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I am seeking information regarding my mother's birth family. Years ago she found a letter my pack-rat adoptive grandfather had saved- a letter from a doctor asking how "baby Elizabeth" was doing. When she confronted him regarding the letter, he told her she was adopted. He explained the scenerio and said that they would never discuss the matter again.
The story went as follows:
A husband and wife (with several kids already) gave birth to her at St. Vincent's Infirmary in Little Rock, AR- but the wife died in childbirth or soon after. My adoptive grandmother (who had a long history of stillbirths, now known caused by Rh- blood capatability issues) was "put under" (as was apparently common then) while she delivered her baby- which died. My adoptive grandmother desperately wanted a baby girl, so the infant children were switched. My grandmother awoke to find a perfect child.
My adoptive grandfather and the doctor at St. Vincent's believed this to be the best for everyone, especially since the poor husband had just lost his wife and had other children to take care of by himself now. We don't know if the husband was informed at all in the decision or about what happened to his child, "baby Elizabeth".
We are also unsure if any adoption records exist, or if this was all done "under the table". My adoptive grandfather did have some clout (and some money) to make things happen in his favor. [He is now deceased] We are also unsure if my adoptive grandmother ever knew about any of this.
Next time I'm in Arkansas I hope to be able to locate a death certificate on the wife who died, my birth grandmother. I also hope to get a copy of some sort of birth record (though probably slightly askew) on my mother from St. Vincent's. I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see my b grandmother's name to be Elizabeth or a double obituary listing for both b grandmother and the dead baby from around that time.
The bottom line:
MISSING- Birth father to "baby Elizabeth", and numerous siblings.
Best wishes to all in your searches. If you believe you have any helpful information for me, please (please!) use private message feature to contact me.
-Melissa (purplefigmnt)
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