Dana was born at St. John’s Hospital in Cleveland in 1973. She was adopted through Catholic Charities in November of 1973. Her adoption was never kept a secret from her, but she still wondered where she came from. She was able to find her biological mother’s name after the state of Ohio released her OBC (Original Birth Certificate). Sadly, she also found out her biological mother had passed away, and there was no name given for her biological father. She could have given up her search after finding an obituary for her biological mother, but she didn’t. With encouragement from her family and friends, she reached out to her first mother’s sister and, through her, connected with more family. She received a false lead from her aunt that made her believe her biological father had passed away, but an Ancestry DNA test led her to the truth and four paternal half-brothers. Today, Dana shares her story through podcasts and blog posts, and she is writing a memoir called A Girl and Her Four Families. She believes every adoptee has the right to know where they came from, and even if it comes with heartbreak, the emotional roller coaster is always worth it. Dana on YouTube This Episode Is Sponsored by Lovebug Probiotics We spend a lot of time on Adoption: The Making of Me talking about the experiences that shape who we are. But there's also something important — and much more everyday — that deserves our attention: taking care of ourselves and our health. This episode is brought to you by Lovebug Probiotics, a mom-founded probiotic brand with science-backed options for adults and families. Lovebug's story began with co-founder Ashley Harris. During the birth of her son, Hudson, Ashley received broad-spectrum antibiotics. That experience led her to start learning more about the gut microbiome and ultimately inspired her to create Lovebug. Today, Lovebug offers probiotics for women and adults, along with options for babies, toddlers, and kids, making it easy to find products for different ages and stages of family life. Sarah and Louise also had the opportunity to personally try Lovebug, and we each found ways it fit into our lives when we needed a little extra support. Sarah loved Lovebug for the support it gave her during a busy move. With so much going on, she appreciated having it as part of her wellness routine and felt really good while using it. Louise tried Lovebug while she was sick and recovering. She found it incredibly helpful as part of her overall health and wellness routine during that time. Lovebug probiotics are designed to support digestive and immune health as a simple addition to an everyday wellness routine.* Because taking care of yourself doesn't have to be complicated. Ready to find the right Lovebug for you or your family? Shop Lovebug Probiotics: https://lovebug.com/ Use code MAKINGME20 for 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ------------------------------------ Sign up to be part of our mailing list & find out details about our April 2027 Live Event in Los Angeles! Thank you to our Patrons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be Saturday, November 21st at 1 pm ET. RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees who identify as queer gathering in community on Zoom: For details, email adopteequeer@gmail.com and on Instagram. Adoptees Connect Adoptee Mentoring Society Celia Center Inc., a non-profit organization in Los Angeles supporting all members of the foster care and the adoption constellation. Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
