Annette: A Fragile Beginning
S11, Ep. 28: Annette
Annette started her life as part of the baby scoop era. Annette’s first six days of life were spent in the hospital while she awaited a decision by her biological mother about whether or not she should keep her baby. Annette was placed with a foster mother under the name of Sara.
It is challenging to obtain birth records from the State of Wisconsin, but Annette was able to obtain some of the records of her first three months of life. Little Sara did not have an easy time during her first seven weeks. Her foster mother described Sara as a difficult baby. Sara had physical distress from digestive and respiratory issues and needed frequent medical care. Her foster mother regularly complained that Sara showed very little interest in the world around her. During a hospital stay when she was seven weeks old, neither the doctors, nurses, nor social worker noticed the same behaviors described by Sara’s foster mother. In addition, Sara was not meeting healthy growth or emotional milestones, and it was determined that she was failing to thrive. Sara was placed in a new foster family where she demonstrated herself to be a different baby. Over the next five weeks in this new family, Sara was described as happy and alert. Exactly three months after she was born, Annette was adopted by her forever family.
Today, Annette is a recent retiree after 35 years of teaching. She is actively engaged in her community and is beginning to write her first book. In addition, and most importantly, Annette is deep in the process of adopting an older child. This change to her family could happen at any time. Becoming an adoptive parent is an exciting journey as Annette adds to her own story as an adoptee.
Season 11: Adoptee Memoirs - books in order:
Practically Still a Virgin by Monica Hall
You Can't Get Rid of Me by Jesse Scott and Keri Ault
EVENTBRITE LINK - AUSTIN, TEXAS - LIVE PODCAST EVENT: 4/17 & 4/18 2206!
Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, January 3rd, at 1 pm ET.
RESOURCES for Adoptees:
Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law
Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group
Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement
Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988.
