Tuesday, August 28, 2007

My adoption search summary....

Details of my adoption story and search:

I have already jumped through all the hoops with Montgomery County Social Services in Maryland’s Adoption Reunion program. I had a Confidential Intermediary and she has found and spoken to both b-parents...b-mom/natural mom/first mom said she understood my interest, would answer any questions I had and would re-connect but neither has re-contacted my CI (she found them about 4 years ago) and CI said she was not permitted to contact them anymore. I asked CI if I could write a letter, send it to her and then if she would mail it to b-parents. CI said she's not permitted to do that and claims she checked with their "legal people" and they said that she is not allowed to. So, there it ended. In my registration with the Maryland program, I had to write a letter to my b-parents and I did. I do not know if they ever received it.

- DOB: February 29, 1968 (Leap Day Baby!)

- Place: Washington, DC

- Original "Amended" Birth Certificate No. 68 4224

- I requested a "new" birth Certificate several years ago and it came back with a 108- in front of the above number.

Date filed: March 7, 1968.

"New" amended birth certificate also has a handwritten number on it at the top center....02292452...the first 4 numbers match my birthdate.

- amended birth certificate lists Paul H. Rubens as delivering doctor (not specifically noted as an M.D. after his name so may not be an doctor)...born at 7:24am

- no hospital listing on amended birth certificate...search angel believes that I was most likely then born in a maternity home...we’re thinking it was the Florence Crittenton Home of DC...this is an educated “hunch” though...not definite

- was in foster care with Annie & Dick (real name George) Carrico for 8 months following birth...I found and met them through a mutual friend of my a-parents...Annie has since passed away...they had sold Watkins Products for several years

- foster care code name "Tate"...Annie & Dick called me "Georgie"

- my parents are very supportive of my search and have given me everything they have as far as documents and information. My mom was literally stunned when I told her I wasn’t permitted to my view my original records. She said, “I was told by the adoption agency when we got you that once you reached 18 years old you could get all of your information.” (ugh...)

- adopted through Maryland Department of Social Services

- Lawyer who handled adoption for my a-parents was Dale L. Button....7424 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda, MD 20014 Ph: 652-4678 (info in 1968)

- The final adoption decree is dated May 28, 1969. Proceedings were in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. Adoption Equity No. 4457

- Confidential intermediary - Helen Clark, Social Worker with Montgomery Co.

- b-parents were 17 at the time...would place them around 57 years old now.

- bmom recently went thru a divorce...she knows at least my first name (CI told her)

- bmom has another son (my half brother)...unsure of age

- Helen (CI) thought bmom was in mortuary business (no idea why)

- bmom is NOT on East coast

- bdad IS on East coast but not in VA, MD, DC or PA

- I registered with ISRR on Aug 4, 1997

- I asked CI about the code name “Tate” and she said she didn't know but that the last name was not Tate. She said that she would answer questions for me if I asked the “right ones” but that she couldn't offer any info....for example, if I called and asked if my bmom's name was "blank" she would say yes or no. But, my records are now "resealed" as she put it.

- I have no intentions of intruding or interrupting someone's life. I have a life...I have a mom and dad. But, as any adoptee knows, I just want to know and would like to finally have those "roots."

- My gut feeling is that my bmom is merely scared. And I know in my heart that if I could break through just a small break, that I could take away that fear. I tried telling my CI this....didn't help. Helen, my CI, is someone who punches a time clock...not someone who really cares about the job she has. Maybe that's harsh....maybe it's not true. But one can't help but feel this way due to the circumstances. Regardless of what the so-called laws or rules or whatever state, CI's were led to those positions for a reason and I believe it's their responsibility to serve those involved...not the "rules" made up by people who haven't got a freakin' clue about this.

- My CI said that when she told my bmom that she had found my bdad, bmom said "Wow, that's surprising. I can't believe you found him." My CI spoke to my bdad on 2 occasions and both times he stated that he "couldn't speak right now and that he would call her back when he could." He never has.

- A very good friend and search angel believes there may be a small loophole in my search. We did not know of any birth siblings until my CI first spoke to my b-mom. We now know I have a half brother. We believe that the search program allows for contact of “any” birth relatives. I was not given the option to contact my half brother and have a call into Social Services to request this. Although we do not know his age, I am taking a shot to see what may come from this.

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Non-ID information:
(this info was sent to me March 30, 1995...the first time I registered with Maryland and they had an intern named Becky McLaughlin send me this)

The birth delivery was full term, low forceps, without difficulty, although you cried after one minute, resuscitation needed. You weighed 6 lbs., 12.5 oz, measured 19 inches in length, head measured 14 1/4, chest measured 11 1/4, and had an APGAR of 6/9. A PKU was administered with negative results.

The birth mother's medical condition is reported as occasionally hay fever, otherwise in good health. she was a white, American Protestant with blue/gray eyes, red hair, fair skin with freckles. she was 4'11'' in height and 97 pounds in weight. The putative father's medical condition was reported as in good health. He was a white, American mormon with brown eyes, brown hair, and fair skin. He was 5'9” in height and 165 pounds in weight. Other information about the maternal and paternal extended family is as follows:

The birth mother's mother had high blood pressure. She was a white American.
The birth mother's father's medical history states he had a ruptured disc, unknown problems with tingling in his hands, experienced hay fever, and a laminectomy. He was a white American.
The birth father's mother was a white American. No medical history given.

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A-parents are: Barbara C. and Melvin P. Thomas, Jr.

Address of my a-parents at the time of adoption was:

3520 Farthing Drive
Wheaton, MD

My mom gave me everything she had. She had a handwritten note from when she received the call about me. It has the following info:

Washington DC born....lists birth info (weight, length) and bmom and bdad weight/height...age of both was 17 years old......next to bmom has 1 of 4 children...next to bdad info has 1 of 8


Other tidbits:

- I'm 45, divorced, with 2 sons and 2 cats trying to rebuild life. Our pediatrician told us that the chances of us getting a girl were incredibly slim since the genes on my side are so strong. My boys are true "mini-me's". Which tells me my b-dad is quite likely the same.

- I was a stay-at-home dad for 11 years.

- My occupation is musician/writer (drums/percussion being my main instrument), videographer, video editor, computer geek, laborer, etc, etc....whatever job comes my way.

- I studied sound recording technology and music performance in college

- I spent 3 years in therapy trying to figure everything out

- I have been practicing Iyengar Yoga for 7 years

- I've read many of the adoption books. Adoption Healing is the book that made me realize I needed therapy.


My current contact info is:

Kevin Brent Thomas
PO Box 383
Reedsville, PA 17084
cell: 717-994-6380
e: kevin229(at)gmail.com



Updated - Feb. 27, 2013

Monday, August 27, 2007

A new blog for my adoption search progress/status...

So, here we are....I suddenly got this "brilliant" idea to set up a separate blog that I can post to specific to my search progress and status. As any adoptee (or birthparent too) will tell you, sometimes (or most times) there won't be much to post 'cuz not much happens. But, then, that's typically because we're not MAKING anything happen 'cuz we're so damn passive and submissive about this whole thing we call adoption search. Then, I got to thinkin "do I really want to post all this on the net for anywho to see?" Well, what the hell does it really matter? What do I have to lose? Nuttin'....abso-fuckin-lutely nuttin....might as well put it all out there. Strip me nekkid and let 'er rip! If ya don't like it, go somewhere else! LOL Sorry....it's just the whiskey talkin'....I'm really a pushover! LOL

Anyhow...so here it is...since I'm in this coaching program I guess I'll have things to post....since I am making it part of my goals to find closure and I'll want to post progress....good or bad....hopefully positive nonetheless....well, at least I'll do my best to remain that way....negative sure doesn't seem to help much anyhow.

Yes, I have a likin' for whiskey...no it's not harmful but I am harmless...yes, it helps me sleep when my mind is as active as rabbits in mating season (yes, they mate all the time....that's the point!)....no I'm not editing....it takes out the laughs potential for you'nz to comment to me....it's what keeps life interesting. So have at it.



namaste.