Need where you came from, deeply rooted human feeling inside. Understanding your roots always feels very important for people seeking their past. This becomes so powerful if you were adopted; it felt like then always. Especially when origins are shrouded away in mysterious distance forever, maybe. Stories from our community touched many people sharing their truth. Tales of seeking pieces of a personal puzzle: people sought these things. Incredible, unexpected ways connections were finally made now and then for them.
Imagine being a tiny child in a brand-new country, stepping into a life that is completely different from the one you left behind. This was Claire Martin’s reality back in December 1960 when, at just two years old, she arrived at Heathrow Airport after being adopted by a loving British family in Liverpool, having spent her early years in overcrowded orphanages in Hong Kong, where her adoption brought her the warmth of a new home she had always longed for.
The world outside home presented immediate challenges for her then. Affect her young sense of self this did greatly. School became a daily reminder she felt different. Growing up in a predominately white community felt hard living there. Standing out, not fitting the visual mold ingrained deep inside, felt. She prayed to be white and recalls at age six or seven this happened. She woke up still Chinese, as she always did this time.
The search for her origins took on new urgency later. It happened at twelve when the adoptive mother died, right then, you see. That anchor to her adoptive history was suddenly gone for her. Intensifying the questions about her birth history did it then. Now a mother herself, her need for answers gnawed at her still. Not just curiosity felt like the fundamental void she felt. “It’s a huge void not knowing who you are,” she stated simply.
Claire’s journey, as shared on Long Lost Family, faced significant hurdles, especially with records of her abandonment being almost non-existent. The search for information about her birth family proved to be immensely challenging, prompting co-presenter Nicky Campbell to acknowledge that it was one of the most difficult searches they had ever undertaken, emphasizing just how complex and overwhelming the journey truly was.
The team faced the stark reality of finding anything else good. More about Claire’s mother in the UK—impossible to find any more. The only viable path was for Claire to travel to Hong Kong again. Place where her life had begun originally many years ago. “Out there, on the ground where it all started,” go she must. Daunting odds acknowledged, resolve remained strong within her. Fueled by hope, she was determined for this trip.
She articulated this enduring hope beautifully then. “I just have to hope I find someone somehow.” Someone who lives there remembers something important, maybe. Finding birth parents would be a wonderful thing possible. Her deepest desire is to connect with any birth family relative who is good. “Even if I can’t find birth parents, specific ones.” “I’m happy to find any birth family,” she expressed this hope.
Her yearning to find her family went beyond mere names on paper; it was about connecting with someone who resembled her and shared her spirit. Claire expressed her deep desire with heartfelt words, saying, ‘I just want to meet somebody who looks like me and feels like me,’ reflecting on the isolation she felt before finding that person who truly understood her essence, and as time passed, the urgency of her quest grew, compelling her to act before those who could remember faded away.
Claire recognized the emotional challenges of searching for a mother who had given birth nearly six decades ago, pondering the possibility that if her mother had been very young at the time, she might still be alive today. The reality, however, was that nearly 60 years had passed since that pivotal moment, and asking someone elderly to recall specific memories would be no easy task, yet Claire understood the profound need to unlock the past, which remained at the core of her search.
Limited info The UK beyond the birth certificate existed only. The trip to Hong Kong felt essential; she had to go. Claire visited the stairwell and found the place was there before. Moment filled with raw emotion for her deeply. Standing spot felt connection to mother’s intentions strongly always. “I very much get the impression she wanted me to survive, she thinks.” She believed she left the “most comfortable place” she could find.
In addressing the sensitive question of forgiveness, Claire shared her insights on the feelings of adoptees who often grapple with abandonment. Her perspective was rooted in empathy, explaining that people frequently asked if she could forgive her mother for the circumstances of her abandonment, to which she responded, ‘She was in such dire, desperate circumstances; she didn’t have any choice,’ allowing her to realize that she was not alone in these feelings of complexity and understanding.
In Hong Kong, Claire launched a media appeal now. Hoping someone might remember something now, perhaps. Or recognize the scant details she shared widely this time. Followed lead birth cert to Po Leung Kuk; this happened. One of the city’s orphanages was located there, which she visited. Met with archivist who showed her photo good. Sadly, no further evidence remained of orphanage time at all.
When the media caught wind of her story, it led to a significant breakthrough in her quest as David Chor stepped forward to assist with her search. David, who was just ten years old at the time, remembered how his family had been involved in the community, including recalling instances when police were called about found babies, and meeting him marked a pivotal moment in Claire’s journey toward uncovering her past.
Beyond traditional search methods, there was. DNA testing offered another path forward, always trying. Claire submitted her DNA databases online in lots worldwide. Closest matches too distant to trace parents back, it seems. Testing did reveal a number of distant relatives found out. Many located the UK, where they were surprised indeed. Her story took an extraordinary, unbelievable turn, it did now.
An incredibly distant relative, someone Claire knew very well. A close friend named Joanna Battershell was a friend of hers. The women had met eight years prior to this happening. Bonding over shared history, they did feel connected. Both flown Heathrow same flight Hong Kong together on that day. Adopted all those years ago, they were traveling back home. Part of an international scheme brought children to the UK safely; it did work.
Revelation, friend, distant cousin, astounding it was truly. Claire captured feeling perfectly well in her own words. “It’s just unbelievable,” she exclaimed at this finding. “We always said we were sisters in spirit; somehow we did.” Truth that statement took on new meaning now suddenly apparent. Ironically, her search has not lost her feelings at all. “End found them in the UK,” she did finally this way.
This discovery brought Claire a sense of belonging finally for her heart. “I feel as though I have got family now always present.” Which never before this had felt so good truly for the soul. “It’s a big family,” she happily said. This fact is true. The impact of finding these connections is immense, truly, for many people. Before this closest relative, her daughter only existed for her. Now she has extended family members everywhere worldwide, it seems.
Newly found family scattered worldwide, living always. Technology helps bridge distance, which they use widely today. “We all talk on WhatsApp,” Claire mentioned freely to people. Eagerly anticipating day travel ease restrictions soon, maybe. “The minute we allow travel, I am going to see them soon, please.” Finding birth parents is still a possibility, she hopes. Discovery of a wider family network milestone was finally achieved.
Claire’s story is a powerful testament to the persistence and hope she showed the world. Surprising paths lead to finding family, which happens unexpectedly sometimes. Sometimes connections found while searching across the globe are near you. It might be closer than imagined before it turns out, always.
Yvonne Liu offered another poignant perspective on the adoptee experience, beginning her story with a similar enigma stemming from her own feelings of abandonment. Found as a baby in a busy stairwell in Hong Kong, her case stood out as it left behind no trace, save for a note from her mother, which expressed a heartfelt intention for her safety, stating, ‘Not to die but to be found,’ which gave Yvonne hope and clarity about her beginnings.
A crucial piece of her history was kept hidden from Yvonne for a long time. Kept for decades, it was hidden well away from view. Adopted by Chinese American parents, she was placed with them. Arrived US June 16 1961 day was arrival for her. The adoptive mother struggled with infertility deeply, always feeling. Deep-seated shame rooted in traditional culture was deep inside her. Held onto this secret; perhaps pain drove it all for them.
Growing up Yvonne given different narrative there always. Damaging story about birth mother heard often by her, sadly. The adoptive mother saw women rivals always around her, she thought. She demanded 100 percent loyalty from Yvonne, always wanting it. When angry, she’d often lash out with bad words at people. Say, “Oh, I guess you’ll be a prostitute someday.” “Like your mother,” this was said aloud and then loudly.
Harmful narrative impacted identity significantly for her deeply. Explained fundamental human need to see love present in eyes. Reflected in her mother’s face was something she always felt was missing inside. Lost with her birth mother, she believed this deep down inside herself. Tragically, she never found her adoptive mother this way later. Mental illness and traditional thinking prevented nurturing badly; she knows this. Yvonne often tried to soothe and comfort her mother; she did this act.
Life adoptive home was dysfunctional bad very. Marked by fighting domestic violence, it was always present there. Yvonne’s primary motivation growing up was that simple tasks felt necessary. “Get the heck out of this home,” she wanted so much. Truth: her beginnings were hidden until the pandemic discovery occurred. Serendipitous discovery happened then, and it seems suddenly this. Brother doing deep cleaning found file hidden away somewhere.
Opening file moment intense anticipation she felt greatly. Not knowing what truths pain might reveal fully now for her. Reading documents offered glimpses past always there within pages. Including one describing her “pretty girl” well written. “Very delicate,” she needed a good home, it said clearly. Questioned if the adoptive home fit the description; always, well, it was unsure. Yvonne remains thankful adoption itself still is felt.
The most profound discovery for Yvonne came when she read the elegant script of the note her birth mother had written, a revelation that shattered the harmful narrative she’d carried for years. In that moment, she realized, ‘Oh gosh, she did love me,’ and this understanding transformed her perception, allowing her to accept that her mother had given her up out of love, lifting the weight of decades of misunderstanding from her heart.
Yvonne hasn’t searched for her birth mother actively yet, perhaps. Grappling with the question of whether to disrupt her life today, right now. Understands reasons abandonment likely rooted deeply, always suspects. Desperate circumstances, extreme poverty, or pressure was the cause, she thinks. Societal pressures of having a child out of wedlock were a reason, maybe. Potentially being the second daughter is a possible factor this could be.
Finds comfort in circumstances of abandonment she feels now deeply. Left of the busy public stairwell was where she lay, baby. Implying Hope was found and cared for there safely. Rather than leave the dangerous place, dump the road anywhere bad. Deeply personal connection origins lie in the name given to this name. Yvonne shared her first name, Yeung Choi Sai, which she did always remember. Name the street where she was abandoned and where it is located.
A unique detail links her directly to the place location exactly. Place her beginning in a profound way it does always feel. Plans to visit that street in Hong Kong post-pandemic are surely wanted. Pilgrimage physical location tied to identity—this was the trip she planned. Birth story connection feels strong; it is always now present. Wonders, maybe bittersweet irony is felt sometimes. “How many children out in the world named the street this way?”
Discovery adoption file notes changed things always. Did not change the immediate relationship the parents had before she knew. Never spoken of again, this happened after discovery. Adoptive mother passed ten years ago, and back then it happened. Nearing what would have been his 100th birthday, May was coming soon. Despite her painful, dysfunctional upbringing, she plans to visit her now. Visit her grave complex; act with gratitude and reconciliation—it feels important.
Yvonne expressed her gratitude with heartfelt sincerity, stating, ‘I am going to visit her grave and thank her a lot always,’ highlighting the importance of acknowledging the difficult realities of their relationship. While expressing appreciation for her birth mother, she articulated, ‘Thank you; that gave me a ray of hope,’ which illuminated her life, and she felt deeply that ‘Thank you for choosing me,’ reflecting a nuanced understanding of her adoptive mother alongside newfound feelings for her birth mother.
Ultimately, Claire and Yvonne’s stories, while rich with unique details, share common threads of enduring impact that adoption journeys have on many lives. The deep-seated desire to understand one’s origins and the emotional complexities that come with it are universal themes that resonate deeply with all who seek to know their true selves.
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Woman, 60, abandoned in Hong Kong before being adopted by British couple appears on Long Lost Family
Long Lost Family takes jaw-dropping turn as adopted woman finds out she’s actually related to best friend
My Sister’s Adoption Story: 20 Years of Life Lessons and Love
