feels that this happened at a good time in her life. We are building a great foundation through our emails. I am very lucky that she understands why I gave her up. I now feel good about the decision I made. I don't know where this is going to take us, but you changed my life. A part of me is now at peace and I am looking forward to building a relationship with my daughter and my two granddaughters. Thank you."

(Written by Mica Burton on Kathleens behalf.)

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"One day I made a delivery to their home and Cheryl invited me in. Cheryl had a couple of small children and her sister was there with a couple of her kids. Cheryl led me to the next room, one thing lead to another and we were intimate. I stopped at the home a few times after that but there was never any answer. I only drove the truck a few months and took another job. Nancy was pregnant with our second child, Tina. A few months after Tina was born I got a phone call from Cheryl.

"It was the first time we had spoken since the encounter. Cheryl said she needed to see me so I drove over to Maryland the following weekend. When I got to her house Cheryl introduced me to Christie, a little blond girl about one year old. I knew before Cheryl said anything that she was my child. Cheryl told me that she was separated from her husband Tom when we had sex and Christie was conceived. When she found out that she was pregnant she reconciled with him and he thought that Christie was his child. Cheryl told me that she wanted nothing from me and, because of her circumstance, I could not be a part of the child's life but she thought she should tell me about Christie.

"I haven't seen Cheryl or Christie since that time but I sometimes think about Christie and wonder where she is and how her life has been. Do I have grandchildren I haven't met? Nancy and I were divorced in 1978 but I made no effort to contact Cheryl while Nancy was still alive because I thought it would dishonor her. Nancy and I had 3 children and she is no longer with us. I have 2 grandchildren and a great grandson.

"A few months ago I paid a small fee to have an online search done for Cheryl. The report identified a person by that name who lived in Maryland. The report lists the woman's age as 72 which is about right for the woman I met. I have hoped that one day Cheryl would tell Christie about me and that she would try to contact me but it is likely that she doesn't know I exist and grew up thinking that Tom was her father. A few days ago I told Tina about Cheryl and Christie. It's kind of ironic that Tina and Christie were born within a couple of months. I'd like know how Christie's life has been but I don't want to intrude in her life if she is not aware that I'm her father. If I could make contact with Cheryl I could at least answer some questions that have been hidden in my heart for many years."

When Charles contacted Search Quest America, his case was assigned to Julie. It took longer to have the case assigned to an investigator than to have it solved. As Charles says, "it only took a week before she had it nailed!"

Unfortunately, Cheryl passed away some years ago. But Julie found her three daughters, Patricia, Donna, and Brenda. There was no child by the name of Christie. In fact, when Donna was first contacted by Julie, she didn't believe that either of her sisters could have been illegitimate. She was angry at the suggestion, but agreed to speak with Charles. They spoke at length, but Donna adamantly stated that neither of her sisters were born in the right year. Charles described the house perfectly, and even remembered details from the interior, but Donna didn't budge. She took down Charles' contact information and said she would contact him if anything changed, but Charles thought he had reached a dead end. He had found the right family, but his mystery still wasn't solved.

But Julie didn't give up. She researched each of the girls at length and discovered that Brenda was indeed born in the right year--it was a perfect match. Julie contacted Brenda, who had no trouble believing she had a different father out there. She grew up as the only blond in a dark-haired family, and had often wondered where her personality quirks came from.

Brenda called Charles right away and they were happily reunited. It turns out that they have several things in common, including the beginning stages of Glaucoma. To satisfy members of her family, however, Brenda and Charles took a paternity test and are waiting for the results, which will come back in two weeks. But Charles says, "at this point it is just a formality. We both know she's my daughter."

According to Charles, his experience working with Search Quest America was "fantastic. If you do it without a professional you're wasting a lot of time. I didn't want to make a cold call out of the blue and say 'hey, I'm your father.' I needed a third party to make the call and soften the blow--thats exactly what Julie did."

To Julie, he writes, "I want to thank you for finding Brenda for me. We email daily and talk on the phone a couple of times a week. Brenda and her husband are driving up next weekend and we will have dinner and time to get to know each other better. Brenda tells me that she refers to me as Dad in conversations with family and friends.

"Brenda and my other daughter Tina, who is 5 months younger than Brenda, keep in touch via email, phone and text messages. Tina hopes to come down to Florida in the summer and meet Brenda and her family.

"When I met little Brenda some 45 years ago, I reserved a room in my heart that has remained unfurnished, except for a mental picture of that little blond girl who was one year old. We are working on furnishing that room and hopefully it will one day be as complete as are the rooms for my other children, grandchildren, and my great grandson.

"Thank you so much for your efforts. I could not have hoped for a better result. Charles."

(Written by Mica Burton on Charles behalf.)


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"My grandfather died of Cancer, and after I informed my father that I had it, he got tested. He also has Cancer and is being treated. My main objective in finding my son is not to invade his life, but to get him the medical information he needs before it's too late.

Steven worked together with Julie, SQA Researcher to find his son. He provided his ex-wife's full name, approximate birth date, and her last known location--Oklahoma. Julie put the puzzle pieces together and called Steven with his ex-wife's phone number in less than a month.

"I called Gloria first. She was surprised to hear from me, but I was more surprised that she was civil after all those years. We got caught up, talking about this or that and finally she asked if she could pass my phone number along to our son John. I said, 'of course, that's why I'm calling.' It was about 11 at night, so when I hung up the phone I got ready for bed."

The phone rang again at 11:30. It was John. "Dad, is that you?"

They spoke for three hours. For John, it was like floodgates opened and he was finally able to tell his dad everything he never got to say over the years. He had always wondered why Steven never came looking for him, and wondered if his parents' divorce was his fault. "I always imagined him living a happy life," Steven says. "I was shocked to hear about the hardships he went through over the years. I never knew how much he needed to hear me say the words 'I love you.'"

Steven also found out that he is a grandfather. He has a daughter-in-law and 2 beautiful grandchildren. "There came a point in the conversation when John asked me 'why now?' It was hard to tell him I have cancer. Even harder to tell him that based on our family history, he has a 75% change of getting it too. Right now theres no tellin'", Stephen says.

Both John and Steven are grateful to be reunited, but plan to proceed with their reunion cautiously, one step at a time. To SQA, Steven wrote, "I'm very satisfied with you people. You did something I couldn't have done and I thank you."

(Written by Mica Burton on Stevens behalf.)

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When Alan first wrote to Search Quest America, he had no idea how to find his birth mother. He figured if anyone could do it, we could, so he took a chance. When he first signed the contract, he faxed over 18 pages of information that had been sitting in his garage for years--her full name, date and place of birth, and lots of information that for him had seemed useless.

"I never knew what to do with all that stuff. I had no idea that Cindy could use her birth date to locate her. And it only took about two weeks! I am still in awe."

After 54 years of separation, Alan and his brother were reunited with their birth mother. Alan flew from Hawaii to Minnesota to meet her. Alan realized that what he needed most wasn't answers as to what happened or why. He just needed to look into his mother's face and know that he had been loved all those years. "I don't need to know the details any more. I am just so grateful that she's still alive and well. I want to look forward, not backwards."

It was an emotional reunion for both of them. Alan admits sheepishly, "I had some tears when I saw her for the first time. I kind of broke down. We went to lunch today over at the Black Buggy. We've been driving around, doing this and that. Catching up on all those years we missed together. Most of all, I am trying to show her that I turned out to be a good man, and that I love her."

To other individuals searching for lost family members, Alan advises, "DO IT NOW. I wish I would have done it a long time ago. I was almost too late. I've been telling everyone about Search Quest America and what a great experience I have had."

To Search Quest America, he wrote, "Thanks to Cindy my mind is at ease. I finally talked with my mother after 50 plus yrs. I sent her off a package today. Her birthday is Monday. I plan to call her tomorrow.
I just want to say GREAT JOB to your whole team. If it wasn't for Search Quest America I don't think I would have ever found her. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Alan's behalf.)


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"I'm forty now and an adult, but throughout the years I have imagined so many scenarios about who he is, and what kind of man he has become. Deep inside I know nothing of him. I am afraid of dying someday without having the opportunity to meet him and talk to him. I will never know why he left but I want to hear his side of the story. I want to ask him if he ever thought about me. Did he ever miss me? Did he ever look for me? What happened 40 years ago? I have to know."

Those are April's words, sent to SQA by email in February. All through her childhood she dreamed of daddy-daughter dates and yearned for the normalcy of a two-parent household. Now as an adult she watches the way her husband interacts with his daughters and wonders why she never had that opportunity.

All her life she has been confronted with questions she could not answer. Before she could join the military she was required to list her fathers name and background. It felt foreign to write the name of a man she had never met. When she experienced unexpected health problems, her doctor asked for a family medical history that she could not provide.

"It makes me angry. It makes me sad. I want to know his story. I want to know what happened. I want to know him. I don't want anything from him--I'm an adult, I went to college, I have my own life. I just want answers."

April graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. She worked in Wall Street in New York City and gained several years of experience in the corporate world. April was pursuing a double Masters Degree in International Business Management and Information Systems when tragedy struck September 11, 2001. Her experiences that day motivated her to join the military. She met her husband and became a military spouse, and soon received a medical discharge. She currently works for higher education encouraging and educating military soldiers and military family members to pursue higher education.

April's case was solved quickly, and she wasn't prepared for the phone call she received from her researcher, Julie Jones, one morning. Julie said, "April, I have good news and bad news, are you sitting down? The bad news is your father passed away in 2001. The good news is you have three brothers. One of them knows about you and he can't wait to talk to you. Write down this phone number."

An avalanche of emotions hit all at once--gut-wrenching sadness to know that she would never get to meet her father, anxiety at the idea of idea of talking to her brother for the first time, and joy to know that her dad talked about her and that he loved her.

As she reflects on the experience, she says, "It was like a dream. We exchanged pictures. He told me about dad and how he died. It was November 17, 2001 and he had a heart attack and died in his sleep. I wish I could have known him, but it's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders just to know what happened."

April treasures the text messages she received from Jeremy the night they spoke for the first time. He wrote "Hey little sister now that it sunk in, I am ur little brother and I love u from this day forth and nothing will keep us apart! I promise! Were family! Luv ya." He also wrote, "We will have a whole life to live together! U have no idea how happy u have made me! Thank you for finding me I'm forever grateful!"

Aprils reunion hasn't been picture-perfect, however. Although Jeremy promised to contact her the next day after talking to his brothers, April never heard back from him. "I think he got cold feet after talking to members of the family. It was devastating not to hear back from him."

April has been waiting for weeks now. She has sent emails, but does not want to pressure him. She received a quick email back from Jeremy a few weeks ago. He explained that he is going through some personal issues and said, "this is really personal and I can't share this it you. I know you're my sister, but I just met you. I promise I will call when I'm ready."

April is still waiting, and she's not giving up. Her immediate problem is that she and her husband will be moving to Europe for the military within the next few months, and April's dream is to meet her brothers in person before she goes. "I want to respect their wishes, but I just need to meet them. I don't know if we'll be gone for 3 years or 6 years, and I feel like time is running out."

No matter what happens, April is happy she searched. "My experience was positive from the first email I sent. Julie has been amazing and everyone I have talked to has been professional and caring. My reunion might not have turned out how I hoped it would. But I'm not giving up--my story isn't over yet."

(Written by Mica Burton on April's behalf.)

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"I was adopted at 2 days old. My adoptive parents were always very open with me about my adoption. I was five when they explained that I was very special because I was 'chosen.' I have always wanted to find my birth mom and thank her for taking the time to search for the right parents for me. My birth mom is in her 70s. Time is running short. I have started searching for my birth mom and dad many times but have had to stop due to my own family crises. Would you please help me?"

That was the email Debbie sent to Search Quest America last October. "I had faith in Search Quest America because I watched The Locator show and saw that everyone is treated with so much respect. I wanted my case to be handled with that same regard."

Like most clients, Debbie expected her case to be solved within six months. "When they found her within 4 days I was stunned." Even more amazing is the fact that Debbie's birth mother is still alive and will be celebrating her 80th birthday in June. In fact, she was overjoyed to reconnect with Debbie over the phone. She said, "I missed you and I thought about you every day, and especially on your birthdays."

Meeting her daughter will be the best birthday present she has ever received. Debbie will be flying from California to Maryland to meet her for the first time April first. She has already met three of her half-sisters and her half-brother. "It has been exhilarating to get to know my half-siblings. I couldn't ask for more."

However, Debbie's reunion isn't picture perfect. She was very disappointed to learn that she was conceived from infidelity. Her birth mother was in the midst of a divorce and her birth father was a married man. Finding her birth mother enabled Debbie to find her birth father's name and birth date, which led her to his family in Hawaii. Unfortunately, by the time Debbie found him, he had already passed away. Although she has 2 half-siblings on her father's side, they are not as receptive and do not plan to pursue a relationship with Debbie.

"I have experienced both sides of reunion. I have felt the joy of finding my birth mother and siblings and being welcomed into a new family with open arms. But I have also felt the disappointment of finding a birth parent deceased and family members who are not eager to reunite," Debbie says. She wants to encourage others to recognize that both situations are plausible, and when beginning your own search it is important to "prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Yet finding her birth mother has provided Debbie with priceless information, including her heritage. She found out that she is half French and half Norwegian. After all is said and done, Debbie is happy she searched. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to say 'thank you.' "I feel so much respect for both of my mothers. There's no jealousy or animosity. Just joy."

(Written by Mica Burton on Debbie's behalf.)

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A few months ago, all Debra knew about her birth mother was her name--Barbara Lowery. She remembers her mother as a kind, loving woman, but those pictures are stained with memories of abuse and neglect from Barbara's boyfriend, John's father. When Debra was just 3 and her brother 4 they were taken by social services and put into foster care. Debra was fortunate to be adopted at age six, but she never knew what happened to her brother or her birth mother.

She was 16 when she first felt the need to find her birth family. She was 30 before she found her brother. He was not as fortunate as Debra, and she was heartbroken to discover that he was never adopted, but bounced in and out of foster homes and group homes throughout his childhood and adolescence. As a teenager he sought for belonging and found a place in a prominent Los Angeles gang. Unfortunately this path led to drugs, prison, and a life of heartache.

"I jumped through so many hoops to try to find John. A friend of mine used his resources in law enforcement to help, but John was listed as a 'transient' in the database. I went to his last known address hoping to find some direction, but it was a rehab clinic. I could have stopped looking then. In fact, when I sat down with his parole officer, he told me to leave it alone. He recited my brothers criminal record and emphasized that John is not the same person I knew as a kid, he has changed. I knew there was a chance I might not like what I found, but I had to find out anyway. Finally his P.O. gave me the information. John was incarcerated and scheduled for a hearing the next week and I could go--if I wanted to.

"I thought about it. I agonized over it, but I had come this far and I couldn't give up now. So I went, and brought with me an old photo of the two of us together. As I looked into the faces of each criminal I tried to identify my brother, but couldn't find any trace of the John I knew. A few days later I went to the jail to meet him. I'll never forget sitting across from him for the first time. My heart was in my throat, but when he started talking, I knew it was him. All I could think was 'this is my brother.'"

Debra wrote to him for months afterwards and they began to get to know one another. She started to piece together his life story and reflected a hundred times on how different their lives had been. Sometimes she blamed her mother for the circumstances that led to their separation. "I wondered what ever happened to her, if she thought about us or if she had other children. I asked myself what kind of woman lets her kids get taken, and why she never came back for us," Debra said.

Finally in 2008 Debra decided to get the answers. Her husband and children encouraged her to call Search Quest America after seeing Troy Dunn on an episode of Dr. Phil. "We didn't have the money, but my husband talked to my kids and they decided to do it for me as a Christmas present."

Thanks to Debra's investigator, Susan, she was able to find the answers to her questions. But as Debra says, it was 'bitter closure.' Her birth mother passed away several years ago, but Susan did find her sister living not far away. The only problem was that there was no phone number. "Susan told me to write to the address and wait a few weeks for a response. I said I would and hung up the phone. But then I called back a few minutes later and said, 'Susan, I just have to go over there, I cant wait!' She warned me to be careful, but I figured, what's the worst that could happen? I took my husband with me and we just knocked on their door. My auntie opened the door and all of a sudden I couldn't think of anything to say. My husband asked her if she had a sister named Barbara. She said she did, and he pointed to me and said, 'then this is your niece.' She looked at me hard in the face, and then went pale like she had seen a ghost. But she let us in!"

Those two hours changed everything for Debra, including her perspective. She discovered that her mother was also a victim of abuse. "Getting involved with the wrong man cost her more than just her kids. It cost her life. Just a few years after we were taken, John's father locked her in a room for several days without food or water. The only thing she had was alcohol and she drank herself to death. All of a sudden the pieces came together and I realized that the reason she never came for me wasn't because she didn't love me. Its because she never got away. I realized that I wasn't the victim, I was the survivor."

According to her aunt, Debra looks just like her mother, and sounds like her too. Her family always wondered what happened to Debra and John, but had given up hope of ever finding them. Debra hasn't decided yet whether to tell her brother what she found. "Now that I have the information I can put this chapter of my life to rest. But that man was John's father, and I don't know if it would help him or devastate him to know what happened. I can give him an aunt and extended relatives he never knew he had, but is it worth it? I just dont know."

When asked what advice she would give to individuals searching for answers of their own, she said, "Pray about it and if its right, pursue it. Be confident that it will all work out one way or another. It can be painful, but finding the answers brings closure."

Debra wants to send a message to the world about the terrible consequences of abuse. "This situation ruined my brother's life and scarred mine. All my life I have had abandonment issues. Now I'm just trying to break the cycle and teach my children a better way." Debra's son, 20 and daughters, 17 and 2 are proud of their mother for her strength of character and determination. We are too.

(Written by Mica Burton on Debra's behalf.)

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When Melody turned 18 she petitioned the court to have her adoption records opened, but was denied. Instead, she received a report from the State of Florida that included her birth mother's maiden name, age, and physical description. Melody took these clues one step further--she researched Tampa school records and discovered that at the time of her birth, there were only four high schools in Tampa. She took a friend and went to each of the high schools. She pored over pages and pages of yearbooks until she found a blond-haired blue-eyed girl with the right last name. Her first name was Poly.

Armed with this information, she was ready to begin her search. Her sister-in-law saw the Troy the Locator show and encouraged her to go to the website to get more information. She wrote an email, and said, "I have been looking on and off for my natural mother since I was 18. I have always wanted to know who she is and thank her for giving me a great life. She made the right decision and I'm doing great. I have a handful of info on her but I'm at a dead end. I'm not sure where to go from here. Please help."

A few days later Melody received call from Linda. "She let me know that they could definitely help me because I had enough information, but it was right before Christmas and the search was out of my price range." Luckily, Melody's sister-in-law wasn't willing to give up. She sent a secret email to all of Melody's friends and asked them to help her give Melody the best Christmas present ever--they were happy to help.

Melody spoke with SQA's research team for the first time Tuesday morning. By Wednesday, she had her birth mother's location and phone number. She was shocked to discover that for the past 10 years she has lived 5 miles away from her birth mother and grandmother in Birmingham, Alabama. "My grandmother lives off a main highway and I've been passing her house every day for 10 years!"

The search happened so fast that Melody didn't feel prepared for the reunion. But her birth mother and grandmother were extremely receptive. They had been hoping for years that Melody would find them one day. "My birth mother always thought about looking for me, but she didn't know how I would feel about her. She thought I might be angry and she didn't want to disrupt my life."

Poly works as a neonatal nurse in Birmingham, but she was never able to have other children. Every time she held a newborn child in her arms she ached for Melody. "They all welcomed me with open arms. They even had a big open house with a huge balloon that said 'It's a GIRL'."

Since being reunited, Melody and Poly have discovered several coincidences. Not only do they live in the same town, they also have the same striking blue eyes. Poly never knew her daughter's name, but she always thought of her as "Dawn," which is Melody's middle name. Melody says, "I really never imagined it could be this way. Everyone warned me that I should be careful and that it might not turn out well. But it has! And I'm so happy. It has been an amazing journey."

(Written by Mica Burton on Melody's behalf.)

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She grew up in a difficult household. Her father was abusive and her mother ran away from him and took Lanette and her brothers with her. After struggling financially for several months, Cynthia realized she didn't have the means to raise her children alone, and made the most difficult decision of her life--she gave them back to their father. Lanette was only three at the time. As an adult she always dreamed of finding Cynthia and getting to know her.
Lanette's case was solved in 14 days, but when she received the phone call from SQA's research team, the news was bittersweet. Cynthia was remarried and had three other children, two boys and a girl, Lanette's half siblings. Tragically, Cynthia passed away in 2000 in an accidental house fire. She was trying to make sure her three children, Adam, Chris, and Felicia, made it to safety. They were rescued in time, but Cynthia was killed in the fire.

Her son Chris was 13 and even at 20 he still can't talk about that night without getting choked up. He always knew he had other siblings. "She talked about them all the time. She didn't want us to forget our other sister and brothers. She just didn't know how to find them."

When Chris first got the phone call from SQA's research team, he was in shock. "I was a little hesitant to call Lanette, but I knew my mom would want us to know each other. So I finally got up the nerve and called her. I went outside to the pool and just picked up the phone. I can't describe what it felt like to hear her voice for the first time," he says.

Lanette was so eager to meet her siblings that the next day she purchased plane tickets for them. Chris dropped everything and flew to Oklahoma from Washington. "When you hear your mom talking about her other daughter, that curiosity grows over all those years, you have to do what you can to make it happen." Just two days after the initial phone call they met for the first time in the airport.

"The first second I saw her off the plane it was a lot of tears and a lot of emotion. Then when we stopped crying I realized she has mom's laugh, and that made me start crying all over again. Its like having a piece of her back again," Chris recalls.

For Lanette, the reunion is a dream come true. "I can't stop smiling, its just terrific. Its like a new life or something and I just want to cherish it." Lanette, Chris, and their siblings have promised not to ever lose touch of one another again. Chris says, "If you ever wanted to know, the joy of reunion is just indescribable. The mystery is gone and replaced by something precious."

When asked what advice they would give to others just beginning searches of their own, they replied collectively, "just do it!" Chris puts it best when he says, "there's a piece of life out there just waiting to be held. Don't wait another moment."

(Written by Mica Burton on Lanette's behalf.)

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She contacted the investigators in September of 2008 and her case was solved by October. Susan, SQA's head researcher, recalls the special circumstances of the search.

"This case was a very enlightening. You always hear about adoption attorneys who falsified records, but you rarely ever run across a situation where you can prove it. In Margie's case the adoption was private. The 'less than honest' adoption attorney who filed the paperwork intentionally left out Peggy's maiden name. 'Since I couldn't find the original record of birth under his birth date, I checked a few days forward and backwards and only found one that fit. I had a gut feeling that he was the right person, so I tracked him down and called to verify that it was him."

Paul lives just 20 minutes away from Margie. He was at work when he received the call. "I asked him if he was adopted, and he responded that he was. He even had his original adoption records and he remembered his birth mother's nameMargaret. When we compared notes later it turned out that the attorney left Margaret's name and information on the original adoption papers, so we knew it was him," Susan said.

Paul always knew he was adopted and had often thought about looking for his birth mother. He was planning to start a search for her the following week and was thrilled when Margie contacted him first.

Margie was very nervous--would he be happy to be found, or wish she had never contacted him? The following is an excerpt from a note Margie wrote to Susan just a few weeks after their reunion. She says,

"Hi Susan. I just wanted to give you a little update on how things are going. It seems like forever but it has only been just a little over two weeks since I first talked to Paul. He used to own a bike shop and I am cycling so he came over on Thursday after we met on Tuesday and tuned up my bike for a 65 mile ride that I was doing on Saturday. Then he was over last night to work on my dryer. He has a dryer vent repair and installing company and just wanted to do it right. He took out the old coil style tube and put in a smooth one that is safer and works more efficiently.

"It is so hard to know what to do, we have talked a lot about it and his son, 13 wants to see me, ever since that first day. Pauls mom passed away about 11 years ago, so he was asking me what they should call me. I just decided to let the kids call me whatever they are comfortable with.

"We both say that there are no books out there on this to learn from and although he was going to look for me, with me finding him it did not give him a chance to be prepared. They have plans to be away on Thanksgiving and I was going to visit my friend that lives in San Jose so we are keeping with that schedule. I guess it is just one day at a time. Thanks for everything, and I wish you all a very happy holiday season. Margie."

Margie waited 48 years to find the missing pieces, and she is happy she searched. She is committed to developing her relationship with Paul and her grandson one day at a time.

(Written by Mica Burton on Margie's behalf.)

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In September of 2008, Molly contacted Search Quest America. She wrote the following:

"Long story short... I have been wondering about my real birth mother, but was hesitant until now to look. My adoptive parents were very hurt every time I brought it up. My mom died in 1982, and my dad passed away last summer. I now feel like I can look without the guilt of hurting my parents. Please help me. I have more information from the adoption agency as well, and at one time had gotten my real birth certificate from the state of Oregon. I cannot locate it now, but remember my birth mothers first name, and I have reason to believe she is not from or in Oregon. She would be 68-69 years old, if still alive."

Because Molly was willing to work in partnership with SQA's research team, she was a perfect candidate for the Guided Professional Search. She was fortunate to have been born in Oregon, where adoptees have access to their original birth certificates. She worked in partnership with SQA's head researcher Susan, and was guided through the process of contacting the adoption agency and obtain her non-identifying information. Next, Susan helped her request the original birth certificate, which confirmed her birth mother's name.

From start to finish, Mollys case was solved in 3 months. Sadly, although Molly hoped to meet her birth mother face to face, she passed away just months before. Her search was not in vain, however. Susan found Molly's five half-siblings who were able to provide her with the answers she was seeking. In her own words, she writes the following:

"Susan, this past week has been a blur since you put me in contact with my family. I will be meeting two of my sisters next Thursday in Portland, and have been in contact with the other two and an aunt. They have sent me many pictures, family information, and even some emails my birth mother shared with her sister before she died.

"You know, even though we never met, my mom and I have several things in common. A love of gardening and the outdoors, needlepoint, and music to name a few. She was a choir director and so was I. And the resemblance is something else. When I met 3 of my sisters last year, it was a shock at first because they were still grieving her passing last March. Glendi told me that my coming into their lives was like getting a piece of mom back.

"I cannot describe how I feel inside, and am very grateful to you. Attached is a picture of me, and a picture of my birth mother. We walk the same, we talk the same, we look alike. I'm the spitting image of our mother. My sisters are amazed and say that I look more like her than any of them. Again, thank you and God bless you (and all of you there) for making this possible for me and others like me.

"After talking with my sister, we are all more than pleased to share our story in the hopes it helps other people gain the courage to look for lost loved ones. God bless you and your organization for all that you do. Sincerely, Molly."

Molly's dedication and persistence were key factors in the success of her search. Although she wishes she had searched earlier so that she could have met her mother, she is grateful to have her half-siblings in her life and finally have the answers she always searched for. She recognizes that all things happen for a reason.

She is an inspiration to other adoptees everywhere, and says simply, "don't give up and don't be afraid. It was worth every penny."

(Written by Mica Burton on Molly's behalf.)

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In January of this year, he saw an episode of the Troy the Locator show on TV and contacted Search Quest America. He wrote the following:

"I am trying to locate my daughter. Her mom and I were supposed to get married, but she got scared after Kathie was born and moved back to Kentucky where she was from. I managed to locate Katie and her mom in Madisonville, KY in 1974, and went to see them. I haven't seen either since. My sister got a letter from Kathie in 1984 telling me she wanted to meet me again, but most of the letter was destroyed. I tried to locate her on my own, but I have never tried to hire anyone to help. Please help me find my daughter. I know she wants to see me. I can feel it."

A few days after receiving the email, Linda, SQA search consultant, contacted Bill. At first Bill thought the search was out of his price range, but when he won $2000 at a casino a few days later, he decided it was fate and went forward with the search. Linda advised Bill that the search could take months to solve so he was shocked when SQA researcher Julie solved the case in just 4 days.

In his own words, Bill recalls, "When Julie called me to inform me that she had indeed found my daughter, I was sure I was dreaming! It didn't even take a week to locate Kathie. After a couple phone calls and a little quick thinking by Julie, I was on the phone with my daughter. When I answered the phone and said hello, all I heard at the other end was crying. I started crying, too. After a few seconds I asked if it was Kathie. When she said yes, I started crying again. We talked for about an hour, and have chatted every day since. Now I have pictures of my daughter and my 4 grandkids and am looking forward to meeting her in person in February. I'm flying down to Kentucky to see her after all these years! I will NEVER be able to thank you enough! You are all miracle workers and once again I sincerely thank you!"

Today, looking back, he says "Now I'm kicking myself. Why didn't I do it sooner? It was the most positive experience of my life." Bill's success was made possible by concrete information and a team of miracle workers dedicated to helping people like Bill find the missing pieces in their lives. When asked what advice he would give to others with missing pieces of their own, he said, "Just do it. Take the risk--it will change your life completely."

(Written by Mica Burton on Bill's behalf.)


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"I was born in the summer of 1963. Ever since I can remember, I knew I was adopted. I really felt very lucky. My adoptive parents took me home when I was just a day old. They named me and told me how special I was because they got to pick me. Out of all the kids available for adoption, they picked me. I had a great home, with great parents. They gave me everything I needed and never treated me like I didn't belong. Even though I had a full life, there was always a part of me missing. I asked questions about my adoption and was met with "I don't know who your mom is." I wanted to know my nationality and where I came from, but no one could answer my questions.

My adoption was privately arranged between my parents, my mom's gynecologist and an attorney who sang in my dad's choir. During the time I was adopted, Orange County sealed all adoptions. When I turned eighteen, I made an appointment with my mom's gynecologist, Dr. Stout to try to get some information. He told me that my mom had an affair and that I was the product of that affair. He also told me my birth mother had three other children older than me and that she was going to try to make it work with her husband, so she had to give me up for adoption. He didn't remember my birth mother's name, but said he had the records in storage and would get them and let me look at them in a week.

Four days after my appointment, Dr. Stout dropped dead of a brain aneurism. I made an appointment with the doctor that took over his practice. She refused to give me any information unless I had a court order. I didn't know how to get a court order so that basically ended my search at that time.

When I turned 21, I started working for the County of Orange as a Legal Secretary for the County Counsel. One of the attorneys helped me draft a court order and I petitioned the Orange County Superior Court to unseal my adoption. During my hearing, the judge told me that I didn't have a medical reason to unseal the adoption, so he denied my petition. I called the attorney that arranged the adoption. She told me that she would have given me the information, but she had destroyed it several years earlier. Again, this ended my search at that time.

A couple of years after I started at the police department, around 1990, I hired a private investigator to try to find my birth mother. I paid $500, but never got any results because the investigator could never get past the sealed adoption. In 1994, I found another agency that specialized in family searching. I again paid approximately $600 and gave them all the information I had. This investigator kept in touch for about six months. He kept telling me he had some leads but nothing came of those leads. I kept thinking if I just had my birth mother's name, I could find her myself. The Investigator said he didn't have her name. My case went inactive and I received a call about a year later saying they were going out of business and I was their only unsolved case. Getting this news devastated me. Up until that point I thought there was always a chance of finding my birth mother. At this point, I felt my search was hopeless.

Between 1996 and now, I have talked to a couple of investigators about my situation but never took another step to hire anyone because I was so devastated after the last time. In October of 2008, my co-worker said she saw a Dr. Phil episode where they featured Troy the Locator. The story featured a lady that found her birth family. My co-worker felt Troy the Locator could help me find my birth family. I told her there would be no way I would try again. I wasn't going to spend any more time or money just to be devastated again. The whole office joined in with my co-worker and they convinced me to fill out the form on Dr. Phils web site.

I filled out the form on a Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning (the next day), I was at home when I received a phone call from Chris at Search Quest America. Chris explained who he was and that Search Quest America is one of the trusted search providers for Troy Dunn. I explained that I had extreme reservations about this process and told him what I had experienced before. Chris understood but said that Search Quest America had a lot of databases from all over the United States and that they could probably at least locate a living relative of mine. He explained the process to me and told me how much it would cost. I talked to him a few times that day. He spent at least an hour just to reassure me that things had changed since 1994. I told him I would think about it.

During the next week, I researched Search Quest America and found they were a legitimate company. On October 7, 2008, I decided to pay the $695 and take a chance. At this point, Chris turned me over to Susan to finish the contract. She said I had to wait four days before she could give me any information. That was the longest four days of my life! I knew there would be information coming to me at the end of the waiting period, I just didnt know what it would be.

Monday, October 11th I had just taken my kids to school when Susan called and asked me if I had a piece of paper to write some information down. I was shaking so bad I had to ask her to repeat some information because I couldn't focus. It was the information I had been waiting for my whole life!

Susan told me that my birth mother and birth father, who were listed on my original birth certificate, were both deceased. However, she did tell me that I had five brothers and sisters! By the time I was done talking to her, I had 2 pages of information, including phone numbers for my two brothers. She assured me they were the correct phone numbers. She suggested that I wait a day or so before contacting them to give me time to think about everything. I got off the phone and just cried! I was so happy and nervous all at the same time.

As much as I wanted to follow Susan's advice, I couldn't wait. I tried both numbers and reached answering machines. I didn't want to leave a message because I really didn't know what to say. So I did some further research on Reunion.com and found another sibling's e-mail address. I immediately sent an e-mail and sat back to wait. About an hour later, I tried the phone numbers I had again. No one answered at the first number, but when I called the second number a lady named Jackie answered. All of a sudden I got tongue tied! I didnt know what to say. I was stuttering and stammering so much that Jackie must have thought I was crazy. I finally got enough out to verify who she was and that her husband was one of my brothers listed on the paper I had. I finally told Jackie that I believed I was her husbands sister. To my surprise, she knew that I existed! She immediately asked if I was Geri's daughter. I told her that from the information I had, that I was, in fact, Geri's daughter. She was so excited and told me that they had been looking for me for quite some time. It relieved me so much to hear that. We talked for approximately 30 minutes before she hung up to call her husband and tell him the news. She said he would probably call me back but she had to leave it up to him.

Only 5 minutes later, I received the first phone call from my half brother, Gary! I had tears streaming down my face. He told me a little about himself and about our siblings. I found out that I had a grandmother who was still alive at 93 years old. He asked about me and my family and my life. He also told me that our sister Suzanne had done a lot of research and hired an investigator to find me. He also told me that my older sister had passed away at the beginning of 2008. He was at work so we couldn't talk too long, but we exchanged e-mail addresses. I asked for everyone's phone numbers but he wanted them to contact me if they wanted. He assured me that he would pass my information to all of our siblings.

Approximately five minutes after hanging up from Gary, my sister Suzanne called me. Again, the tears were streaming down my face. She explained to me how the family came to know about me.

It seemed that my birth mother had a lot of issues going on when she gave me up for adoption. She was divorcing her first husband--who was the father listed on my birth certificate. Her own father died five months before I was born. After she gave me up for adoption, she started drinking. She met Suzanne's father and married him in early 1964. My birth mother had twin girls, my sisters Suzanne and Dianne, in January of 1966. She was very much in love with her second husband Stan. They were inseparable. However, in 1994, he died of skin cancer. This again devastated my birth mother. One night after Stan's death, my birth mother had a little too much to drink and she blurted out to Suzanne that she had given a daughter up for adoption. Suzanne tried to get as much information out of her as possible that night. The next day, my birth mother denied she ever had another baby.
My birth mother passed away in 1998 due to Tylenol poisoning. I was never fortunate enough to meet my her. I wish I had, but I know I did my best to look for her.

I met my siblings for the first time on Saturday, October 26, 2008 at Suzanne's house. I was so excited and nervous, but I knew everything would be okay. I brought pictures of me from when I was growing up. I wrapped up pictures of my family to bring to my brother and sisters. When Saturday came, I was so excited that I couldn't think straight. My son and daughter went with me to meet everyone. I left on time to get to San Dimas, but traffic made me a little late. As I turned down Suzanne's street, my palms broke out in a sweat. I felt like my world was changing forever and it did!

I really didn't know what to expect when I rang the door bell. Both my sisters met me at the door! I couldn't believe that they were actually there. We hugged and hugged and went into the house.

That day was the first day of my life as a whole person. I didn't know how much of me was actually missing until that Saturday in October. I felt so comfortable and welcome. I met three of my four living siblings there. My oldest brother Scott came after I did. He was very skeptical about me and he still is. My next oldest brother, Gary, lives in Reno and he couldn't come down to meet me.

Since then, I have spent my first holiday season with my siblings. My sisters have met my mother. I have gone up to Reno and met my brother, Gary. And, I have also met my grandmother. I have been to my birth mother's memorial plaque. I have also learned a lot about my birth mother. I have a lot of things in common with my birth family--things that I didn't even know could be genetic. While there is still some skepticism with Scott, I am so thankful I finally feel complete!

Thank you Search Quest America for making my life-long dream come true!"

(Written by Alora)

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After Connie's parents were divorced, her father remarried had two more children,Vickie and John. Ever since findign out about them, Connie has wanted to meet them, but could not find them. On February 14th, she received the best Valentines Day present ever! Her case was solved in 15 minutes and within two hours she was on the phone with her sister Vickie for the first time.

Vickie, was also shocked to learn that she had other siblings. In fact, when Connie introduced herself, the line went completely silent. Vickie asked who she was again, and then said, "I'm going to have to hang up and verify this information with my mother."

It was anerve-wracking wait for Connie, but Vickie called back a few minutes later and they have been building their friendship ever since. John, on the other hand, is not as open and has only been willing to correspond through email. That's the first of many family similarities because Connie's brother Tony is also hesitant to reunite.

That's not all the siblings have in common. Their father enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and the siblings have learned that they all have rhythm and musical talent. After exchanging photos they discovered a family resemblance as well. Vickie and Connie are both devoted mothers with only one child, and they share many personal attributes and preferences. They plan to meet face to face sometime in the future, and the reunion has been very rewarding for both of them.

"There are just so many little coincidences--there's no doubt that we're sisters," Connie says. Finding her missing siblings has filled a void in her life and helped her answer many questions. "It's the best choice I've ever made."

(Written by Mica Burton on Connie's behalf.)

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For Cindy, SQA researcher, the first step to finding Ottis was searching on Ancestry.com. There was no record of Ottis Etherly being born in the 1920s, so Cindy altered the spelling and expanded the search and hit pay dirt. She found someone else looking for information on Odis Eatherly. Her name was Coleta and she wrote the following:

My father was Odis Eatherly, brother to Gustava Eatherly. He married my mother in Marshall, Arkansas in the late 1930's. They had two children, myself and my sister Ann. Otis left my mother when I was very young, I know little about him. I would like to know more.

This simple message was the key to solving George's search. Cindy contacted Coleta and asked what her father's occupation had been. Odis had worked for the railroads on the Kansas, Tulsa line. She also remembered that he had been married previously, and was remarried after divorcing Coleta's mother. When Cindy explained that George was also searching for his father, Coleta related a childhood memory. Odis brought a pretty redhead to visit his mother and children. "My grandmother got madder than a wet hen because she was afraid that George and the redhead were there to take the girls. I remember that vividly." Cindy thanked her for the information and called to let George know what she had learned.

The first thing George blurted out after hearing the story was. "THAT REDHEAD WAS MY MOM!" He remembered hearing the same story as a child, and had neglected to mention that his father had worked on the railroad. All the pieces fit together and Coleta and George were reunited--half siblings.

George learned that Odis passed away in 1974, but he was able to sit down face to face with his half sister and her husband. She provided him with several photographs that told the story of Odis's life and answered George's lifetime of questions. He also discovered that Odis had at least 6 more children, all George's half-siblings, 3 of whom are still living. George looks forward to getting acquainted with them and plans to keep in touch with Coleta.

Even though he misspelled his father's name and was more than 20 years off on the date of birth, his case was solved and he found the missing pieces he has searched for all his life. Thanks to Cindy, SQA researcher, he even got his hands on family pedigree charts dating back to the 1700s.

When asked what advice he would give to individuals just starting out on searches of their own, he replied, "The most important thing is to find the right company. I tried to do some searching on the internet, but I didn't know where to look, and I didn't want to get taken in by some dishonest company either! Cindy and the staff at Search Quest America were wonderful, just what I needed."

(Written by Mica Burton on George's behalf.)

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Her case was assigned to Susan, Search Quest America's lead investigator, who worked hand in hand with Dawn to solve her Guided Professional Search. In the following excerpt, Dawn tells her story.

"In October 2008, with my adoptive mother's blessing, I contacted Search Quest America to locate my biological mother. I elected the program of working in partnership with an investigator and was assigned to Susan. The non-identifying information provided by the county was very detailed, but did not provide my birth mother's name. The social worker had noted that my birth mother returned to the agency with her fiance to sign papers, and they were planning on returning to the coast and marrying the following year.

Susan was able to identify my mother's maiden name which gave us a place to start. I was also able to obtain the state she was born in. Using many pieces of information, we were able to narrow it down to a list of marriage licenses. After looking at 3 different county records offices, we narrowed it down and identified her. The final piece was her father's obituary, which tied
everything together. At my request Susan contacted her. Unfortunately, there will not be a reunion.

Although I am disappointed, I would never want to bring pain to her or her family. I am at peace knowing that she is happy and I wish her only the best. I am glad I tried."

Statistically less than 10% of adoption cases turn out like this one. Usually, the other party is at least willing to make contact over the phone but sometimes, for whatever reason, they choose not to reunite.

Dawn chose to share her story so that other adoptees can be prepared for this situation. Her perseverance and attitude are inspirational, and even though the search did not lead to a reunion as she hoped it would, she is at peace. She is proud of herself for being proactive and finding the answers she was looking for.

Here at Search Quest America, we are proud of her too.

(Written by Mica Burton on Dawn's behalf.)

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Kerri was born in Canada and adopted by American parents. When Alberta recently opened their adoption records, Kerri obtained her original birth certificate, which contained her birth parents names and dates of birth. This was the missing puzzle piece that allowed researcher Lori to find Kerri's birth family.

"I had called several private investigators before, but there was always a thousand dollar retainer with any number of fees." She tried finding her birth family on her own through the internet, but without success. "I have made a lot of cold calls in my lifetime, but never found the missing pieces I was looking for." When she finally signed the contract with SQA Friday afternoon, she expected the search to last 6 months. But Lori called her Monday morning with bittersweet news.

Kerris birth mother had been found, but she passed away 3 years earlier. "She had been searching for me for a long time," Kerri said, "of course it was hard to get the news, but it turns out I have a little brother!" She was nervous to make the first phone call, but her birth family has welcomed her with open arms. "I'm basically part of the family already!"

It turns out that they had been looking for her too. Kerri visited them in Toronto soon after being reunited. She hugged her brother for the first time, became best friends with her cousin, and finally got the answers she had been searching for. She found photographs of her birth father and discovered that she looks just like him. She got to know her birth mother by listening to stories and poring over the family photo albums. She learned the circumstances behind her adoption and finally understood that the decision to put her up for adoption was made with love.

Kerri's little brother came to visit her in California for Christmas, and she plans to attend a family reunion in May, where the rest of her family is anxious to meet her. "I have had a very good life, but it's better now, thanks to Lori and the staff at Search Quest America!"

(Written by Mica Burton on Kerri's behalf.)

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One of those moments happened for me in March of 2003 when I received an email from a gentleman in Denmark who had a technical problem registering at the Registry. In an attempt to ensure that every registrant supplies a valid zip code, the site design had inadvertently prevented people living outside of our country from registering. Flemming was determined to make one last run at finding his own birth mother, whom he knew had immigrated to the USA in 1949 and was hoping to register on a US based site in case she was looking for him.

In a subsequent e-mail response I asked him a little bit more about his search, and since Denmark unsealed their own records in 1997, Flemming knew her name, her date of birth and had even been able to locate her immigration request, but the trail went cold at that point. He and his wife, Elizabeth (a nurse), had traveled all over the world, serving in Nigeria and Viet Nam as members of an international care organization before finally settling in Denmark so their sons could attend school. He works in the Social Worker field with the law enforcement body in that country. An acquaintance there had given him information on our site, so he asked for help.

His birth mother's name is Britta. He had her date of birth. I figured it wouldn't hurt to check an investigative database to see what I could find. Imagine my surprise when I immediately found Britta living not more than 2 hours east of our office in Tamarac, Florida. I quickly e-mailed Flemming and asked him how he wanted me to proceed, or if he wanted to handle making contact himself. He asked me to call her for him and see if she'd be willing to talk to him.

I called Britta, who was less than pleased to be contacted about her son at that stage in her life. She was born in 1925. For some reason, and I have not figured out why, statistically older birth mothers as less likely to want to disrupt their lives or open old wounds when it comes to reunion. However I did speak to her for an hour and she was willing to talk about it, so I asked her if she would just talk to Flemming just once, hoping that would open the door to more interaction between them. She agreed. Flemming called her the next day and they spoke for about 2 minutes..and agreed that he would send her a letter so she could think about things. Flemming wrote her a loving, warm letter, sending pictures of the family and the children, and then he waited...and waited. No response. He tried calling her back and her telephone number had been changed and was now unlisted but he didn't know that. He contacted what he thought might be her church, and asked the Minister to go check on her. When they arrived at Britta's house, she was angry and sent them away, but did take their 'card'.

Flemming pretty much gave up on any kind of contact with Britta and gave up his dream for a meeting. But something funny happened. Britta was so angry about the church folks coming to visit, she called every relative in Denmark she was still in contact with and told them that if Flemming were to call them, they were to have 'nothing' to do with him.

Well..that was enough to make them curious, so THEY looked for Flemming, who was much surprised to be welcomed by his Danish relatives with open arms. They explained that Britta had been working as a Nanny for a well to do family in Denmark. The 'master' of the house took an interest in her, and a relationship developed. Britta became pregnant. The mother of the house suddenly passed away during her pregnancy and Britta envisioned marrying the father, but his family would not allow it. She had Flemming, and then went home to her family who immediately insisted she place him for adoption. Broken hearted, she did, but angry at her fickle x-employer and angry at her family who did not support her, the day she placed her son for adoption she boarded a ship for the USA where she worked for many years as a Nanny to 'other' people's children when her heart was breaking for her own son. She had raised him for 4 months. She wrote home rarely, but did have some contact with her 10 siblings, and when in the states she would welcome them to visit.

So why, if this all happened in 2003 and I telling you this story now? That's the 'rest' of the story, which follows.

While at work on Friday, I discovered that one of my Registry e-mail addresses wasn't working in Outlook mail, so I asked Lane to fix it for me. Much to my disgust, I had 487 spam e-mails AND one legitimate message from Flemming in Denmark which said...

"Coming to the USA (Florida) on Oct. 10 will be there till Oct. 23, would like to come to Ft. Myers to see you and buy you lunch'. Britta has not been well and I got a call from a friend of hers that went to visit her and discovered her in a nursing home. While going through her things she found my letter with my phone number in it and called me. She asked me to come take care of things, and she was much surprised to find out I was Britta's son since she's known her for 35 years and she never mentioned she had a child. I have contacted the Lutheran Minister (gave her name) and she is helping me. Here's my cell # please call. Flemming

Given the fact that Friday was the 20th, I called immediately but didn't get through. I then looked up All Saints Lutheran Church and called Diane, the minister in the hopes that she would know 'how' I could reach Flemming and Elizabeth.

When she came to the phone and asked if she could help me, I told her my name was Susan, lived in Ft. Myers and was trying to reach Flemming. She said, "Please let me ask you a question. How do you know Flemming?" When I replied that I had helped him find Britta , she then asked if I was aware that Britta had passed away on the 18th. I said, "Oh no, that is so terribly sad, I had no idea." She then said, "Please, don't be sad. Britta had the most incredibly 'happy' week in her entire life, and I feel privileged to have been there to witness their joy and discovery in each other, but I will let Flemming tell you about it. You will come the the services tomorrow, won't you? Britta had acquaintances here, but no close friends. She was very private. Will you come to support Flemming?" I said, "Of course, I feel like I have to. It's like a circle closing."

So Saturday Lane and I went to Tamarac/Ft. Lauderdale to the memorial service for Britta, a woman I had only met once by phone in a life altering phone call. They had pictures remembering her life, and one of those pictures was of a very pretty young woman who was lying in a hospital bed beaming at the newborn son she held in her arms. The next picture was of a frail, bent elderly woman sitting between Flemming and Elizabeth in the hospital, and she was proudly smiling for the camera.

You'd think that with all the reunions, and all the joy and all the sadness that I've seen, I'd be somewhat toughened up emotionally, but I have to tell you, as I watched Flemming's tearful tribute to Britta during the ceremony, and then listened in amazement when Diana told the whole reunion story (including my small part) to the 30 or so people who were with us, people must have wondered why I was crying so. My tears were for all the mothers who gave their children into the void of adoption, and I was crying for Britta...who finally, at the end of her life, found the love she had longed for.

After the ceremony we had coffee and cookies in the hall, where I overheard one man tell another, "You know, their story was amazing. We only read about stories like this in the newspapers. How incredible is it that we were able to be here to see this unfold personally, and to share it with Flemming." I thought, if you only knew how many times this happens that you 'don't' read or hear about it, THAT would amaze you.

After we left the services we followed Flemming and Elizabeth back to their suite on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. There was some humor in the day. Elizabeth insisted we stop at the underground for some sandwiches to take back to eat while we talked. Lane looked and me... I looked at Lane. "Underground?" She said, "Yes, you know, the train that goes underground, it's like that name!"

The light dawned. I asked, "SUBWAY?" So we did...4 sandwiches to go.

In going through Britta's things after her passing, Flemming found a baby picture of himself. On the back of it Britta had written, on the occasion of his first birthday, "My son, my heart breaks with longing for you on this, your special day!" He also found his original letter to Britta and the photos that he'd not known she received. In the envelope was tucked the card from those pesky church folks she initially sent away, who were also there for her in her last days.

I said, "Flemming, she loved you. Even though you had one short week together, she loved you your entire life." Elizabeth said that when they got that fateful phone call from Britta's friend, she was much surprised that Flemming 'insisted' they come to the US to 'take care' of things given their lack of communication. I said, "Elizabeth, he had to.. had he not he would have not been able to live with not being there for her." I was looking right into his eyes when I said those words and saw the light dawn when he knew that I understood, one adoptee to another, why he'd come at the end of Britta's story.

Before you wonder why I shared these private moments with you, Flemming told me explicitly that I was to tell their story. I told him we'd wait to publish it on the site until he gets home, but in the meantime, I wanted you to hear the rest of the story.

SuZ - who almost deleted all 488 messages without reading the one 'intended' to reach me for reasons only God knows.

(Written by Susan Friel-Williams)

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It started when I received an e-mail one day that asked if I could talk with young lady to discuss a request to locate a missing sister that she had just learned of. The author of the e-mail said that there was some urgency and urged me to reply as soon as possible with a number she could reach me at, since the story she had to tell me was lengthy and also somewhat unusual. I returned her request with my telephone number and suggested she call me that evening.

When I answered the ringing phone later that night, a young woman introduced herself as Ann, and said that she currently lived in North Carolina, but had grown up in the desert area of California. She sounded very young, and also very shaken about something, so I gently encouraged her to tell me why she was calling. This is the story that she related to me.

Ann's mother, Mary, was in the hospital after suffering a massive and life threatening heart attack. In fact, for several minutes during the start of her treatment, she had shown no signs of life and the doctors had been less than encouraging about her odds of surviving the crisis when they initially discussed her prognosis with her husband and two daughters. The family was distraught with the thought that they could lose Mary without having a few more minutes to share their love of her, with her. Ann flew from North Carolina to California where she met her sister and father at the hospital. They walked to the Chapel and prayed to the Lord that they would have such a chance.

Twelve hours later Mary's condition stabilized and the doctors removed the respirator. The family was allowed into her intensive care room with instructions to stay calm and not excite Mary in any way. She opened her eyes and started to cry. Ann tried to calm her and tell her that things would be fine, but the tears still fell. Mary sobbed, "Why wouldn't he let me stay? I don't understand!" Confused, Ann asked her mother what she was talking about. Mary related this experience.

I felt an incredible pressure in my chest and I could not catch my breath. I looked up and there was a bright warm light in front of me, and it was so welcoming that I went to the light. When I reached the entrance the Lord was waiting and welcomed me. I walked into his embrace and it was like walking into the arms of my family, there was so much unspoken love present. But then he said to me, "Mary, you must go back, your daughter needs you!" I said, "Lord, I have two beautiful daughters, they are both well, they are happy, and although they will miss me, they don't 'need' me. They will be fine with the love of their father and their love of God. Please let me stay!" Again the figure said, "You must go back, your daughter needs you!" And then Mary understood. She shared this amazing and heartbreaking story with her family.

When Mary was 16 years old, and living with an angry and embittered divorced mother in Northern California, she had reached out to a young man she met in school and a loving relationship developed between the two in a few secret dates. Their intimacy resulted in a pregnancy that came as an unwelcome shock to Mary's mother when she became aware of the situation. Her mother was angry and abusive towards Mary. She beat her several times, and forced her to drink horrible concoctions which included lye based drain cleaner in the attempt to cause a miscarriage. When those attempts failed to terminate the pregnancy, her mother attacked her again physically and kicked her several times in the stomach. Mary ran to neighbors for help, and they contacted a social worker who immediately intervened and helped place Mary in a home for unwed mothers nearby to wait for the baby's delivery. A few months later Mary gave birth to baby. No one would tell her if her baby was a girl or boy, and no one would tell her if the baby was healthy. The social worker came to the hospital to have Mary sign a document that would terminate her parental rights and allow for the adoption of the baby. Since she was a minor and still under her mother's legal control, she had no other choice but to comply even though it broke her heart. However, she refused to sign the document until they told her the sex of the baby, and assured her that the baby was all right. She learned that she had delivered a healthy baby girl, and knowing that she could not return home with the baby, and fearing that if she did not comply her mother could cause harm to the child, she signed. She asked to go to a foster home and never spoke again to her own mother.

Ann was amazed at Mary's story. She asked her why she had never told the family before now anything of the history of her older sister's birth. Mary said it was too painful to discuss, and she didn't want her children to think that she had willingly given away a baby but was sharing the story 'now' because the Lord had told her that her 'daughter' needed her. She had no idea why, but since her other girls were fine it had to mean that her lost daughter needed something that only Mary could give her.

Quietly, Ann asked, "Susan, can you 'find' my sister? Can you ask her to talk to my mother? Please tell her we would have looked for her sooner if we had only known!" Then she said, "We don't have any money to hire you. The medical bills for my mother are going to be huge and I'm serving as an assistant with my church and get paid very little. I know it's a lot to ask, but...." Ann didn't know that during her account of her mother's story, that a feeling came over me that I 'WAS' to help. That somehow Ann had been guided to write to the 'one' person online that would not 'scoff' at her story. I told her that I would see what I could do and wrote down her contact information. The next morning the phone rang and it was Mary, calling me from the hospital to thank me for whatever I could do to help. She gave me her daughter's date and place of birth and any other information she thought might help me to locate her daughter. She sounded very weak and depressed, and I promised her that I would do all I could help.

Surprisingly, and with very little research, I was able to find a young woman living on the outer banks of North Carolina who had not only been born in California on the right date, but who had also been adopted. I was amazed at the immediate success, but figured that someone or somebody wanted this to happen quickly. She was living less than an hour's travel time from Ann's temporary home.

I immediately placed a call to Sarah to see if she might be the right person. Sarah was ANGRY. She was furious that I had found her, and equally as angry that the woman that had given birth to her and who had 'tried' to abort her would be wanting to speak to her now, after all of these years. According to what her 'parents' had told her, she had no desire for any kind of contact of any sort with the woman who had given her away. After a few tense moments, Sarah agreed to listen to what I had to say. I asked her to keep an open mind. That 'social worker' notes were not always accurate when it came to relating the true picture in what the actual 'facts' were. I asked her for her permission to have Ann call her, and she grudgingly agreed, but warned me that she wasn't making 'any' promises about contact with Mary. I told her, "Sarah, I understand what you are saying, and I understand how angry you are at me for contacting you, yell all you want at ME, but please just give your birth family a chance to tell their side of the story. I promise you that you will discover the answers to all of those unasked questions you have had your entire life."

I called Ann to tell her that I'd found her sister and gave her the telephone number so she could make a call to Sarah. I also asked that she please keep me in the loop on what happened next between Sarah and her family.

Three weeks passed, and despite several attempts to call Ann, I was unable to reach her in North Carolina for an update. I left several messages asking her to return my call, as well as giving her both my home and office contact information in case she had misplaced it.

Another week passed, and it was Friday. I walked outside to the mailbox to get the mail and there was a huge manilla envelope in the box with a California address on it, and a suspicious lump in the middle. When I went inside and sat down and opened the envelope a small square box slid out, with a lapel pin of an Angel enclosed. There was also a letter that said...

Dear Susan, I know you have been trying to reach me, but I thought I would answer by letter since my father wanted to send you this pin. I am in California with my family because my mother died last week, and we are planning to have a ceremony to do as she had requested and spread her ashes on the mountains that she so loved. Mom wanted me to THANK YOU for making her last wish come true. Sarah called our mom, and mother was able to tell her how much she had always loved and missed her. They talked for two hours. That evening mom's heart just gave out and she died. Personally I think that mom kept her promise to the Lord and he let her come home for good. Oh, one other thing. Right after she talked to Sarah, she called her OWN mother for the first time since this whole thing happened. I have no idea what they talked about, but I have my grandmother's phone number and I think, sometime in the future, I might call her myself. Sarah says to thank you and you were right about whatever it was you told her. Dad says to tell you that mom was 'finally' at peace and what you gave to her was worth much more than this little pin, but to us...you ARE an angel in training. All my love~~Ann.

(Written by Susan Friel-Williams)

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I always knew I was adopted. My parents told me from the beginning. They made me feel special because they said "of all the children in the world, we picked you". There was open conversation, and I have an adopted brother as well. There were no secrets, other than the ones inside of me I could never talk about...

I wanted to know if I looked like anyone else in this world. Why was I so different from the way my parents wanted me to be? Why did I feel so alone? Why did I have dreams about twin boys? Why did I feel alone in this world even though I had family?

When I was 18, there was a man who stopped me in a grocery store. He said, "I'm sorry to stare at you, but you look just like my sister's daughter. Are you from around here?" I quickly shrugged him off, never to be seen again. It got me thinking though. What if that was a blood relative of mine? What if I just blew off the only chance I would ever have to know my birth family? A few years later I answered a classified ad for two brothers who supposedly had 100% success rate in finding lost family members. I was too young and inexperienced to realize they were only con artists. $300 later, which was a lot of money for me at the time, I was no closer to finding my blood relations, and I gave up hope.

When I had my first child, my mother gave me all the 'non identifying information' from my adoption file. I finally knew where the dreams of twin boys were coming from. I was born to a family with 3 children already in the home. Two of them twin boys. I had a half sister. Why was I the one they gave up for adoption? I was mature enough to realize it had to be a very difficult decision to give me up for adoption. They kept me for two months before bringing me to the agency. What kind of mother could do that? I knew the answer: a desperate one. I never felt malice for my birth parents. I knew things had to be pretty bad to let a child go like that. I always wanted to tell them "I understand why you did it. Its ok."

As the years went by, I had children of my own, health problems crept up, and I worked hard to create my own family unit. I wrote to the adoption agency, and put a letter in my file if someone was looking for me. No response. I paid a bit here and a bit there to be on lists that never gave me a crumb of information. Every now and then I trolled the Internet for lists and registries, never letting myself get to hopeful if I found something that might be a match.

At the age of thirty-six, (double my age after the supermarket incident) I was still hopefully putting my name out there. I found a free website search engine. I typed in my info, to find I had already put my name there. This time, there was something else. There was a sister looking for an adopted sibling. It was the wrong city, but the right state, date and sex. Just to make sure, I wrote to the director and asked to have it looked into. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.

The within 48 hours I got an email. That contact, from Sue, wanted more info, and asked if I could call her. I wasn't going to spend the long distance money, so I returned her email with a bit of non-identifying info and a friendly letter, although I knew it wouldn't develop anything. The next day she wrote to say she found my family! "What? This cant be real, I'm sure there's a catch." I thought. I was very doubtful, but I decided to splurge on the long distance call. Sue was able to tell me info I hadn't given her. She gave me names and dates. She asked my permission to call one of my brothers. (Meanwhile I kept waiting for the bomb to drop. This was a joke, or a hoax, or a scam, right?)

Within hours I was talking to one of my twin brothers. We both cried and cried. He didn't know about me, and had already called all the family to tell them. There was no denial or the fear I had anticipated. Later on that evening I spoke with my birth mother, and half sister.

As I spoke to them, they each told me the tragic family story from their standpoint. I was happy I was adopted, and happy to talk with them. I heard myself in my birthmother. She gave me important health information, and I finally understood things about myself I could never comprehend before. I listened to my sister talk about things I thought in my head but didn't ever tell anyone. My big brother talked about a hole in his life he could never fill, and I understood what he meant. I forgave myself for the illnesses I'd thought I brought on myself, only to find out they run in the family.

When my brother sent me his picture through email, something hit me. I look like someone! I'm a woman, he's a man, but we have the same eyes and nose. He tells me I look like 'mom'. She says I come from a long line of tall beautiful Amazon women. A very different perspective from the one I held of myself (a huge misfit of a woman).

At the time of this writing, I am only a couple of weeks into knowing my birth family. It's been a healing and humbling experience. As much as I thought I had thought about it, I never realized how important it is to know where the DNA comes from. I wasn't looking for a new family, just information, maybe a picture. There are two boxes of family pictures on the way to me right now, and for Christmas, my brother and his wife will eat at my table. For the first time in 36 years, there will be a complete family dinner.

I will forever be grateful to Sue for her work. She has changed the destiny of an entire family previously burdened with guilt, pain and suffering. And I would like you to know; she never charged me a penny. I was the fortunate recipient of a Thanksgiving promotion for a free family search offered by her company. Sue has never asked me for a thing, and only invited me to write this story if I wanted to. God bless you Sue. And God bless all of you who read this, that you too may find what and who you are looking for.

(Written by Brook)

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While her husband Paul was out of town on a fishing trip to Canada, Nancy decided to go visit friends in Allentown, Pennsylvania. During a quick stop at Walmart she had already finished checking out when she spotted a bright yellow magazine with beautiful pies on the cover in a holder next to the isle. Circling back for a closer look, Nancy realized it was a copy of 'All You', a magazine she'd only purchased once before. She remembered the great recipes in the first issue, and decided it was worth the effort to fight the crowd in line to pay for the magazine. She later tucked that issue into her suitcase to read at home after her trip.

Five days later, and back in Shermans Dale, she sat down to read through the issue and on page 79, she was fascinated by a story titled, ' I Use My Sixth Sense to Solve Cases". The story described the career and some of the cases of Florida based Private Investigator, Susan Friel-Williams, who specializes in 'family search and reunion'.

Nancy, born in 1939 in Philadelphia, was adopted soon after birth, and like many others had always wondered about her birth and her biological family. As much as she wanted to search out her roots through the years, each time she asked her mother questions about her adoption she was told that her birth mother had come all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah to keep her birth a secret, and that she should let sleeping dogs lie. Not wanting to distress her mother, she had always put her quest on hold.

As she read the article Nancy realized that since her mother's death, she had not thought about searching until this minute. Even though her biological mother was probably deceased, wouldn't it be a miracle if she could find siblings? The article had a link to a web site at http://www.searchquestamerica.com . Nancy turned on her own home computer and went to the site to look. There was a telephone number there and she wrote it down, but didn't call. The next day, feeling a little braver, Nancy called and spoke to Norma, a Search Consultant with Search Quest America who encouraged her to 'go for it' and finally start her search. Two weeks went by and then her phone rang.

"Hi Nancy, this is Susan Friel-Williams from Search Quest. I understand that we are going to be working together to find your family!" Nancy was amazed that the same person she read about in 'All You' was on the other end of the telephone line. Susan asked her some questions about what paperwork she had pertaining to her adoption, and they went over the information on her adoption decree on the phone. Nancy relayed her birth mother's name, Virginia Ellis, and stated that she was 24 years old in 1939 and was from Salt Lake City. On the adoption decree there was a different surname in parenthesis. That surname was 'very' unusual. Susan cautioned Nancy that adoption searches, especially those from 1939 were very difficult, and that it may take some time to find anything, but that taking the first step by calling a professional was going to be well worth it.

At her desk in Florida, Susan put the notes on the case in order and thought about the unusual surname that Nancy had given her. She had never seen the name spelled that way, and was curious enough right that moment that she pulled up a web browser on her computer and typed in VIRGINIA SALT LAKE and the unusual name. Scrolling down through the entries displayed one entry that caught her eye. It was a marriage announcement in an Iowa newspaper from 1934 that showed a marriage of a Miss Virginia Ellis of Salt Lake City, Utah, to a Mr. Paul VonCrum also of Salt Lake. Amazed that a historic newspaper entry would show such an announcement when the bride and groom were 'not' Iowa residents, Susan surmised that some member of the immediate family must have been living locally. While checking death records, she discovered that Mr. Paul VonCrum had passed away in the mid-1980's in San Antonio, Texas. When no obituary could be found for his death she thought she'd hit a dead end. Trying one more thing she typed VonCrum into another locator database and discovered only 'one' family in the nation with that surname, and not surprisingly, they were living in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. Susan then placed a call and asked the family to please return her call, stating that she was working on the VonCrum family genealogy for a client and would appreciate their help.

Four hours later the phone rang and Mrs. Patricia VonCrum introduced herself and asked how she could be of assistance. In fact, Pat said she was something of a genealogist herself, and was fascinated with finding missing relatives. Susan asked if her husband was related to Paul VonCrum from San Antonio. Patricia replied yes, but there's a story about that. Robert's mother divorced Mr. VonCrum in 1935 before she knew she was expecting Robert and Paul disappeared. In fact, they didn't meet until a chance encounter between acquaintances of both men tipped them off to where Robert's long lost father was living. "Amazing!", Susan said. "Can you tell me if Virginia Ellis was Robert's mother?" Pat said yes, and then asked how Susan was related to the VonCrum family. Susan stated that she was not, but felt that there was a great probability that her client WAS related.

There was a prolonged period of silence on the line, and then Pat said, "Wait a minute. This doesn't have anything to do with the story I heard about Virginia, does it?" Susan asked her to relate the story. "Does this have anything to do with Philadelphia?" asked Pat? Susan agreed that it probably did have something to do with the story about Philadelphia and Pat said she just had a feeling. It seems that during a family reunion about 20 years ago, some Ellis cousins from the East Coast had tipped Pat that Virginia had been to Philadelphia in the late 1930's and rumor had it that she'd had a baby and given it up for adoption. It had been a huge family secret back in the day, but after all this time the cousin decided that Virginia's children should know that they had a sibling, somewhere. Pat had always been curious if the baby was a girl or boy, and wondered if that child would ever seek out answers. Susan then told Pat that her client, Nancy, was hoping to find a brother or sister still living. Pat assured Susan that she had both, Robert, her husband, and his older sister Karen who also lives in Utah. Susan asked Pat if she would like to speak to Nancy, and Pat agreed with enthusiasm asking that Nancy call her 'right away'!

Placing an immediate call to Nancy, who was very surprised to be getting TWO phone calls from her investigator in one day, Susan told her, "Nancy, I have some news for you. I know I told you this afternoon that older searches can take a long time to solve. However, sometimes unusual information comes up right when we start a search and we find immediate encouraging results. Please grab a pen and paper. I have some information to give you."

I found your birth family. You have a brother, Robert who was born in 1936 and a sister Karen, who was born in 1934. They are both still living and live in Utah. They know about you and had always wondered if you were a girl or boy, and if they would ever hear from you. In fact, Patricia, Robert's wife would have looked for you if only she'd known your date of birth, but they knew you were born in Philadelphia so I know this is the right family. Here is their phone number. Patricia wants you to call right away! Susan could hear Nancy crying softly in the background and assured her that it was normal to cry 'happy tears' when getting such life changing news. Nancy said, "OH my, you ARE a psychic detective!" Susan laughed and assured Nancy that her case was solved with just plain good detective work. Then Nancy said, "I had hoped to find 'someone' but never dreamed it would happen this quickly!" Encouraging Nancy to call Pat as soon as possible, Susan told Nancy she'd check back with her tomorrow to see how the call went.

The next afternoon Nancy called Susan and told her that she had spoken to Pat for an hour and had a wonderful conversation. Later that evening her phone rang and it was her sister Karen on the phone. Karen said she had always wanted to have a sister, and Nancy agreed it would be nice getting to know one another.

Nancy has now received pictures of her family as well as a copy of some of Pat's genealogical records on their shared ancestors. She is looking forward to a trip later this year to meet her Utah family face-to-face, and then in February she will meet her investigative team that found her birth family in person when she and Paul come to Florida.

(Written by Susan Friel-Williams)

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I'm not sure where to start. For years I have made unsuccessful attempts to locate my birth mother and/or any siblings. I had always been told by my adoptive mother that my birth mother was named Doris Wren and was a beautician from the peninsula, specifically the Palo Alto area. I was also told that my birth mother had been semi-friends with my Aunt and that was how my adoptive parents became aware of "me." I was born in May of 1952 at Stanford University. That information was corroborated by information provided to me by the California Department of Social Services. They reported that: my birth mother was 29 years of age, 5'6" tall, 140 lbs, dark brown hair and brown eyes at my birth. She had two brothers (both deceased), and had been married twice. Her father's occupation was listed as a painting contractor. It also stated that I had siblings that were 10, 9, 7 and 2 at the time of my birth, with the oldest sibling suffering from severe asthma.

Now, with that information, and having been a federal criminal investigator (Senior Special Agent with U.S. Customs), I began my search. Several things in my life interfered with the search and I always seemed to delay or postpone it. However, upon my retirement in 2003, I began again with the assistance of an associate who had also retired and became a private investigator. That search was unsuccessful.

Again things began to interfere with my endeavor and my search was tabled. When my adoptive mother passed away in May of 2005, and with the onset of a couple medical symptoms and subsequent tests for medical reasons, my search resumed. Since by Law, my actual birth certificate is sealed, I decided to hire an investigator rather than petition the court. That process can be costly and painstaking, and may or may not be successful.

I provided the agency with the information I had and was assigned an investigator. Just as in my field of investigation where we had agents that specialized in certain areas, Susan Friel-Williams is a specialist in family search for "California" as well as other states.

Her preliminary search revealed that my birth mother's maiden name was "Kinser" and that she had given birth in 1950 to a girl named "Susan." Susan also confirmed that Doris Wrens/Kinser had two brothers previously deceased. She then located marriage records showing that Doris remarried after my birth and had the a new last name. It appeared that there was an additional sibling born in 1955. Mrs. Friel-Williams was as positive as she could be that this was my birth mother. All the information she had located on this Doris Kinser matched the information provided by to me by the California Department of Social Services.

Susan discussed the information with me, and I decided to proceed with the search. Within a few days we had identified and located my sister Joan. The rest is "recent" history. Having been, at one time, a federal agent who had to take facts before federal judges and swear to their accuracy and provide my conclusions based on those facts, I can say that the facts set forth in this search were overwhelming showing that Joan and I had the same birth mother. We then located my sister Susan living 20 minutes away from me, and we are very glad that we found each other and live close enough to visit.

I was raised as an only child and never had the benefit of experiencing a sibling. I must tell you that I have known that I had siblings for many years I just did not know who. I was not sure how I would feel when found my birth family, but I can tell you from my end I feel like a blind person who just regained their sight. This whole reunion process has been amazing.

Thank you Susan for helping me find my answers, and for your support throughout.

Bob

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