FeaturedFamily Histories
The quest for my roots and hope to belong
This is my story, as an international adoptee searching for my birth mother and other family members through DNA testing. I go through the background for my search and give you a picture of the process, with the ups and downs that were involved. By sharing my path, I hope to inspire and give hope to others in the same or similar situation.
I was born in Beirut, Lebanon
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Charlotte, this story is incredible. I can’t even imagine what it has felt like for you to go through this process. I hope you now feel more complete and know that the global Armenian community is overjoyed to have you.
But there is one thing I am not clear on: did your birth father sign adoption papers after you were trafficked just to avoid the stigma of having a child out of wedlock? When did your birth mother learn of this truth? I am amazed that their marriage survived such a revelation (or betrayal). If you see this message, I’m sure I’m not the only reader who will appreciate hearing more of the story.
What an incredible story and bravo Charlotte for your persistence, never giving up hope. Janet – I have been so impressed with what you can do, since meeting you at an Armenian genealogy conference in Watertown several years back.
Thank you so much for your kind words Anahid!
Yes I understand my story brings up a lot of questions and I will try and answer out of what has become my understanding of the circumstances. My father did lure my mother into this place in Zahle and behind her back arranged for me to be sold into the adoption industry. She was set to raise me with him
or by herself if that would be the case. Giving me up never crossed her mind. She told me she also had a plan for us. She never got my father to admit what he had done, he has for all these years refused to talk about it. My mother has told me she multiple times have tried to get me back from the midwifes house by demanding her to give her daughter back. She was alone in this since my father went to Canada – possibly with the money he got from selling me – and I was then long gone. That my parents would still get married despite all this is confusing. It was a different time though and I think circumstances with the civil war breaking out in Lebanon called for different measures. It saddens me that my mother still married him, but without that happening I wouldn’t have my two younger brothers.
Thank you for reading! All the best!
Dear Charlotte, In Lebanon back in the days, getting pregnant out of wedlock was shameful and cause for mean gossip usually about the girl, not her partner. It is understandable to me why your mom still married your dad, after what he had done to you, her first child. It is quite possible that she felt shame for giving birth out of wedlock and totally abandoned. That explains their decision to give birth in Zahleh, a Christian provincial town far from the Beirut, near the Bekaa Valley, which by the way had a sizable Armenian population, and in a midwife’s clinic, at that too.It is good that your father did not abandon her, after all.
Dear Nelly!
Thank you for reading and for your comment! The circumstances you explain do make sense and are at least part of the truth. Out of respect for my family I have chosen to also leave some additional information out and as a consequence leaving the reader with some question marks.
Dear Charlotte,
I bumped into your story after going through twitter and is indeed heartwarming. I must appreciate your commitment and curiosity in knowing about your parents. Did you happen to meet your father? I feel pity to read about the perils of civil war in Lebanon. There may be many stories like yours wherein parents made a trade-off of their children for greener pastures. I pray to Almighty that this should not happen with others. My best wishes.
Aftab
New Delhi, India
Dear Aftab!
Thank you! I also hope that there will be an end to this. The couple administering my adoption have both passed, but for years they administered other adoptions and made very good money doing that. All children adopted through them had the same adoption witnesses for example which is in itself illegal and shows that it was a very lucrative and fishy buissness.
As for your question, I havn’t met any family member yet, only talked to them on Face time. Yes i have spoken to my father, but mostly mother, brothers, cousins and uncles.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Best wishes!
Very interesting story. I am very pleased for the positive and happy ending. Charlotte, you are 100% full blooded Armenian and we Armenians will accept you with open arms and warm hugs. Try to learn Armenian, and always tell your kids that they have Armenian blood in them. I am glad you found your biological family.
Thank for sharing Charlotte ♥️ I’m also adopted from Lebanon to Sweden, looking for my bio family! I can relate to your story on so many levels! I hope one day I will have a happy ending like you. Knowing who we are and where we came from is essential.
Also I know the couple you are referring to in the article. I was “adopted” by the same ones. I would have loved to connect with you but don’t know how I can leave you my contact info. Med vänliga hälsningar 😊
I would love to connect with you Viktoria! I have sent you a Facebook friend request. From there we can go on in Swedish. 😉 Hälsningar från Lotta
Kära Charlotte,
Waw waw Jag vet inte hur hittade jag den här artikel med din otroliga historia och hur ska jag kunna beskriva eller uttrycka min stor glädje och alla mina känslor att du äntligen lyckades hitta din biologiska familjen :-) Jag som hade hela tiden i mina tankar din berättelse och har försökt verkligen med all kontakt jag har att hjälpa till med sökande men tyvärr alla misslyckades få ett ledtråd och kunde inte komma tillbaka med tomma besked för jag hade alltid hopp att nå något varje gång jag åker ner som din fantastiskt uthållighet.
Jag önskar är med varmt hjärta all lyckan!