Monday, March 31, 2014

Facebook

I have been sharing my story on Facebook for a year now. I started by uploading my video of the new report from 8 years ago to my youtube and asking my Facebook friends to share it. Some did, but most didn't. Nothing ever came of it. I always knew that Facebook was my best bet in finding my family. With all the people on Facebook, someone on there has to be in my family. 
In January I made a Facebook page with the name Maybelle.  Maybelle was the name given to me by the Tulsa PD. The paper quoted the Tulsa PD as saying "We have to name the baby out of necessity so since she was found in a Mae Belle phone booth we named her Maybelle." I figured that would be the name my birth mom would recognize. I posted pics from the newspaper articles that I have from 1978. I asked my friends to share but again, not much came of it. I have been sharing my story on Facebook, twitter, instagram, vine, youtube and blogging. All in hopes that my birth family will see it. 
When I read that the Burger King baby found her mom I was so excited! It gives me hope that I am on the right track. Her mom saw her post after 11 days. That is amazing!! 
I spent all day Friday making a poster! Yes it took me all day to trace out the letters. lol  there is so much that I wanted to say but not much room on the poster. I had my husband take a picture of me holding the poster. This is the finished product. 
I posted this Friday at about 4pm on my Facebook page. I asked that everyone please share it. The response has been amazing. As of this morning this pic has been shared over 5,000 times on Facebook!! WOW!! I am overjoyed and scared. Its a crazy mix of emotions. I don't want the sharing to stop until I find her. It took the Burger King baby 33,000 shares before her mom saw it. So I am well on my way. 
I have gotten so many kind comments and messages from people all over the United States. The kind words mean so much to me. I think people have no idea how much this all means to me. I have got a few rude remarks too, but thats ok. Haters gonna hate I guess. Someone even called me a 'prom date dumpster baby.' But thankfully the outpouring of kind messages and comments have way out weighed the negative ones. 
I received one message last night that may be a lead on a sister. I don't want to say to much about it right now. I know that there can be some false leads before I find the right one. I am going to follow all leads until I find my family. I am going to be calling her today to talk and see if we may be related. I will keep you posted on this lead. I am really not getting my hopes up on anything until I know for sure. I guard my heart very closely. I guess its one of the side affects of being abandoned. I don't want to set myself up for a let down. 
I am very nervous about this call though. I am not sure what to say or what is going to come of it. I have never been this close before. 
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everyone that has been sharing my story. It means everything to me!! My dream for as long as I can remember is to find my family and with everyones help by sharing my story I am closer than I have ever been. Please keep sharing. The more times it is shared the closer I am to being reunited with my family. Feel free to share it on any social media or anywhere that you may think will help. Feel free to leave me comments too. Believe it or not your words keep me going. Just knowing that there are people standing behind me on this helps me find the strength inside myself to keep going. Thank you all so much!!

29 comments:

  1. Praying for you to find your family! :)

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  2. I encourage you to tell Troy Dunn APB (all points bulletin) show your story. I bet he can find your family!!!! Google him.

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  3. Been there with my husband, an adoptee - taken with his brother from father and stepmother as neglected. Reunited with his mother, full brother and three half-siblings in his 40's. I pray your search won't take as long.

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  4. You are in my prayers. Your mom is going to be so excited when you find her. You are beautiful.

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  5. This made me cry! My heart and prayers are with you! Best of luck on your journey. I pray you find your birth family but know you are a beautiful person inside and out! Good luck doll!

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  6. I HOPE YOU FIND YOUR BIRTH FAMILY SOON. YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS. GOOD LUCK!

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  7. Prayers for you today. I hope the phone call gets you one step closer. I hope that when, not if, you find your lost family that you are greeted with open arms and are able to form the relationship you are longing for. I am looking forward to hearing all about your happy ending.

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  8. My comment would be to the people who left you. Circumstances beyond your control such as fear or desperation may have led you to a choice back then. Please don't let fear guide your path today. Reach out and let the discovery begin.

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  9. God Bless You , Good luck on your journey.

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  10. Praying for your success! You are so courageous. Will be anxiously watching for good news. <3

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  11. Please make use of free "search Angels" that are available on many facebook pages. They keep your life private while assisting to locate your family- It worked for me and I can't begin to express my appreciation. Please remember celebrities that "help" make your life very public and may actually hinder your efforts if your first family is located- They may not want media attention. Good luck to you in this journey.

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  12. If you find your mom, don't expect much. I'm not saying she isn't a great person, but I need to explain. I left a son at a fire station at 14. I had completely moved on with my life when we got in touch many years later. I had 6 kids at home all different ages. The poor sweetheart wanted me to go out and live with him. To take care of me. I felt that he owed me nothing and that to be honest I should have been able to take care of him, but I was a kid and had no clue. I felt it would be wrong to allow him to do that is what I mean.

    Anyway, I told him I couldn't and it broke his heart. I tried to explain I had six children, a house to run, and a husband to care for...the only massage he got though was that I didn't love him. I do love him. I always loved him. I gave him away because I was scared to death he would die. I was homeless on the street and gave birth in a park. I was scared. It was cold and he stopped moving. I tried so hard to keep him warm.

    He never realized that I gave him away because I knew he would die with me. I didn't have a place to live or adults in my life to help me. All he knows is he was tossed away. It doesn't help that he doesn't keep in mind that I was only 14 and that his adoptive parents reinforce I tossed him away. That's fine though. I am eternally grateful to them no matter what. They no only raised my boy right, loved him, and cared for him when I couldn't. They are sending him to college. I don't care if he hates me forever for what I did, I just wish he knew I did it because I loved him. It's probably the best thing I could have done given the situation. I guess it hurts him because 2 years later i had another child and kept her. The difference in me from 14 to 16 was amazing though...I had a job, a family, a home, and people that could help. I wish he knew just how much I love him. There is so much I would like to tell him...all the times I cried over him. All the times I've held my younger sons and just thanked God my eldest was alive and well somewhere out there.

    Don't expect your mom to be as excited as you. She's gonna be scared. She's gonna be afraid to come forward and it will hurt so bad if you reject her for her actions.

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    1. If he was looking for you, that means he needed you, family is family, Blood is Blood, I have two sister from different families and I love them both

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    2. You were brave to give up your son. Eventually he will understand.

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    3. Wow, thank you so much for sharing your truth. What a brave woman you are. Sending you and your loved ones love. Many many blessings!

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    4. You did the best thing for your son. I can't imagine being homeless at age 14, & then having a baby in the park?! You are an incredibly strong woman! God bless you for doing what you did in his best interest. That is what love is about.

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  13. God Bless and hope you find what you're looking for, it may not always be the answer you seek, Forgiveness is the key to all problems in Life, my Jesus help you find them Amen

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  14. wish u all the luck...and sending prayers......sharing as well.......

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  15. Maybe you should post a newspaper clipping or news video from the time you were found. Maybe that would help someone remember. I hope you are successful in your search.

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  16. Why would you want to find them? I couldn't imagine leaving my children no matter what.

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    1. Hi Kelly,
      I'm glad you've never been put in a situation where you not only felt BUT knew that keeping your child was not an option....as an adoptee you are always looking to see if someone looks like you,the 1st time you go to a dr & fill out your paperwork,you CAN'T because you don't know your family history (& everyone should have this info),& you have questions...mostly,why,what were the consequences,etc etc

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    2. I would leave my children if it meant they had better chances of survival, a better shot at happiness and health, than staying with me. And I am so thankful that I've never had to make that heartbreaking choice.

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  17. Hi from OKCity....as an adoptee who is also searching,I wish you luck with your search

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  18. My former sister in law had a daughter years ago at age 16 & placed her for adoption. She told me that never did a day go by in which she didn't think of her daughter. Last December her daughter found her & it was a wonderful reunion. I hope you find your birth mom & you both have a joyous reunion! I'm reposting in Georgia, just in case.

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  19. my prayers are with you that you find your family ....GOD
    bless your heart

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