A woman named Jo Galloway was adopted when she was a child. Years later, she gave birth to a son, whom she had to give up for adoption. Now, years later, she has become reunited with both her birth mother and her long lost son. Considering how difficult it can be to locate biological family after an adoption has taken place, this story is rather remarkable. Jo Galloway has the unique experience of having a personal understanding of both sides of adoption.
When she was three years old, Jo Galloway learned that she was adopted. She says that she had a happy childhood. She recalls her parents telling her that they had chosen her, and that she was special. But, like many adopted children, Jo began to wonder about her birth mother.
When Jo was eighteen years old, she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son, named Jonathan, who she was able to spend ten days with before having to give him up for adoption. Her own adoptive parents insisted that Jonathan would be better off with two parents. It was this experience that made Jo decide that it was time to look for her birth mother. She said that she understood now how her birth mother must have felt when she gave Jo up for adoption.
She searched for her mother’s last know address, and then had social workers help her to make contact. When they met, they felt as though they had known each other forever. Jo learned that her mother was unmarried when she was pregnant with Jo, and, since it was the 1950’s, she really didn’t have much of a choice except to give her child up for adoption. Jo’s birth mother spent a month with her in the hospital before the adoption took place.
Years later, Jo’s son contacted her by letter. The letter was sent to another family member who sent it to Jo. He also used a genealogy website to help find his birth mother. Jo and her son, who is now an adult, have met. They, too, felt as though they have always know each other.
< Return To Blog Thanks for posting my story. I had no idea that you had until today!
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