Trisha's account of meeting her son for the first time
Mother’s Day Eve 2006 became a once-in-a-lifetime, never-to-be-repeated day for me, my mother, my husband and of course my birth-son, Mark. A day every searching mother could ever wish for, but never allows herself to believe may happen. I logged on to my emails to find, not one, but two messages waiting for me from the son I had given birth to 36 years earlier. A boy I was not allowed to see at birth, a boy I had never spoken to or about, a boy I never thought I would see.

Mark's adopted brother had been searching on Ozreunion and saw my posting looking for my son.

I woke my 80 year old mother (she had kept our secret for 36 years too) we decided that there was no time to waste and so we dialled the mobile number that Mark had emailed to us.
What a surprise when the voice that said ‘hello’ sounded very familiar. The voice reminded me of someone I had spoken to on a regular basis, a voice that was within my heart, but never allowed to be shown to the world.

Mark and I chatted for hours, he talked to my mum (his grandmother), my husband (his step-dad) and I told him of his half-brother and three half-sisters and numerous cousins etc etc etc.

We decided to meet in person as soon as possible, which became only 2 days later. David and I drove from the Gold Coast down to Sydney in a very nervous, excited, euphoric state. I had hours of doubt, hours of tears, hours of laughter and hours of wondering if I was doing the best thing for everyone. For 36 years I had told myself that giving Mark away at birth was ‘the best thing for everyone’. Mark wanted to meet me, he wanted to know his mother.

Our reunion was very casual, very natural, very loving, and very light-hearted. I must admit that after we hugged I was impelled to count Mark’s fingers and toes (what new mother doesn’t want to do this?) Mark was astounded and delighted to see that I too had very high insteps. He was thrilled to see some resemblance in another human. Can you imagine what it must be like to go through life and see nothing of yourself in anyone you come in contact with?

Mark saw a likeness in me, I must say, he’s a very good-looking boy who I’m very proud of.

My listing in the 'Adoption' section of Ozreunion was posted for a very short 5 months. What a fantastic website.

Thank you Ozreunion. Thank you… thank you… thank you.