ITV - Long Lost Family ..........

[yelenots]

Anyone else need a box of tissues?? :)

[Bbbananas]

What a pleasure to have the chance to 'talk' to you about this. I truly thought you came across as a very lovely lady, who had lived with her decision, right or wrong, for all these years. I cried all the way through your story and your son is a wonderful young man.
Good luck to you and it is so nice to hear of a happy ending. I am sure you will now have plenty of time to make up for those lost years and yearning.

[jackthehat]

I hope that many other parents or children in a similar situation to yours can take heart that there can be a *happy* outcome; that the passage of time, changes in outlook, removal of obstacles and the determination to seek out can have a profound and positive result.
I wish you and Jonathan and your respective families a very happy and peaceful future together.

[debeades]

Thank you all so much for your lovely thoughts. I hope the series helps others to seek those they have lost, although there were some very sad endings obviously not shown. I consider myself to be so lucky. I was so scared terrified in fact of the outcome being a bad one, to begin with I was happy to know Jon was alive and well, so you can imagine the elation to know he wanted to see me and had actually been searching too!!

[Bbbananas]

I have to say that his adoptive mother has been great too - not all of them would welcome the birth mother coming back into their lives, never mind welcome her. It is a lovely story debeades.

[debeades]

She is a wonderful woman I knew that the day I met her, she said that day she was only borrowing my son and that she would bring him back one day, we filmed so much there was my reunion with her as well which was amazing, she made me a book of his life, which I have to say I still find it difficult to look at for reasons of guilt. She refers to me as her sister and we too spent 4 days together and I will be spending the time with her to and Jons adopted sister Sophie. When we saw them off at the airport I said to Sophia I love you and she replied we have always love you, how lovely is that.
There is so much cut out of the programme Donna had been sending photos and letters to the social worker since Jon was a baby in the hope they would be forwarded to me, she sent their addresses but nothing was ever passed to me. She says she knew I never wanted to give him up and she tried to make all so easy for me. I am very lucky to have my American sister x

[kirsty_w]

Hi Debbie, my story is on this week's programe! I'm quite anxious about it, although I have seen it and they have been very sympathetic with their editing and it wasn't what I was imagining!! I hope the after effects of your lovely story being aired have been good, I'm dreading it to be honest lol. Would love to chat to you privately and swap notes so to speak if you would like to? I will ask Thea to give you my e mail address. Good luck in the states, I know exactly how you are feeling ;0) xx

[debeades]

Hi Kirsty I would love to speak to you are you on facebook. If so inbox me there and I will give you my details. All will be fine withyour programme people have been so kind to me I was so worried too. There was only that comment on here that upset me. I look forward to watching your story later. Love n hugs Debbie x

[kirsty_w]

have inboxed you on facebook (at least I think it's you!) x

[Booty40]

Hi i watched the story and was very moved it was nice to have a positive outcome for you and your son.
I was adopted myself as a child, although within my birth family. I grew up thinking my birth mother was my aunty !!!!. She is no longer here but im glad as an adult i found time to be her "son" again. It was refreshing to watch your sons adoptive experience being so positive, mine was not a happy one. I wish you both luck for the future x.

[halfc]

hi Deb,being mix race myself with 4 younger siblings,im now 51 but the programme made me think about the hardship,hassle and hatred my mum (a widow from when i was 5)must have had to cope with.it was the 60s and we lived in sussex.how could Jonathon s dad ignore you and his lovely son.hes missed out on 2 wonderful people.i dont suppose you even think about him him in a positive light. Lets hope he watched the programme and felt guilt at what hes missed out on.I admire you.

[4getmenot]

i wasnt only one that thought it and i am entitled to my opinion. I said it because i couldnt do it, thats just me. You did it for your reasons.

[chrissa1]

Hi debeades. I watched your story last week and was so happy that it all turned out well for you. The same goes for Kirsty tonight.

[tamborine]

If your a young mum, shunned by your family, nowhere to live with less to offer your babe you would have to grab a better life for the baby thru adoption.

Fortunately, we dont all face this brick wall.

[debeades]

Thank you halfc and criss for you comments. Someone was only saying the same thing to me today that they hope Jons father watched it. I did try to contact him through facebook when they found Jon but he didn't reply to me. It is his loss and what a big loss cos he is a lovely boy. No I find it very hard to think of him in a positive way the last time he saw me I was heavily pregnat and he crossed the street to avoid me, not a nice guy at all!! I am so sorry to hear of the hardship your poor mum endured people can be so small minded and cruel x

[4getmenot]

the programme really didnt show that side of it though so i apologise. Having known now you were beaten and shunned it is very different story. To me it came across as if you gave him up for adoption because your partner didnt want him not because you were doing right by jon. Its nice to see the whole picture and please take my apology. Up to you if you accept it.

[debeades]

Of course I do 4getmenot, they filmed hours of programme but only showed a little of all our stories, there was so much they missed out but thats understandable cos too much to fit into a half hour!!! You'd need a feature length film lol!

[tamborine]

He's a lovely man dabeads and am sure he's happy to have shared his life for the reason he was adopted; he has benefitted by his foster parents and now with you back in his life to give him more security.

In my 20s I shared a flat with pregnant friend who had to release her daughter for adoption. Her pain at losing her d'ter was inconsolable but she had no alternative. I have searched FB for my friend but she's not there.

[debeades]

Thank you it is the worst pain you feel like your heart has been ripped out and then you spend years living with the guilt and pain. My son is so loving and forgiving i am trully blessed. I am looking forward now to seeing him next week as I am flying out to Arizona on Monday x

[4getmenot]

editing hey :-) glad all going ok. My blokes mum gave a baby u at 14, so somewhere he has a half brother or sis.

[Dee Sa]

I am so glad that you have your happy ending what is the old saying "never judge anyone until you have walked a mile in their shoes", all that matters is that you have been reunited, I cant imagine how lovely that feels.
Good luck
Dee