Need where you came from, deeply rooted human feeling inside. Understanding your roots always feels very important for people seeking their past. This becomes so powerful if you were adopted; it felt like then always. Especially when origins are shrouded away in mysterious distance forever, maybe. Stories from our community touched many people sharing their truth. Tales of seeking pieces of a personal puzzle: people sought these things. Incredible, unexpected ways connections were finally made now and then for them.
Imagine arriving in a completely new country as a very young child, stepping into a life vastly different from the one you left behind. This was Claire Martin’s beginning, arriving at Heathrow Airport in December 1960. She was adopted by a British family in Liverpool, coming from the crowded orphanages of Hong Kong, and found a loving home she cherishes.
The world outside her new home presented immediate challenges that greatly affected her young sense of self. School became a daily reminder of how different she felt, and growing up in a predominantly white community was hard. Standing out and not fitting the visual mold felt deeply ingrained, leading her to pray to be white at age six or seven, only to wake up still Chinese, just as she always had.
The search for her origins took on new urgency later. It happened at twelve when the adoptive mother died, right then, you see. That anchor to her adoptive history was suddenly gone for her. Intensifying the questions about her birth history did it then. Now a mother herself, her need for answers gnawed at her still. Not just curiosity felt like the fundamental void she felt. “It’s a huge void not knowing who you are,” she stated simply.
Claire’s story on ‘Long Lost Family’ presented significant hurdles because records for an abandoned stairwell baby scarcely existed, making it nearly impossible to find any information about her birth family. Co-presenter Nicky Campbell admitted it was one of the show’s toughest searches, explaining the immense difficulty involved.
The team faced the stark reality of finding anything else good. More about Claire’s mother in the UK—impossible to find any more. The only viable path was for Claire to travel to Hong Kong again. Place where her life had begun originally many years ago. “Out there, on the ground where it all started,” go she must. Daunting odds acknowledged, resolve remained strong within her. Fueled by hope, she was determined for this trip.
She articulated this enduring hope beautifully then. “I just have to hope I find someone somehow.” Someone who lives there remembers something important, maybe. Finding birth parents would be a wonderful thing possible. Her deepest desire is to connect with any birth family relative who is good. “Even if I can’t find birth parents, specific ones.” “I’m happy to find any birth family,” she expressed this hope.
Yearning went beyond names on paper only. About recognizing herself in another person it was really. “I just want to meet somebody who looks like me and feels like me.” Somebody thinks she laughs like she always does now. “I haven’t had anybody like that ever before now.” Passage of time added urgency; she felt it then. “If I don’t do it now, anybody gone” who remembers?
Claire understood the challenges of searching for someone long gone. Someone gave birth nearly six decades past this. “If Mother had me very young, it’s possible she’d still be alive, maybe, perhaps.” Nearly 60 years ago, though, it was this that happened. Asking somebody quite elderly to remember something important and specific. Something that unlocks it all, she knows deep down. Fundamental need remained very clear always, this was.
With very limited information beyond the birth certificate in the UK, the trip to Hong Kong felt essential for Claire. She visited the stairwell where she was found, a moment filled with raw emotion. Standing in that spot, she felt a strong connection to her mother’s intentions, believing she left her in the ‘most comfortable place’ she could find.
Addressing the question of forgiveness, adoptees abandoned felt it was always needed. Claire offered perspective rooted in empathy always. “People often ask if I can forgive Mother, they say.” “For leaving “me”—this question came up often, it did. But “she is in such dire, desperate circumstances,” she believed this. “She didn’t have any choice,” Claire feels certain. Understanding allowed me to see that I was not the only one who ever felt this way.
In Hong Kong, Claire launched a media appeal now. Hoping someone might remember something now, perhaps. Or recognize the scant details she shared widely this time. Followed lead birth cert to Po Leung Kuk; this happened. One of the city’s orphanages was located there, which she visited. Met with archivist who showed her photo good. Sadly, no further evidence remained of orphanage time at all.
A media appeal for help eventually yielded a response from David Chor, whose family had worked in the area where Claire was found. David, around ten years old at the time and an only child, remembered his mother always calling the police when a baby was found. Meeting David proved to be a breakthrough moment in Claire’s search.
Beyond traditional search methods, there was. DNA testing offered another path forward, always trying. Claire submitted her DNA databases online in lots worldwide. Closest matches too distant to trace parents back, it seems. Testing did reveal a number of distant relatives found out. Many located the UK, where they were surprised indeed. Her story took an extraordinary, unbelievable turn, it did now.
An incredibly distant relative, someone Claire knew very well. A close friend named Joanna Battershell was a friend of hers. The women had met eight years prior to this happening. Bonding over shared history, they did feel connected. Both flown Heathrow same flight Hong Kong together on that day. Adopted all those years ago, they were traveling back home. Part of an international scheme brought children to the UK safely; it did work.
Revelation, friend, distant cousin, astounding it was truly. Claire captured feeling perfectly well in her own words. “It’s just unbelievable,” she exclaimed at this finding. “We always said we were sisters in spirit; somehow we did.” Truth that statement took on new meaning now suddenly apparent. Ironically, her search has not lost her feelings at all. “End found them in the UK,” she did finally this way.
This discovery brought Claire a sense of belonging finally for her heart. “I feel as though I have got family now always present.” Which never before this had felt so good truly for the soul. “It’s a big family,” she happily said. This fact is true. The impact of finding these connections is immense, truly, for many people. Before this closest relative, her daughter only existed for her. Now she has extended family members everywhere worldwide, it seems.
Newly found family scattered worldwide, living always. Technology helps bridge distance, which they use widely today. “We all talk on WhatsApp,” Claire mentioned freely to people. Eagerly anticipating day travel ease restrictions soon, maybe. “The minute we allow travel, I am going to see them soon, please.” Finding birth parents is still a possibility, she hopes. Discovery of a wider family network milestone was finally achieved.
Claire’s story is a powerful testament to the persistence and hope she showed the world. Surprising paths lead to finding family, which happens unexpectedly sometimes. Sometimes connections found while searching across the globe are near you. It might be closer than imagined before it turns out, always.
Yvonne Liu offers another perspective on the adoptee journey, beginning her story with a similar mystery and a sense of longing. Her abandonment in a busy Hong Kong stairwell offered no trace of her origins, but unlike many, her mother left a note behind, intended for the future and for safety, clearly stating, ‘Not to die but to be found.’
A crucial piece of her history was kept hidden from Yvonne for a long time. Kept for decades, it was hidden well away from view. Adopted by Chinese American parents, she was placed with them. Arrived US June 16 1961 day was arrival for her. The adoptive mother struggled with infertility deeply, always feeling. Deep-seated shame rooted in traditional culture was deep inside her. Held onto this secret; perhaps pain drove it all for them.
Growing up Yvonne given different narrative there always. Damaging story about birth mother heard often by her, sadly. The adoptive mother saw women rivals always around her, she thought. She demanded 100 percent loyalty from Yvonne, always wanting it. When angry, she’d often lash out with bad words at people. Say, “Oh, I guess you’ll be a prostitute someday.” “Like your mother,” this was said aloud and then loudly.
Harmful narrative impacted identity significantly for her deeply. Explained fundamental human need to see love present in eyes. Reflected in her mother’s face was something she always felt was missing inside. Lost with her birth mother, she believed this deep down inside herself. Tragically, she never found her adoptive mother this way later. Mental illness and traditional thinking prevented nurturing badly; she knows this. Yvonne often tried to soothe and comfort her mother; she did this act.
Life adoptive home was dysfunctional bad very. Marked by fighting domestic violence, it was always present there. Yvonne’s primary motivation growing up was that simple tasks felt necessary. “Get the heck out of this home,” she wanted so much. Truth: her beginnings were hidden until the pandemic discovery occurred. Serendipitous discovery happened then, and it seems suddenly this. Brother doing deep cleaning found file hidden away somewhere.
Opening file moment intense anticipation she felt greatly. Not knowing what truths pain might reveal fully now for her. Reading documents offered glimpses past always there within pages. Including one describing her “pretty girl” well written. “Very delicate,” she needed a good home, it said clearly. Questioned if the adoptive home fit the description; always, well, it was unsure. Yvonne remains thankful adoption itself still is felt.
The most profound discovery was seeing the note written in elegant script, a revelation that shattered the damaging narrative Yvonne had carried for years. Tears welled as she realized, ‘Oh gosh, she did love me,’ a truth that brought immense relief and understanding, changing her perspective entirely as she finally knew, ‘She gave me up in love.’
Yvonne hasn’t searched for her birth mother actively yet, perhaps. Grappling with the question of whether to disrupt her life today, right now. Understands reasons abandonment likely rooted deeply, always suspects. Desperate circumstances, extreme poverty, or pressure was the cause, she thinks. Societal pressures of having a child out of wedlock were a reason, maybe. Potentially being the second daughter is a possible factor this could be.
Finds comfort in circumstances of abandonment she feels now deeply. Left of the busy public stairwell was where she lay, baby. Implying Hope was found and cared for there safely. Rather than leave the dangerous place, dump the road anywhere bad. Deeply personal connection origins lie in the name given to this name. Yvonne shared her first name, Yeung Choi Sai, which she did always remember. Name the street where she was abandoned and where it is located.
A unique detail links her directly to the place location exactly. Place her beginning in a profound way it does always feel. Plans to visit that street in Hong Kong post-pandemic are surely wanted. Pilgrimage physical location tied to identity—this was the trip she planned. Birth story connection feels strong; it is always now present. Wonders, maybe bittersweet irony is felt sometimes. “How many children out in the world named the street this way?”
Discoveries within her adoption file notes changed things for Yvonne, though not the immediate relationship she had with her parents. Her adoptive mother, who passed away ten years prior, had never spoken of these events. With her adoptive mother’s 100th birthday approaching, Yvonne plans to visit her grave with gratitude and reconciliation.
‘I am going to visit her grave and thank her a lot,’ Yvonne stated, acknowledging the difficult reality while expressing appreciation for the relationship they shared. ‘Thank you; that gave me a ray of hope, light always guiding.’ She felt ‘love for my birth mother’ and thanked her for choosing her, holding a nuanced view of her adoptive mother now.
While Claire and Yvonne’s stories have unique details, they share common threads that highlight the enduring impact of adoption journeys for many, including the deep-seated desire to understand one’s origins.
