I didn't want the adoption, but in 1968 without parental, boyfriend or social/financial support, I had no choice. I was almost 17 years-old when I relinquished my son for adoption at the Edna Gladney Home in Fort Worth, Texas.

Contrary to what I was told while at the home, I never forgot about my son. In fact, I thought about him every day without fail. When he was 23, I decided to find out more about his life which I had every reason to believe was close to perfect. I had received a letter from the home's social worker in July of 1968 describing "the Campbell's Soup family."

In 1992 I learned that my son had been returned to Gladney, returned like damaged goods to the agency, at the age of three and a half months because he had developed asthma and bronchiolitis. He then lived in foster care until his adoption at the age of three and a half years. I knew then that I would move heaven and earth to find my son.

When we were reunited in 1993, we were both overjoyed. My son did not have a good adoption experience and was delighted that I searched for him. We have a relationship today, and I know we will be together for the rest of our lives.

I was devastated to learn of the suffering of my son. An intact family was supposed to give him more than I, a single teenage mother, could. What happened to all the advantages he was supposed to have?

Mary is a birthmother and women's health care nurse practitioner. She is also a founding member of the Texas Coalition for Adoption Resources and Education.