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I recently went through GARR and got some (but not all) Non-ID information on my birth family. Both Suzanne and Patricia were helpful, understanding, and overall, wonderful. However, I'm VERY hesitant to shell out the $300. That's a lot of money that, quite frankly, I just don't have right now, and besides...there's really no guarentee of results, which doesn't sit well with me. It's quite sickening that I have to pay an obsurd amount of money to find out where I came from. It's just that I've tried every other avenue I can think of besides shelling out the money. Anyone else out there as hesitant as I am to pay the $300? Anyone here done this, and if so, what were the results? Thanks,Amanda
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I know your feeling Lilbug76. I got the non-identifying info for $35 which wasn't much mind you. They said there was little info b/c of the agency I went through. But they did tell me that there had been no contact from any birth family to the registry. Which makes me think like you, is there anyone looking for me? And if not then who is to say anyone will allow contact with me and whatnot. It's very frustrating!
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I went through GARR and got my non-Id information. I did learn alot from it. It was about 14 pages long. I did finally found out what time I was born and what hospital and that she gave me the name Melissa Ann and that she also gave up another daughter 4 yrs prior to my birth.. she kept her son who 7 when I was born.. Now I want to find my brith mom but I also agree that we should not have to pay to find them. I really want to send the check but then afraid that they will call and say she doen not want to see me. Have been posting here and trying to find family but no luck.. Good Luck to thoses who are searching
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I'm a 47 yr old birth mom, I was 16 when I gave my son up for adoption. 3 years ago, my mom and dad received a call from someone looking for me that said she had business with me in 1978 and where could they find me??? Turns out it was the adoption agency (AGAPE) and that my son had been searching for me for 10 years. He had been given all the non identifying information which as we all know, may or may not be accurate information. Anyway, the agency pulled my file from 1978 and went through the records for phone numbers etc. That's how they found my parents and through them were able to contact me. So if you know the adoption agency, they will more than likely still have files and can search for old addresses/phone numbers on the adoptee's behalf. I also had to give consent for contact before any information was given to my son. I live out of state now and we were able to do that by fax. In less than 3 days we were meeting for the first time since the hospital and have a wonderful relationship. It's worth a try for those who have the adoption agency information. Good luck!
I'm confused. Does the $300 search hunt for siblings or parents?
So, GARR knows exactly who our parents are... but we can't know? And, we can't have any clues until we pay that amount? And, if the birth relatives don't want contact or they can't find them, then.. nothing? That is beyond frustrating.
i just sent off my $35 & my application for non-id info to GARR on 10/29/09. i faxed in the form & then called Sheena Evans to pay w/ my card over the phone. she was super nice. i am wondering if after i recieve the non-id info if i want to go ahead w/ the $300 reunion. there are no guarantees. & my case could be made harder by the fact that my bmom was 14 when i was born & given up. my adoption was thru the state of GA. i still live here. same house & phone # i've had since i was brought home at 5 weeks (my bday is feb 10,1976). i am so afraid i will pay the $300 & she won't want anything to do w/ me. so i sit here on pins & needles & about attack my poor postman everyday to see if my info is here - i sound like a crazy woman. at least the people at GARR seem nice. my best friend works for DFACs & she pointed me to them as paperwork on any adoption before the 2000's is in files in Atlanta. like paper files, not computerized yet. i am also trying to appeal to the GA Tribe of Eastern Cherokee for help as my mother was Cherokee. if anyone has any advice please let me know.
thanks!
Cat
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i just recieved my non-id info from GARR yesterday 11/25/09 (i sent off for it on 10/29/09). i am overwhelmed w/ the amount of info i got! i found out some of the things my parents were told were different like my b-mom was 15 when i was born not 14. also she was from Texas not Tennessee. also in my info was my b-grandparents names & my b-uncles names (they were 12 & 10 at the time) & their address in TX at the time of my birth. my b-mom's name was whited out but i found out my birth name was Karri Cowan. i have gotten so much more than i ever expected. well worth the $35. if anyone is considering this non-id info search, i would say go for it!
Cat
I am so thankful for GARR & their staff (especially Rachel Anderson). i had the birthmother search done. i faxed the letter to my birthmother on 1/7/10 & Rachel called me on 2/3/10 after speaking w/ my birthmom. i am still processing everything. but i would like to say thank God for Garr! they were so caring & they were so on the ball. the search is worth the money. no, we shouldn't have to pay for our info but at least these people really do want to help.
It's good you got all that info.
Everyone should realize that you might get NO info at all. Not even demographics. I've seen people get nothing-- not even non-ID info, because their file was lost entirely, or no info was ever obtained from biological baby-havers. While it's "only" $35, we should get our non-ID info free, and I remind you all that you may or may not find anything even remotely useful out from this.
This past Wednesday I sent out my payment and the forms and letter to Birth mom and it is a waiting game. I am not sure what to expect and just wish my hubsand was more supporitive of this search. He keeps telling me I am just looking for heartach but he just does not understand what I am going through. I have had a lot of medical issuse come up and want answers about it and plus I just have unanswered questions??? Has any one ever had contact with birth parents throuhg GARR.. I just hope this pays off and my birth mom will want contact with me. :confused: :confused:
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I have done the Birth mom search with GARR and they found her in under two weeks. When I got the call the news was that she hung up on them and so they sent out the forms and then the day after mothers day I got the call that she singed the affidavit of non disclosure which meant she wanted no contact with me. Rejected by her again. I did another search with them for my brother and guess what two weeks to the day and they found him and he wanted contact. YEA!!!! Wet met each other 3 days later. My birth mom had one more child after me which was girl so I have a little sister. I just met her a week ago when I drove down to see my brother she flew in from Georgia to met me. GARR also just located and talked to my other sibling who is a sister who my birth mom also gave up for adoption ( she gave up the two middle daughters ) and I am just waiting for my sister to send in her consent forms so we can talk. I am also in the process of searching for my birth father. GARR is the best and they have brought me together with my siblings. I am so thankful for them for bringing us together :)
I'm glad your end result is a happy one.Many times birth "parents" and siblings choose no. Then, you're out time and money ($300 for a "parent" search, $300 for a sibling search). The GARR agency and staff provide a useful service, and some of the staff can be quite helpful.Would you have been as happy had they all said no?GARR provides a useful service, and I'm glad they exist. Problem is: sometimes birth "family" says no, sometimes no info is found by GARR, sometimes non-ID info is simply lost and no there for you to have, sometimes info is delayed significantly, etc. And, people shouldn't have to pay to find out who gave birth to them... nor should adoptions be 100% private. Bottom line: Consider it a useful service, but don't get your hopes up folks.