New clue discovered in the search for the parents of the June 1972 phone booth baby

In  my research, I recently discovered another clue in the search for Bill's birth parents. 

It's an article that we hadn't found before, dated June 13, 1972 entitled "Await Word on Abandoned Baby."

In this one, written just 7 days before his adoption was finalized, it states that Kansas law required a waiting period of one year before he could be adopted - UNLESS the birth mother came forward and signed the papers.

So that means his birth mother came forward, right? Well, maybe not. See, there's this one twist: there is no birth mother in the papers. There was a letter releasing him for adoption that was signed by a police officer who, as far as is stated, signed in lieu of the mother, who couldn't be found.

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on this one. 

Click to enlarge the photos to read the Kansas City Star's story. 

Our original story is printed below, in case you missed it. 

Since we wrote that, we were interviewed by reporter Trey Williams and featured on the front page of the Kansas City Star as well as on websites all over the world. 

We have also taken a DNA test and have found some second cousins. If you're on AncestryDNA, you'll find us under the username AtkinsonFamilySTL. Bill and I are the two who have tested, so he'll be the male one. If you need to see our trees or have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We are also listed on several adoption registries as well as on GedMatch and FTDNA.  

The Original Story

This is my husband at about 2 years old.

My husband was born on or about June 6, 1972.

Within 12 hours of his birth, he was found by a passerby in a telephone booth at 7-Eleven at 4039 Metropolitan Ave. in Kansas City, KS around 9 a.m. on June 7, 1972.

According to an article we found about his situation, he was supposed to be taken to a foster home until authorities could either locate his mother or birth family or until he could be adopted.

He was adopted by his adoptive parents by June 20, 1972.

His adoptive father passed away when my husband was 12, and his adoptive mother continued to raise him. He has always been loved, cared for and generally treated very well by his family and in fact has no desire to replace them--we just want to learn about his birth family.

We did obtain his original birth certificate from the state of Kansas, and his name was listed as "Stephen Michael Doe." We assume the name was given to him by someone who found him, the nurses at the hospital or maybe the foster family.

His mother tells us she and her husband went to a home in Kansas City where a friend of theirs who was also a judge showed up with the baby. Sometime later, the three went to the courthouse and met with a social worker, who produced a semi-detailed report about the visit (we have a copy, and I will upload it as soon as I can).

The Atkinsons, my husband's adoptive parents, left the courthouse that day with him and the adoption approved. It was finalized sometime later.
The Search


Since the first time my husband told me about his story, I've been very curious about his birth family. But once I gave birth to his children, my curiosity changed into an intense need to learn about his biological family.

My husband has never tried to search on his own, but when I told him about my search and showed him what I'd found so far, he was excited and has been supportive of my efforts.

We hope to find someone who is biologically related to him (or who might have any information about him and his biological family) to offer insight into his genealogy and, if all parties are comfortable, maybe to form a friendship or to at least open the lines of communication.
Do You Have Information Concerning a Baby Born and Abandoned in June 1972?


If you know anything about this situation, please don't hesitate to contact us at findmybirthfamily1972@gmail.com. We will respect your privacy, and we promise not to cause you any harm, trouble or money. All we seek is knowledge and understanding, and we hope for you to have the same.

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Black market baby petitions for birth certificate

LIVINGSTON MANOR, N.Y. -- When he was growing up in the Bronx, they called him Albert Higgins. It wasn't until decades later he actually learned he might be someone else.

"As a child growing up, I’ve always had a feeling that somehow or another I didn’t belong, lack of pictures in the home, didn’t have a grandmother or a grandfather. I just had a weird feeling," said Higgins.

Higgins father died when Higgins was a teenager and he said his life spiraled out of control for years. It wasn't until he was in his forties that he got back on track, moved to Sullivan County and took a job at the old Concord hotel. But then the revelation came, his parents adopted him illegally.

Continue Reading

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A Tribute to Childless Mommies: You Don’t Have To Have Kids To Mother

Lissa Rankin, OwningPink.com
 

 

Mother’s Day is coming up. As an OB/GYN, I know this can be a tough day for women who have been unable to conceive, lost pregnancies, had abortions, adopted, or chosen not to reproduce.

With all this talk about motherhood floating around - Mother’s Day brunches, kids making shell necklaces, and flower displays at the local grocery store, you may be feeling…well…left out.

But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to bear children to be a Mommy and you don’t have to be a Mommy to have children in your life if that’s what you want.

Take Auntie Maya. She has tried to have babies. In fact, she spent a gazillion dollars to get in vitro fertilization, but to no avail.

But my daughter Siena ADORES her. She calls her “Auntie Maya,” and every time a Saturday rolls around, Siena asks if we can go see her.

And then there’s Auntie Vera, who had breast cancer and had to have her ovaries removed - young. She’s getting married next month, and she wants children, but she won’t be able to bear any - even with egg donor IVF- without risking a recurrence of her cancer. And life’s too precious to take that risk. But Siena adores Auntie Vera, as does her niece Marie. Maya and Vera are some of the best mothers I know, even though they don’t have babies of their own.

If You Don't Have Children...
Mother’s Day can be tough for women like this. When some people find out a woman doesn’t have children, they look askance. Maybe she’s just selfish. Maybe she’s frigid. Maybe she’s too self-absorbed to take time to do what “God intended women to do” (A-hem - that’s me clearing my throat.) There’s no easy way to ask women why they don’t have kids. Were they infertile? Did they never meet the right partner? Are they gay? Did they choose to pursue careers, rather than parenting?

Frankly? I think it’s none of their business and they should just butt out.

I was still childless at 35, and when people used to ask me why, I’d say, “I’m barren.” While not true, I didn’t need to explain my complex reasoning for why I didn’t have kids. (In short, I was uncertain whether I wanted to be a mother. I was twice divorced and never wanted to parent unless I had a supportive partner. My career was demanding and my calling to serve the world was bigger than the calling from my uterus that begged me to reproduce.)

I Could Have Gone Either Way

Now, a few years later, I’m a Mom. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But had the chips landed differently, that would have been okay with me. I was never one of those women who must be a Mom. I could have been happy either way. Had I not had Siena, I would travel more. I’d feel less torn between my calling and my child. And I’d be okay with that. But given that I have a daughter, I feel infinitely blessed.

Because my 4 year old Siena is this amazing human being, people ask me all the time why I don’t have another. My answer is that I’m so busy giving birth- to books, businesses, friendships, websites, communities…that I don’t want to divide my energy. I try to be fully present for Siena, but I still feel torn sometimes. In the end, though, I’ve made my decision: one is enough, at least for me.

Many struggle with similar issues. My single friends, especially who are infertile or without partners who long to be Mommys, find Mother’s Day painful. It’s a reminder that they’re not living up to what society expects of them. Strangers ask. Parents nag. Friends bug.
“Why don’t you have kids yet?” When I hear this I just want to wrap my arms around my friend and scowl at everyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.

How Do YOU Give Birth and Mother?

If this is your dilemma I suggest you look at all the things in your life that you DO nurture and help grow. I bet you’ll find lots of avenues your maternal instincts have enriched your life. I can just hear you now saying, “I am a mother. I’ve given birth to ME. My life. My business. My painting. I mother my dog and my cat. I mother my friends. I’m the favorite Auntie to many children.” Or whatever. Own it. When you spread your love and nurture things important to you, it grows your soul and brings the mojo in. Just because it isn’t your child- or even a human- that you’re loving doesn’t diminish you or the value of the beauty your love brings to the world.

You can be a Mommy with Mojo, even if you’re childless. Forget with the world says. Don’t listen to your parents. Ignore your friends who tell you it’s the best thing they’ve ever done, and you’re missing out if you don’t do it. Baloney. Send the world to time out, and embrace the fact that you are a creatix of the world - a Mommy in many ways. You can love, nurture, create, give birth - without ever reproducing.

And if you've chosen not to bear children and you're cool with that, more power to you! I totally support you. Forget what society says. Listen to your heart. Follow your gut.

Be ALL YOU ALL THE TIME. And tell the world to go to time out. There are many ways to create, and you don't have to conform just to please your mother-in-law.

Either way, I support you .  And I honor you.

This post is for you.
Happy Mama’s Day.
You deserve it.

Seeing the Mommy inside each of you,
Lissa

Republished with permission from OwningPink.com

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Compelling story, similar to ours. I found this over at Experience Project. Though it was posted four years ago, my hope is that I can help the author connect with the birth family if he or she hasn't already.

"I was adopted at birth by a very loving couple w/ 3 daughters of their own which i call my sisters. They have loved me & pretty much treated me as one of their own biological son & brother to which i am forever grateful. At a very young age right of the bat, they told me that i was adopted by them...the story was that my birth mother was a housemaid who got impregnated by her own boss, which is my biological father. I was curious when i was at my teen years to find my birth mother to ask her as to why she abandoned me. Apparently the the surgeon who delivered me, who happens to be also my godfather & gave me to my adoptive parents told me..."

(Read full story at Experience Project.)

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Issues Faced By Adopted People

Issues faced by adopted persons:

1. It is very common for those who were adopted to feel rejected and abandoned by their birth parents. This is accompanied by feelings of grief and loss. There is no set time or age when these feeling surface but, sooner or later, they do.

2. Feelings of loss and rejection are often accompanied by a damaged sense of self esteem. There is an understandable tendency to think that "something must be wrong with me for my birth parents to have give me away." It must be understood that these feelings and thoughts are unrelated to the amount of love and support received from the adoptive parents and family.

Read Full Article at MentalHealth.net

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