How would you feel if you knew basically nothing about your heritage, culture, or biological family? Such was the case for one woman: Marie Kristiansen Eftestad. She was born in India and placed for adoption as a newborn with a family in Norway. All the information she had was a baby picture, the name she was given at birth, her birthdate, and where she was born.
Now, 40 years later, she is searching for her biological mother. However, she has very limited information but is hoping social media and Facebook can help as well as assistance from Saroj Sood, the founder and honorary secretary of The Indian Society For Sponsorship and Adoption (ISSA). According to this article, ISSA assisted with translating Marie’s Facebook post/letter she wrote to her biological mother. ISSA will also help Marie reunite if confidentiality laws do not prohibit it.
Marie wrote a very loving and heartfelt letter on Facebook in hopes that it will reach her biological mother, or that someone will share it with her biological mother. In an article published by The Times of India, part of her letter said, “There must have been serious compulsions for you to give me up for adoption. I don’t hold that against you. I understand that you didn’t want to be identified then. But I am hoping, after all these years, you have had a change of heart. I really hope you too want to meet me as much as I do.”
Reunifying with birth families is a very emotional experience. Some reunifications go very smooth and relationships are formed. Others, even if they find their biological family, are not emotionally ready or their biological parents do not want to meet at that time. There is no standard for any reunification. But for Marie, she hopes to learn her biological mother is alive and is able to meet her and form a lifelong relationship.
“Every day I think about you. I wonder if you too have me on your mind after all these years.” Now, Marie has to rely on time and luck.
