[labs]

I am looking for my niece who was born at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, MI. Her birth date is on or about 3-30-1974. She was placed for adoption very shortly after birth. I don't know anything about who may have adopted her, however. Bio mom's first name is Bonnie. I wish I had more information, but hopefully this will look familiar to someone and may lead to a successful find.

[FromTheAshes502]

There are a ton of adoptee and adoption search/reunion groups on facebook. You, actually, have a great deal of info.

When adoptions are finalized, our original birth certificates (obc) become sealed. The amended birth certificate changes the parent's names to our adoptive and sometimes, the date of our birth or location. Michigan, for adoptees, has a very complex and difficult obc access law. So, don't lose hope if it becomes difficult or at times, it seems she may not be looking for you. As adoptees, we have to get "creative" when searching sometimes. lol Start with the facebook groups, though. Some people will put the info on cardboard and take a picture that can be shared. As adoptees, most of us DO share these on our personal pages and in our groups!
If haven't already, join the adoption reunion databank. She may have joined it. Its a long shot but worth trying. Other things are a DNA test and get in that registry. It costs around $100-150 to do a cheek swab test. If she has or does take one (which is the number one way we are finding family members), you will be matched as "relatives" and notified. "Cousin Connect" is a web group that a lot of us used to use, also. Most of us have switched to facebook just because the sheer number of possible "hits" is much higher. However, some still post there. Or she may have in the past.
Best of luck. If find her, take it slow. Reunion is very overwhelming. It's an emotional rollercoaster which brings up some issues and creates others. *fingers crossed* for you.

[labs]

Hi FromThheAses502, and thank you for the response. I am actually an adoptee in reunion, too. I searched and successfully found over a decade ago. My adoption was a typical, 1960's style closed adoption (which was all there was in 1960's California.) Over the years, I've been involved in the right-to-OBC movement, as well, so have a good deal of familiarity with the obc access laws. Regarding reunion, I do know what you mean about the emotional rollercoaster. Although, overall, I've been fortunate in having what I consider a very good and successful reunion that has even gotten better over time. It's been quite a ride, but well worth it, for all of us.

Unfortunately, searching as a birthfamily member is far more difficult. Searching as the adoptee is, I think, easier that searching as a birthfamily member. For example, when I searched as the adoptee, I had some decent clues, thanks to my non-id. And, with another relatively inexpensive resource, I was able to learn my biological parents' full names. My adoption finalized in California, a state notorious for not granting petitions to inspect the original birth certificate. (My petition to inspect was denied even though I petitioned after my reunion - yes, indeed, it was.) Anyway, after getting the full names, it wasn't too hard to find. I was fortunate in that my bio father has an unusual last name. His search for me, on the other hand was unsuccessful. There wasn't much he could do to find out what my new name was. And, this is the situation in which I find myself in the search for this niece.

At any rate, I have, over several years, placed profiles for this niece (my husband's sister's relinquished child) with ISRR, CousinConnect, as well as with numerous other online search and reunion sites. I have reason to believe that she is not searching (or at least not where I'm searching,) since no match has ever been made. Of course, if she isn't all that well versed in these matters, she may not know where to start. I remember that from back in 2001.

At this point, I'm just trying all sorts of options, getting my search out where I can, in the hopes this will come to something. I still check regularly on the popular places such as Facebook and the typical reunion registries, as well. Michigan does have its programs, but many "services" aren't offered for extended family members. I've even tried searching Michigan databases by d.o.b. hoping to gain some clues. It's been tough, but I will keep trying!

Thank you.

[howard555]

Both of you have posted good information that can help others.
In some corners of the world it's called people helping people.