Recently last year my mother informed me of a family secret. She had a child she put up for adoption when she was 17. There was always this feeling growing up that therre was something missing and I never understood that feeling until one day. My biological sister was born in 1972 and the adoption agency was in Peoria at Catholic Charities. That is the only information i know. Her name is Erika Michelle but I dont know if her adoptive family kept her birth name. I have started with ancestry.com and my next step will be contacting Catholic Charities of Peoria IL. I begin this journey not sure of what I will find. I have always wondered what if she is a big time lawyer, doctor, writer, actress that type of thing. I know whoever she is she couldnt disappoint me.
I have always wondered why my mom never talked about highschool or had a lot of friends and now I know why. When I look at society it amazes me how this could have been so shameful to a family and now its part of the normalcy of society. I just hope my journey doesnt disappoint me. If anything I would just like to see what she looks like, if I see myself or my real sister in her or even my mom. I am not really sure if my mom wants us to do this but she was concerned someone would come looking for her after she passes away. I would rather find her now but I am also apprehensive about opening old wounds.
