I was raised on a rural farm with caring parents who loved me enough to be open and honest about my adoption. My mom always told me if I wanted to search, it was ok. They kept my original first and middle name my birthmother had given me. I never wanted to hurt my mother or dad, so even though I always wondered, I never did anything to find out about my birth heritage or to search for my birthfamily. 

The years passed and soon I was married with children of my own. I could never tell them about my birth heritage because I didn't know anything except my birth name and that my mother was unmarried and still in her teens. My daughter wanted me to search for my birth family, but the fear of being rejected kept me from taking that step. I didn't want to intrude where I wasn't wanted. I hoped that my birth family would find me. The years passed and I saw the Oprah shows and the Sally Jesse Raphael reunions. Tears would come to my eyes and a big lump in my throat, as the joy for those people made me think of my own longing.

Then, just shortly before my 52nd birthday, the phone rang. I didn't answer the call because I was tired and getting ready for bed. The answering machine took the call. A few minutes later, something made me go out to it and play the message. 

The voice said, "This message is for Barbara Jean. Please call me. I have some personal information to share with you." 

How intriguing of a message. I immediately called the number. Mary introduced herself and told me about the I.C.A.R.E. Registry and that my sister had registered and asked the I.C.A.R.E. founders to find me. Yes, FIND ME! And that's exactly what they did. 

My Sister thought I was born in Wausau, Wisconsin because that is where my birthmother lived. She knew my date of birth and my birthname. Mary went to Wausau and the results of that trip told her I WAS NOT born there. Mary called my Sister and told her that was not correct. Did she have anything else to go on. 

My sister explained to Mary that my birthmother had died in her early 30's. She herself did not learn of me until she was 26 years old. From that time on, she wanted to find me. Apparently my birthmother had kept some notes which included my date of birth, my name, "Barbara Jean" and some other names. My Sister believed the names were of people connected to my birth, and that my birthmother always wanted to find me and hoped one of those people could help her. She went and got the notes and began reading the names to Mary.

She read names of people from 1945 and when she said the names, Private Peterson and Lieutenant Perry, Mary gasped and said, "Your Sister wasn't born in Wausau, she was born in Wauwatosa!!" Those are Salvation Army Officers from the Martha Washington Home in Milwaukee County. 

My Sister asked, "How do you know that?" 

Mary responded, "Because I was in that same home 16 years later, in 1961, when I gave birth to my daughter, and it was Lieutenant Peterson and Captain Perry when I was there."

Within the week, Mary had found me and made the contact. When she explained the reason for her call, my first words were, "They found me!" It was an emotional call for me and within the hour I was speaking to my Sister for the first time in my 52 years.

My sister and I set a meeting for two weeks away. It was the hardest two weeks of my life. Mary, from I.C.A.R.E. arrived first and we hugged like old friends. We waited for my sisters to arrive. When the car slowed for the driveway, I was not to be contained. I met them near the road and when I saw my younger sister, it was like looking into a mirror. Hugs, tears and 52 years slid away in seconds.

Over the next few hours we shared pictures and memories of the past. I could have passed for my Mother. We were mirror images. Had we ever met, we would have "Known" each other. Thank God for I.C.A.R.E., Mary and for my Sister who cared enough to Search. 

Thank God, "They Found me!" 

     Barbara Jean
     6/10/45