3 years after the initial application

After spending a year in England, and the various ups and downs associated with my life at the time – losing my adoptive father, coming out as a gay man, and a whole lot of personal growth – I was living in Ottawa, finishing off school.

My Aunt forwarded mail to me, and in the pile sent was my non-identifying information. In this letter I learned:

• information about my birth
• my original names – James William ?
• foster home placement details – not specific details but the fact that between being born and placed, I had spent time in a foster home
• historical medical information
• some family details, but nothing identifying
• details about my mother
• details about my father – he was not legally listed on the file, but there were a few details listed
• a few details about my mother’s children from her previous marriage – two twin boys, and a daughter

After opening and reading the details provided, I felt like my head was swimming. It gave me some serious pause for thought. There’s this parallel life that I was briefly a part of, that’s diverged. I think only a person who is adopted understands what that feels like.

This was the first time I had concrete details rather than rumors about my birth family. I immediately consented to continuing the search for identifying information and contact.