If it weren't for Steve and her adopted family saving her life, she would not be who she is today. In this clip from the show, Ashley talks about how important it is for her to give back, help others and change someone's life — just as others did for her.
How are you reaching out and helping others in your community?
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Comments
I thought the show was an eye opener. I am adopted. Found my birth mother some 30 years ago. She wants "NO contact" I've contacted her a couple of times but, again nothing. She would not furnish any medical information. On your show you mentioned the word "parallel" well, over the years my life has crossed paths with some of my birth family. A few years ago,stopping for directions to a cemetery, the person that I asked turned out to be a cousin. Well, that person gave me closeur. She was kind enough to give me most of the information I was missing. She does not know my birth parents but, was able to fill in a lot of blanks.
But, there still isn't a day that I don't ask the question "why"?
I wanted to let you know that I really loved the show today.My mom was found in a box at a basketball stadium in Long Beach,California and they always thought she had a twin because some people from Louisville had went to a game and they said that they saw a baby boy that had been left that looked identical to her at a nearby gas station that same night.She was found near Barry Fitzgerald's estate and her name Audrey Lee Fitzgerald was pinned on her sweater so they thought she could be some relation to him but no one knows for sure.I've always wanted to know about my mom's side of the family but I never knew where to start but I think I might try the genetic testing.Thank you!
Debbie, I work with a wonderful girl who was adopted,and her records are sealed also, I would love to know also if there is anyway to get around her records being sealed. She is a wonderful person with a big heart, and she works with Cancer Patients, everyone loves her. She wants to find her biological family, and wants to see if she has siblings, and her medical history. She was not as lucky as your son Debbie on who adopted her. If anyone has anyway to help, please email me. thank you
I placed my son for adoption 21 years ago. I was able to chose his family, they sent a letter and pictures once a year until he was 18. He contacted me about one year ago. We started by talking on the phone, then emails, facebook, etc. then decided to meet about 5 months later.
We continued to talk on the phone, text, and meet at least once a month. It was so fun to see how much alike we are in so many ways, looks, personality, and habits. He has shared so much with me, and taught me so many things about myself as I have for him.
He has a lot of drama in his life including an addiction to drugs. About one month ago, I made the decision to stop most communication with him until he gets better. I have a great husband and two children. I have choosen not to expose my children to his lifestyle, as it was spilling into my life.
His mother is really good about sending me email updates when I ask about him, but she doesn't know the real story as to what he's really doing and I don't feel it's my place to tell her. That needs to come from him when he's ready.
My hope is that we can reconnect soon, as I want to be a support to him, but I also need to do what's best for me and my family. It was a hard decision to make 21 years ago and an even harder one now. He is a great guy, has a heart of gold, great sense of humor, but I turned out to not be a priority in his life. His friends and drugs are his priority. I have loved him since the day I found out I was pregnant, and will love him til the day I die.
So I guess my point is adoption can be a good thing in certain cir***stances. With our situation, I started to wonder what if. What if I would have kept him, would he have the same issues because a feeling of abandonment is certainly one of them. Sometimes I wish he would have never contacted me as it has caused so much heart ache. No one tells you what to do 21 years later when your biological son contacts you. But then I think, look at what I would have missed out on. I have faith that he will get well, and our paths will cross again. We have a special connection that not many can understand.
Re: Debbie Schmidt--In some areas, you can make a court appointment with a judge to ask for the seal to be broken. From talking with others, it is not normally approved, again depends upon the state.
Re: This story...I'm glad to hear of a positive adoption story. I was given up for adoption at birth. My adopted parents were abusive both physically and mentally. Had they had the screening process that exists today, back in the 50's, they would have never been approved. There is no amount of therapy that can heal such deep wounds, I'm sorry, I will argue that point!
In spite of this I try to make a positive impact on any children I encounter, always encouraging them and giving them the positive influence they so need. God Bless the children!
Anderson,
I write books on successful women and am currently writing one in the San Francisco Bay area. Ashlee said she is working in that area, but I don't have her last name or any way to get in touch with her.
Could you please help me out?
Thank you.
great story. We adopted our son at birth, and we know he has two biological siblings and he would really like to meet them, problem being at the time of his adoption the law was records were to be sealed. Since then the biological mother's lawyer had passed and my husband, even being a probate lawyer, cannot get around this law. we really would love to find the siblings and also have more medical information. My son is currently 22 and is an amazing person! Do you know or does anyone know how we can get around records being sealed?