After 68 years of separation,
two brothers are finally reunited!

Diane, Bob, Jim (Donald), Mary

And here's how it all happened...

Jim (Donald) was born in April of 1927 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He knew nothing more than his birthdate. With the help of his wife Barbara, the search for his past was about to begin. 

Let's start in 1983... Jim had a birth certificate from Illinois that his adoptive parents had gotten when he joined the Navy- Jim had always thought that he was born in Chicago. However, when he tried to obtain a pass-port, his Illinois birth certificate was not accepted. He wrote to Illinois, and found out that he was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. When he requested his amended certificate, he also asked for his birth name, but was refused. That was pretty much the end of his search, until the spring of this year, when his wife Barbara took the search over. 

Barbara first wrote to Wisconsin Vital Statistics for adoption information. Within a couple of weeks, they received a letter back stating they could not help him, but suggested the Cradle Society in Illinois. 

From there, Barbara received hints and helpers from different people on the Internet... one asking if he had obtained Non-Identifying information. Barbara then sent for that, and several weeks later, they received it on May 13th. He was known as "Baby Roger", and was brought to the society in January of 1928. Jim also knew now that his mother was 20 and his father was 26. The agency had taken the liberty to send a letter to his mother at her last known address, but were unable to reach her. 

Barbara kept going. She joined the Adoptee's Internet Mailing List, and did all of the research that she could. She had a "tip" on obtaining Jim's Golden Certificate of Adoption from Cook County- and she wrote for it. They paid searchers to find out as much information as they could. She posted on every bulletin board that she could find, registered with lots of registries, and hunted through the Internet for anything or anyone that could help. Finally, they had obtained Jim's original sur-name. Jim and Barbara live in California, which is quite a distance from Wisconsin and Illinois, which also aided in the length of time for mail. 

Then, Diane, a volunteer searcher who is an adoptee herself, contacted Barbara and Jim. Diane and Mary (the lady that found Diane's birthmother and her own birth daughter) thought that they could help. They were in Wisconsin and did these types of searches all of the time. 

Barbara kept up the search on her end, and Diane and Mary worked on the Wisconsin side. Barbara wrote away for baptismal records, social security death index records, and even a newsletter, but nothing seemed to be fruitful in obtaining any more information.

And now, the rest of the story...

On July 8 around 7 pm Diane called to give Jim and Barbara the information! She told Jim who his birthmother and birth father were... his Birth Name, the circumstances surrounding his placement, and... His brother and sister's name. Diane ended that phone conversation by giving Jim (Donald) a phone number of his brother... and advised him that he should call. His brother Bob had been looking for him for a long time, and was waiting to hear from him.

Jim, Barb, Bob, Jean, Pat & her hubby

Well, it didn't take too long for Jim and Barbara to fly to Wisconsin and meet his brother Bob, and his baby sister, along with lots of other family members. Jim and Bob included Diane and Mary in the reunion... a very happy day for all involved. 

Diane is an Adoptee and knows and understands the emotions, feelings and views of a Searching Adoptee. 

Mary is a Birth Mother, and knows and understands the emotions, feelings and views of Searching Birth Parents. 

Diane contacted Mary in 1983 to help her find her birth family. After a long, emotional search, Mary found Diane’s Birth Family for her in 1994, and since that time, their friendship has broadened and they are now a unique duo with the same goals in mind. Those goals include helping all Searching Adoptees and Birth Parents find their missing counterpart.

Diane and Mary formed I.C.A.R.E. which is Independent Confidential Adoption Research Efforts. I.C.A.R.E. houses a listing of Wisconsin adoptees and birth families that are searching. To be included in the listing, E-Mail I.C.A.R.E.

Diane and Mary's specialty of search is in Wisconsin, they are not limited to just one state. They listen, care and understand. 

Today Jim and Barbara are glowing with the "angel dust" that has touched their lives. If you would like to send them your well-wishes, ask them about their search or just chat... you can drop them a note. 

Diane and Mary continue to help as many people as they possibly can. They search, find, reunite- or just listen. 

To sum up the story, Jim and Barbara said it best when they told Diane that they had been "touched by an angel". 

However, when Mary and Diane met Jim and Barbara... they were touched by two! When they met the rest of the family... they were given a bonus! 

As a result of the search, Jim and his wife Barbara not only found his brother Bob and family, but everyone found new friendships that will last a lifetime! 

Not all searches come to a full circle. The search is a very difficult time~ both emotionally and physically. A back-bone is needed for strength, and a shoulder is needed to listen. Only an adoptee can understand "what it is like" to be adopted. Jim and Barbara were very fortunate to find a great resource, the Adoptee's Internet Mailing List (AIML), which is a group of adoptees- they listen, offer advice, help in any way that they can, and most important of all... they are there for you!