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I was born premature at 2lbs, 7oz, February 15, 1975 in Fayetteville, NC. I either was born or transferred to Duke Hospital where I stayed for 2 or 3 months on ventilators etc etc.
I believe my name was Lisa Lewis at the time based on hand written documents given by my foster family and a doctor slip (without doctor name or info on it) with the name Lisa on it.
I have not sent out for my non-id info yet, (I do have the non id info provided to my adoptive parents) but have sent out to Raleigh to confirm that I was adopted through Social Services of Cumberland County.
I know my original birth certificate is sealed, but I was wondering what information I can request with my non-id information. I was wondering if I can request information about my foster family (who I was told wanted to adopt me) and if they will provide me with copies of my medical records for that time I was in the hospital.
Being in the hospital for that long after birth is kind of a significant experience for someone in their life (even if they dont remember it) and I think is something that should be included in your lifetime medical records.
I know Duke keeps records indefinitely, but I have no way to request them directly unless I can get them from social services because of HEPA laws.
I was also wondering, would my mother have been told if I lived or not? I believe I was taken from my mother and sent to Duke for emergency care and from there I went to a foster family for a few months before being placed in my permanent home.
I still need to find someone to search birth records to see if by some miracle they are still on file, but I want to figure out what I want to say in my letter to request my info from social services so that I can get the most information I can, while I wait.
Any help would be appreciated, and I apologize if this is not the right spot for this post.
HIPPA will only protect the birthmother. You should still have access to your own medical records. Can they at least give you copies with her name marked out?
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IwagrlVA, thank you for the reply. From what I understand, unless I have an open birth certificate or an order of adoption showing that I am that person (since my name was changed at adoption) I cannot request the information, because I cannot prove that I am who I say I am. Also, I don't know for sure what my name was at birth.
if it is a closed adoption, which majority of states have, you won't be able to get your medical information.
Do you know what social service agency you were adopted through?
I was adopted through catholic charities in florida and they will do a search for me to find my birth mother. If they find her, they still need to get consent to contact to release any info to me. I just started this process myself. They are sending all my non-ID info to me. I have some, but apparently they have more than i do.
Good luck!
If you have a doctor you are friendly with, ask if they will contact Duke on your behalf, requesting medical records for those months under the name Lisa Lewis-if you get medical records you know that was your birthname and are that much closer to finding.