Five Long Years

I placed my son for adoption with my sister and brother-in-law. So I would always know who and where he was. I was unmarried and uneducated and unable to meet the needs of motherhood and raise him by myself. For reasons never fully explained to me, they placed him for adoption when he was 18 months old. I never saw him after that. I held his picture close to my heart and it was always on my wall. I never married or had other children. There was noting to fill the void in my heart. I thought of him all through the years.

The ICARE volunteers started my search long before they even became a registry. It was a search that should have taken less than five weeks but because of governmental agency error, it took longer than five years. During all those years, I never gave up nor did ICARE. I worked closely with ICARE forming a lasting bond of Friendship. Often I went with Mary when she would search for my Son.

One night Mary called to say she "needed" to talk to me and if I were up, she would come right over. I "knew" at that moment that they had found my son!  Mary explained she made contact was waiting to hear back from Eugene, as to whether or not he wanted to be reunited. Those next few days seemed longer than the previous five years! His call came and we were going to finally meet.

I don’t drive and wondered how I would make the 110 mile round trip to meet half way with him. ICARE took me to be reunited with my son. I was so happy and yet so nervous. I don’t remember what I ate or even if I ate.  Again, ICARE took care of our dinner. They were there for me, emotionally supporting me in this new venture.

My reunion was wonderful as I hugged my son for the first time in over 31 years. I would have known him anywhere, had we ever met each other in life’s travels. I never had other children, so Mary knew how important the search for Eugene was to me.  She never gave up as she struggled to work through the "bunglings" of the Agency. My emotional wound was finally beginning to heal.

My words are of encouragement to others... Do not give up hope as you struggle through Search. When the time is right, God will provide the way. My heart felt thanks to ICARE for always being there for me. For their dedication and encouragement, I will always be grateful.

Gloria