Need where you came from, deeply rooted human feeling inside. Understanding your roots always feels very important for people seeking their past. This becomes so powerful if you were adopted; it felt like then always. Especially when origins are shrouded away in mysterious distance forever, maybe. Stories from our community touched many people sharing their truth. Tales of seeking pieces of a personal puzzle: people sought these things. Incredible, unexpected ways connections were finally made now and then for them.
Imagine arriving in a brand-new country, tiny child that you are. Stepping into a life very different from the one you left behind then. That beginning for Claire Martin was way back then, you see. She arrived at Heathrow Airport in December 1960, almost two. Adopted by a British family in Liverpool, she joined this family. From Hong Kong’s overcrowded orphanages, she came from this location. Her adoption was a happy one, offering a loving home she knows.
The world outside home presented immediate challenges for her then. Affect her young sense of self this did greatly. School became a daily reminder she felt different. Growing up in a predominately white community felt hard living there. Standing out, not fitting the visual mold ingrained deep inside, felt. She prayed to be white and recalls at age six or seven this happened. She woke up still Chinese, as she always did this time.
The search for her origins took on new urgency later. It happened at twelve when the adoptive mother died, right then, you see. That anchor to her adoptive history was suddenly gone for her. Intensifying the questions about her birth history did it then. Now a mother herself, her need for answers gnawed at her still. Not just curiosity felt like the fundamental void she felt. “It’s a huge void not knowing who you are,” she stated simply.
Claire’s story on Long Lost Family significant hurdles presented. Abandoned stairwell baby records scarcely existed there. Almost no information about the birth family could ever be found. Co-presenter Nicky Campbell admitted, Search hard, was it?. “One of the toughest ever,” for show, he said it was. Explained how immense this difficulty really was always. “This is really one of the toughest searches our way,” he shared widely.
The team faced the stark reality of finding anything else good. More about Claire’s mother in the UK—impossible to find any more. The only viable path was for Claire to travel to Hong Kong again. Place where her life had begun originally many years ago. “Out there, on the ground where it all started,” go she must. Daunting odds acknowledged, resolve remained strong within her. Fueled by hope, she was determined for this trip.
She articulated this enduring hope beautifully then. “I just have to hope I find someone somehow.” Someone who lives there remembers something important, maybe. Finding birth parents would be a wonderful thing possible. Her deepest desire is to connect with any birth family relative who is good. “Even if I can’t find birth parents, specific ones.” “I’m happy to find any birth family,” she expressed this hope.
Yearning went beyond names on paper only. About recognizing herself in another person it was really. “I just want to meet somebody who looks like me and feels like me.” Somebody thinks she laughs like she always does now. “I haven’t had anybody like that ever before now.” Passage of time added urgency; she felt it then. “If I don’t do it now, anybody gone” who remembers?
Claire understood the challenges of searching for someone long gone. Someone gave birth nearly six decades past this. “If Mother had me very young, it’s possible she’d still be alive, maybe, perhaps.” Nearly 60 years ago, though, it was this that happened. Asking somebody quite elderly to remember something important and specific. Something that unlocks it all, she knows deep down. Fundamental need remained very clear always, this was.
Limited info The UK beyond the birth certificate existed only. The trip to Hong Kong felt essential; she had to go. Claire visited the stairwell and found the place was there before. Moment filled with raw emotion for her deeply. Standing spot felt connection to mother’s intentions strongly always. “I very much get the impression she wanted me to survive, she thinks.” She believed she left the “most comfortable place” she could find.
Addressing the question of forgiveness, adoptees abandoned felt it was always needed. Claire offered perspective rooted in empathy always. “People often ask if I can forgive Mother, they say.” “For leaving “me”—this question came up often, it did. But “she is in such dire, desperate circumstances,” she believed this. “She didn’t have any choice,” Claire feels certain. Understanding allowed me to see that I was not the only one who ever felt this way.
In Hong Kong, Claire launched a media appeal now. Hoping someone might remember something now, perhaps. Or recognize the scant details she shared widely this time. Followed lead birth cert to Po Leung Kuk; this happened. One of the city’s orphanages was located there, which she visited. Met with archivist who showed her photo good. Sadly, no further evidence remained of orphanage time at all.
Media appeal yielded a response, though good for her. David Chor came forward to help her search was on. His family worked building this place before this. David was around ten years old then, an only child. He remembered his mother always calling the police when a baby was found. After finding the baby, this happened there immediately. Meeting David was a breakthrough moment for her search.
Beyond traditional search methods, there was. DNA testing offered another path forward, always trying. Claire submitted her DNA databases online in lots worldwide. Closest matches too distant to trace parents back, it seems. Testing did reveal a number of distant relatives found out. Many located the UK, where they were surprised indeed. Her story took an extraordinary, unbelievable turn, it did now.
An incredibly distant relative, someone Claire knew very well. A close friend named Joanna Battershell was a friend of hers. The women had met eight years prior to this happening. Bonding over shared history, they did feel connected. Both flown Heathrow same flight Hong Kong together on that day. Adopted all those years ago, they were traveling back home. Part of an international scheme brought children to the UK safely; it did work.
Revelation, friend, distant cousin, astounding it was truly. Claire captured feeling perfectly well in her own words. “It’s just unbelievable,” she exclaimed at this finding. “We always said we were sisters in spirit; somehow we did.” Truth that statement took on new meaning now suddenly apparent. Ironically, her search has not lost her feelings at all. “End found them in the UK,” she did finally this way.
This discovery brought Claire a sense of belonging finally for her heart. “I feel as though I have got family now always present.” Which never before this had felt so good truly for the soul. “It’s a big family,” she happily said. This fact is true. The impact of finding these connections is immense, truly, for many people. Before this closest relative, her daughter only existed for her. Now she has extended family members everywhere worldwide, it seems.
Newly found family scattered worldwide, living always. Technology helps bridge distance, which they use widely today. “We all talk on WhatsApp,” Claire mentioned freely to people. Eagerly anticipating day travel ease restrictions soon, maybe. “The minute we allow travel, I am going to see them soon, please.” Finding birth parents is still a possibility, she hopes. Discovery of a wider family network milestone was finally achieved.
Claire’s story is a powerful testament to the persistence and hope she showed the world. Surprising paths lead to finding family, which happens unexpectedly sometimes. Sometimes connections found while searching across the globe are near you. It might be closer than imagined before it turns out, always.
Another perspective on the adoptee journey Yvonne Liu gave this story. Her story began with a similar mystery, almost for her feelings. The abandoned baby was in a busy Hong Kong stairwell, a location she knows. Unlike many beginnings, this offers no trace ever found before. Yvonne’s mother left behind a note. Good for her. Message intended for future left it was later for safety. “Not to die but to be found,” she wrote in a clear note.
A crucial piece of her history was kept hidden from Yvonne for a long time. Kept for decades, it was hidden well away from view. Adopted by Chinese American parents, she was placed with them. Arrived US June 16 1961 day was arrival for her. The adoptive mother struggled with infertility deeply, always feeling. Deep-seated shame rooted in traditional culture was deep inside her. Held onto this secret; perhaps pain drove it all for them.
Growing up Yvonne given different narrative there always. Damaging story about birth mother heard often by her, sadly. The adoptive mother saw women rivals always around her, she thought. She demanded 100 percent loyalty from Yvonne, always wanting it. When angry, she’d often lash out with bad words at people. Say, “Oh, I guess you’ll be a prostitute someday.” “Like your mother,” this was said aloud and then loudly.
Harmful narrative impacted identity significantly for her deeply. Explained fundamental human need to see love present in eyes. Reflected in her mother’s face was something she always felt was missing inside. Lost with her birth mother, she believed this deep down inside herself. Tragically, she never found her adoptive mother this way later. Mental illness and traditional thinking prevented nurturing badly; she knows this. Yvonne often tried to soothe and comfort her mother; she did this act.
Life adoptive home was dysfunctional bad very. Marked by fighting domestic violence, it was always present there. Yvonne’s primary motivation growing up was that simple tasks felt necessary. “Get the heck out of this home,” she wanted so much. Truth: her beginnings were hidden until the pandemic discovery occurred. Serendipitous discovery happened then, and it seems suddenly this. Brother doing deep cleaning found file hidden away somewhere.
Opening file moment intense anticipation she felt greatly. Not knowing what truths pain might reveal fully now for her. Reading documents offered glimpses past always there within pages. Including one describing her “pretty girl” well written. “Very delicate,” she needed a good home, it said clearly. Questioned if the adoptive home fit the description; always, well, it was unsure. Yvonne remains thankful adoption itself still is felt.
Most profound discovery: note the birth mother wrote it down. Seeing words reading elegant script happened then for her eyes. The revelation shattered the damaging narrative fed years before this moment occurred. “Like, oh gosh, she did love me.” Yvonne felt it then deep down. “She did love me,” Yvonne remembered strongly, and then it was the truth. “She gave me up in love.” She knew that day, always knew. Weight decades of misunderstanding lifting, then finally felt so.
Yvonne hasn’t searched for her birth mother actively yet, perhaps. Grappling with the question of whether to disrupt her life today, right now. Understands reasons abandonment likely rooted deeply, always suspects. Desperate circumstances, extreme poverty, or pressure was the cause, she thinks. Societal pressures of having a child out of wedlock were a reason, maybe. Potentially being the second daughter is a possible factor this could be.
Finds comfort in circumstances of abandonment she feels now deeply. Left of the busy public stairwell was where she lay, baby. Implying Hope was found and cared for there safely. Rather than leave the dangerous place, dump the road anywhere bad. Deeply personal connection origins lie in the name given to this name. Yvonne shared her first name, Yeung Choi Sai, which she did always remember. Name the street where she was abandoned and where it is located.
A unique detail links her directly to the place location exactly. Place her beginning in a profound way it does always feel. Plans to visit that street in Hong Kong post-pandemic are surely wanted. Pilgrimage physical location tied to identity—this was the trip she planned. Birth story connection feels strong; it is always now present. Wonders, maybe bittersweet irony is felt sometimes. “How many children out in the world named the street this way?”
Discovery adoption file notes changed things always. Did not change the immediate relationship the parents had before she knew. Never spoken of again, this happened after discovery. Adoptive mother passed ten years ago, and back then it happened. Nearing what would have been his 100th birthday, May was coming soon. Despite her painful, dysfunctional upbringing, she plans to visit her now. Visit her grave complex; act with gratitude and reconciliation—it feels important.
“I am going to visit her grave and thank her a lot always.” Yvonne stated that acknowledging difficult reality felt real. The relationship they had while expressing appreciation was good. “Thank you; that gave me a ray of hope, light always guiding.” “Love for my birth mother,” she felt she always knew. “Thank you for choosing me,” she told them, then this fact. Holds nuanced view of adoptive mother now that she does understand.
Claire and Yvonne’s stories have unique details they hold deep within. Share common threads of enduring impact adoption journeys for many. Deep-seated desire to understand one’s origins is always present.
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Long Lost Family takes jaw-dropping turn as adopted woman finds out she’s actually related to best friend
My Sister’s Adoption Story: 20 Years of Life Lessons and Love
