How Would You Feel If You Didn’t Know Your Past?
Thursday, November 24, 2011 8:15AM
When Anderson’s dad died, he hoped there would be a letter from him when he turned 18, explaining what his father was like and what he wanted for Anderson.
As 24-year-olds, Ashley and Alison have no file of information about their past. Every day, they are looking for answers.
Alison shares what this feels like in the clip below...
Are there mysteries of your past for which you had answers? How would you feel if you didn’t know where you came from?
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
What is the website address for DNA testing?
Hi Anderson, I know how those 2 ladies feel, wanting to know where they came from. I never knew my mother or father. I know my mother's maiden name and I have tried to find her. I was born in the USA and now living in Canada. I would like to take the DNA test that the girls took to find out about their ansestrey. I am 62 now and my mother was 22 or 23 when I was born. My mother my be gone now, but I have always wondered what my background is before I am gone, as I have a daughter and grandson, who would also like to know.
If you could give me the info I would really love you for your help.
Thank you so much
Linda
For 50 years my brother told me my father was not my father. My answer to him was that maybe I don't have his blood but he was my father. No I would like to know for sure. My father's sister is still alive, she is 93 and I would love to get blood work done to see if we are related but I just can't afford it. I am on medical disability and just can't pull it off. Is there place that does DNA for free. If he is not my father I think I know who might be. I think now I need to know.
I actually don't know 1/2 of my past...my biological father left my mother when he was told she was pregnant with me. My grandparents raised me, and my mother was present in my life on a part-time basis. She had a new relationship and 2 children from that relationship and she included me when she could.
His abandoning my mother and me felt as real to me as if he'd been a presence in my life and then left. Again, it took years to figure that out, to let go of any responsibility on my part for his leaving and to become at peace with the life I've been given.
I did spend years looking for my biological father, but I ran into dead ends at every turn. He was in the military and had a very common first and last name, so the search organization that I used told me that it was not possible for them to continue the search because of that. Finally, I felt like I had no need to continue looking for him, and I stopped.
So, how do I feel about not knowing about my past? It's like 1/2 of my life story is missing. It has taken years for me to come to terms with this, and years for me to realize that I am who I am today because of the footprints of others on my life.
Today, I know that I am who I am because of every single thing that has happened to me in my life. I am proud of who I have become, of the person I have grown into, so I am totally appreciative of everything that has happened to bring me to this place in my life.
I was adopted and was able to track down my birth-mother. She wants no contact with me and refuses to speak to me. Even though I have been able to source my maternal grand-parents (both now deceased)I would love to know who my father was.
My grand-father was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and with help from the Scottish government I was able to go visit the place he was born. This was fabulous to do!! He had a rare "sir name" so I even wrote to everyone in Aberdeen with that name and got some relpys (but no direct relatives) Finding out about my Scottish heritage has been so rewarding. It's given me a sense of myself. The family that adopted no longer exists... I wonder what it would be like to know who my father is.
I'd like to know why my biological mom gave me up at birth - and who my bioligical father it.
I was very moved by your stories and decided that I desperately needed to find out who I am. Adopted in South Africa in 1949, grew up there and married an American in 1974. Now, at 62 years o****e and living in VA, this is on my mind. All my life I've lived with this void. My only relative is my son, now aged 31. I don't know who my biological parents were. I looked different from my adoptive family, and other "general" South African looks. Now disabled and on Social Security, I don't have the finances to find out about my background. There is that constant feeling of needing closure. I know how those two incredible young women feel, and like them, I've also been able to summon the strength to rise above adversity.
I really loved the clips n reading some of on here it was very touching.... I was adopted at around 3yrs o****e and I dont know where my father is or my family history all i know is what my birth mother tells me who i was blessed to meet at the age of 19 and i am now 26 yrs old.... she is a great mother and has taught me alot since meeting her wen it comes to life i still ould like to meet my father harry richard parker who was in st.thomas ontario canada wen i was born but where he is now i havent a clue... n i thought that dealing with the loss of being taken from what i had known as home to b hard n difficult to deal n cope with i just cant imagine how worse it is for them to b left for dead n not knowing each other as sisters... that is by far the worst thing that could ever happen to infants i hope they find their parents n make a mends... i think also in my opinion that the parents of these young ladys should b punished severly for what they had done no baby deserves that they didnt ask to come into this world...
What is Allison's religion now? If jewish, would she change it. Now that Ashley knows that she has a Jewish background, would she change her religion?
Who is my grandfather...on both sides?
And how did my aunt REALLY die??
My great grandmother died and left behind a husband and ten kids. So my great grandfather left to work in either Cadillac or Pontiac Michigan. He sent back a few letters when he first arrived and then the family never heard from him again. My grandfather had to finish raising the children and then 10 of his own children he had later with my grandmother. I always wondered if he was killed or just left them behind. His name was Jesse Homer Carver. I have 65 first cousin's and 32 immediate aunt and uncle's. It would be nice to know what happened or if Jesse had remarried and produced other children. All I know is his disappearance was especially tough during those years b/c the families of that day were already struggling with mass poverty.
My mother's father lived with her and her mother for a very short amount of time overseas before returning to the U.S. My mother and I know nothing about him save for his name, what city/state he came from and that he passed away far too early. I have what looks like a class ring that he gave my grandmother before he left. I would love to know where he's buried, who his family was/is, what he looked like, if my mother has any half-siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles... I don't think my mother has any memory of her father; she was too young when he left. I wish I could give my mother that as a gift but I don't even know where to start.